As the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread, SHC is taking precautions to ensure the safety of everyone on campus.
President Joe Lee announced that starting on March 10, the college will be covering the co-pay fee to anyone who is experiencing flu-like or upper respiratory symptoms. Authorization from Student Affairs will be required for students who want to visit the Greater Mobile Urgent Care. While the SHC Emergency Management Team is planning for the virus if it should come, they are also in contact with the federal, state and city health authorities.
The U.S. Department of State raised the advisory to a Level 4: Do Not Travel in the regions of Lombardy and Veneto which are both just north of Bologna, Italy. All U.S. study abroad students were sent home from the SHC Italy Center after travel advisory was at a Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Spring Hill College is working hard to make sure that all of its students are safe as this issue continues.
According to BBC News, Italy has quarantined over 16 million people to try to stop the spreading of the virus. Pope Francis delivered his first live-streamed Sunday prayer to avoid the crowds, and said he was "close through prayer" with those affected by the virus. The measures that Italy is taking will be in effect until April 3.
The college has placed extra antibacterial and cleaning supplies throughout the campus. Housekeeping schedules have doubled in high-traffic areas and the Aramark staff already has a preparedness plan for this kind of situation. Students will receive updated information from the college as it comes in. The college is planning for the possibility, if it should arise, to continue classes online for the remainder of the semester.
Lee stated that as of March 10, none of the students are experiencing any symptoms nor have tested positive for the virus. By following the guidelines from the Alabama Department of Public Health, students are to stay in their homes for 14 days and be cleared by medical professionals before visiting campus. Junior Tara Summers, who was in Bologna, expressed, “We are all so heartbroken and clueless as to what we should do next. This was the best opportunity and experience I’ve ever had, and it’s being ripped out from under me. We have no control over it. We are devastated.”
Jordan Byrne, assistant director of the Italy Center, explained that on March 9, the students began their online courses. That way they can finish the semester without having to worry about falling behind. Since they will be completing their current classes online, they will not be moving back to campus until the Fall semester. Byrne said that it is too early to determine anything for Fall semester students. This is a day by day issue. The Italy Center’s number one priority is “assisting students in finishing their online courses so that they do not get behind and hinder their graduation plan.”
The school has yet to decide on Summer 2020 in Italy. Ashley Rains, director of media and public relations at Spring Hill, said, “As of this moment, Summer 2020 students are being told not to purchase their airline tickets as the situation with the new coronavirus unfolds.” They are planning to make a decision by early April.
Byrne stated that before the advisory level changed, Italy Center students were asked to stay in Bologna to reduce the risk of getting infected with the disease. It is believed that the disease is easily transmitted through air travel and other means of public transportation. According to the World Health Organization, older people have a higher risk of becoming ill with the virus, but they still advise all ages to protect themselves from the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists daily habits that can help prevent the risk of getting infected.