Kean University cancels study abroad trip to Wenzhou

By Cindy Lazo | Published by February 14, 2020

Kean University has announced that it will not be sending students to the Wenzhou Kean campus for the spring semester due to health concerns over the coronavirus outbreak. 

The cancellation is a precaution as the virus, which originated in Wuhan, China and is 700 miles from Wenzhou-Kean University, continues to spread across the world, and the death toll has risen past 1,000. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting of at least 13 confirmed cases in the U.S. as of Feb. 12. 

As for the Wenzhou-Kean faculty, the university has reached out to those who would like to leave, according to Dr. Jonathan Mercantini, Acting Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. 

Mercantini said that no faculty are required to remain there.  

“We do have faculty for whom that’s their home, and some of them have opted to stay. That’s home, they’re comfortable there, they get the supplies that they need, they don’t feel threatened or anything so they’re staying,” Mercantini said. “The university has sent out a couple of emails inviting faculty that wish to leave [whether] they are American citizens or citizens of another country. And the Wenzhou staff is assisting with those transportation and travel requests.” 

Students here who were scheduled to attend Wenzhou-Kean will instead study at Kean’s New Jersey campuses, with the option to study in China for the fall semester.  

An email sent to all faculty, staff, and students by the Office of University Relations on Jan. 28 said there have not been any confirmed, or suspected, cases of the coronavirus in any of its New Jersey and Wenzhou campuses. 

According to the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coronaviruses can be found in animals, such as camels, cats, and bats and humans. Human coronaviruses are common worldwide and can cause mild to moderate illness.  

The 2019 Novel Coronavirus strain, now officially being referred to as COVID-19, however, had not been identified until the outbreak was reported on Dec. 31. 

Although the source of the outbreak has yet to be identified, the COVID-19 causes respiratory disease and can be transmitted from animals or person-to-person contact.  

According to the University Relations email, symptoms can include fever, cough, and shortness of breath and can appear within two to 14 days after exposure. Additionally, the email states that the best prevention method is to wash hands with soap and warm water, practice respiratory hygiene, such as covering the nose or mouth when sneezing or coughing and avoid touching the eyes, mouth, and nose. 

The University Relations email urged any students, faculty or staff concerned that they may have come in contact with the virus to visit Student Health Services or their private healthcare providers.  

 

 

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