UMaine cancels Italy study abroad program due to coronavirus concerns

Click to expand

Replay Video

UP NEXT

• 
  Pence visits 3M plant amid coronavirus concerns

  The vice president spoke with 3M CEO Mike Roman about how their facility has increased production to full capacity on the n95 respiratory masks.

  ABC News
• 
  Sen. Barrasso reacts to Schumer's Supreme Court remarks

  Sen. Chuck Schumer says 'in no way was I making a threat'; Wyoming Republican Senator John Barrasso weighs in.

  FOX News
• 
  Trump's false claim blames Obama admin as coronavirus spreads

  President Donald Trump sought to lay blame on the Obama administration for slowing down new diagnostic testing, but a lab association said this is not correct.

  CNN

1

Cancel

SETTINGS

OFF

HD

HQ

SD

LO

Skip Ad

UMaine students studying abroad in Italy coming home due to coronavirus

WCSH-TV Portland, ME

See more videos

SHARE

SHARE

TWEET

SHARE

EMAIL

What to watch next

• 

  UMaine students studying abroad in Italy coming home due to coronavirus

  
  WCSH-TV Portland, ME 2:27
• 

  Pence visits 3M plant amid coronavirus concerns

  
  ABC News 2:20
• 

  Sen. Barrasso reacts to Schumer's Supreme Court remarks

  
  FOX News 3:29
• 

  Trump's false claim blames Obama admin as coronavirus spreads

  
  CNN 1:15
• 

  Elizabeth Warren announces she is ending her presidential campaign

  
  CBS News 8:37
• 

  Putin and Erdogan announce Idlib ceasefire

  
  NBC News 1:15
• 

  How Joe Biden went from last place to front-runner in three days

  
  The Washington Post 4:16
• 

  AP Top Stories March 5 P

  
  Associated Press 0:55

• 

  Putin, Erdogan hammer out emergency ceasefire

  
  Reuters 1:47
• 

  Groom sees full color for first time on wedding day

  
  USA TODAY 1:08
• 

  Saagar Cutdown

  
  The Hill 4:56
• 

  Mike Pence visits 3M plant

  
  ABC News 2:45
• 

  Martin Luther King III on effort to stop execution of death row inmate in Alabama

  
  FOX News 4:03
• 

  This child is smiling, but her story is devastating

  
  CNN 4:27
• 

  WorldView: Turkish-Russian summit on Syria, Kenya battles locusts, and more

  
  CBS News 2:39
• 

  Warren announces she is suspending her presidential campaign

  
  NBC News 8:30

UP NEXT

The University of Maine is canceling its study abroad program in Italy, as a precaution against the coronavirus.

On Monday, the University of Maine System issued a statement saying in part:

"The university will be working to support all community members who are abroad on university travel and impacted by the spread of the coronavirus. The protocol for anyone returning from Italy will be led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

UMaine has 14 students currently studying abroad in Italy through three programs affiliated with the university, according to officials. Those programs decided to close and evacuate students by March 10, after the U.S. State Department issued a level three advisory for that country on February 29.

"It's hard not to be disappointed and sad, but hopefully we'll have the chance to come back," sophomore Mikayla Palmer told NEWS CENTER Maine. 

Palmer is set to fly home Tuesday after about two months in Italy. 

She said while she is not in an area hit hard by the virus, she understands why officials made the call after U.S. Dept. of State elevated the travel advisory to 'level 3.'

"It's definitely safer to send us home before it escalates to the point where it'd be harder to leave the country," Palmer said. 

RELATED: CDC adds Italy and Iran to list of countries to avoid amid coronavirus outbreak

The study abroad programs are now exploring online coursework, so that students can complete their credits, according to a release. Online coursework will be made available from UMaine and other University of Maine system campuses.

RELATED: Facts vs. Fears: Maine CDC Director Answers Questions on Coronavirus