LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — The University of Kentucky has announced that it will prohibit students from traveling to China during the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a Warning Level 3 for China regarding the virus and the U.S. State Department has also issued a travel advisory.
There are no reports of confirmed or suspected cases in the Commonwealth, but out of an abundance of caution, UK President Eli Capilouto issued a statement announcing the decision to stop student travel.
"It is important that we take steps to prevent illness — whether it is the flu or other illnesses — and that, when we are sick, we quickly take steps to be assessed and treated. We know that members of our campus community travel to and from China on a regular basis for work, study, research and programs," the statement reads in part.
The rules for the travel ban are as follows:
• UK students will not be permitted to travel to China at this time. Under UK Administrative Regulation 4:9, students may not conduct UK-endorsed travel to any country or region under a Department of State Level 3 advisory (or higher) or a CDC Warning Level 3. This applies to all students at the University (undergraduate, graduate, and professional) as well as to graduate medical education (GME) residents, regardless of whether the student is earning academic credit associated with the trip.
• All non-essential University-sponsored travel to China by faculty, staff, or students will not be approved at this time. Appeals will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. We are working with those impacted to re-arrange or reschedule trips planned in the near term.
• If you have traveled to or from China in the last 14 days and experience symptoms such as a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, please seek medical attention immediately. You should also notify the health care facility in advance with your symptoms and travel history. You can read other frequently asked questions about the novel coronavirus: https://uknow.uky.edu/content/coronavirus-response
