Colleges in Manatee and Sarasota warn against spring break travel, citing COVID-19

At a time when students are usually preparing for spring break, colleges and universities in Manatee and Sarasota counties are imposing travel guidelines to prevent the spread of coronavirus, or COVID-19.

The Board of Governors, which oversees the state university system, published travel guidelines on Monday, shortly after cases of COVID-19 surfaced in Manatee and Hillsborough counties.

The board sent a letter to university presidents, citing guidance from Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida’s surgeon general, Scott Rivkees. All students and university employees should self-isolate after returning from China, Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea, avoiding campus for 14 days, the letter said.

The board also recommended that all university-sponsored travel be canceled if the destination is a high-risk country.

“We have two students affected by this directive and we are, of course, complying with it,” New College of Florida said on its website.

The state identified countries that have ongoing transmission of COVID-19, based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The federal agency offered lengthy guidance for colleges and universities, which host students, employees and guests on a regular basis.

“Those overseeing student foreign exchange programs should be aware that students may face unpredictable circumstances, travel restrictions, challenges in returning home or accessing health care while abroad,” the CDC reported.

What are colleges saying about coronavirus?

New College asked students to be mindful of the CDC’s travel notices when planning for spring break.

The college also ordered extra cleaning supplies, required its cashiers to wear gloves, and tracked visits to its Counseling and Wellness Center. Eighteen students visited the health center on Monday, and all were confirmed to have a cold or allergies, according to the most recent update.

“Let’s look out for and care for one another — the health and safety of our entire campus community is of the utmost importance for all of us,” the update states.

Ringling College of Art and Design published similar guidance on students returning from a high-risk country. The college said it would address each student on a case-by-case basis, with input from Sarasota Memorial Hospital, the school’s medical provider.

“We strongly encourage students to reconsider international travel at this time,” the school reported. “If a student travels to a high-risk country, the student may be asked to self-isolate and not return to campus within a 14-day window.”

The college asked students to fill out a questionnaire, regardless of whether they traveled within the U.S. or outside of the country. Ringling plans to review the answers and contact students who traveled to a high-risk area, according to the most recent update on its website.

Ringling also encouraged students with relevant symptoms — including a fever, cough or shortness of breath — to contact the school health center. According to the recent update, Ringling was planning to help sick or isolated students continue their education while absent from class.

The college said it was monitoring student health, discussing attendance and disinfecting its campus as a precaution. It emphasized that risk to students and staff was still minimal.

At State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota, classes and business operations would continue, according to its website. Much like its counterparts, the university asked students traveling back from China, Iran, Italy Japan and South Korea to self-isolate for 14 days.

SCF also encouraged staff and students to stay home when sick, and to wash their hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds.

“For those students and faculty on Spring Break, we will continue to monitor the situation and provide an updated communication before classes resume,” SCF said on its website.

The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee followed the guidance of state and federal agencies, according to an update posted on Thursday.

“As we near a much-anticipated spring break, we know many of you are planning to travel for rest, relaxation or recreation,” it states. “Many of you may also be planning to travel for academic or professional purposes, such as to attend conferences, give lectures, present research, or other activities.”

“As of March 3, USF has canceled all university-sanctioned international travel activities for spring break, including those for education abroad, student organizations or department-sponsored programs or conferences,” the update continued.

The university started posting updates in late January, encouraging visitors to avoid contact with their eyes, mouth and nose. USF also highlighted the similarity between flu and COVID-19 symptoms, asking students to remain calm and not make presumptions.

IMG Academy reacts to COVID-19

When it comes to students of IMG Academy, a boarding school and training complex in Bradenton, travel is often necessary for sporting events.

“With spring break around the corner, and in consideration of the growing number of new coronavirus cases around the world, we are strongly discouraging international travel,” IMG reported on Tuesday.

IMG posted the first COVID-19 updates in early February, urging parents to visit their children off campus during Parents Weekend if they traveled from China, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand or Singapore.

The school added Italy and Iran to its list on Tuesday. If students visit any of the nine countries, they have to be symptom-free for two weeks before returning to campus, and parents are responsible for their off-campus arrangements.

In the recent update, IMG said it would house students if their travel plans were canceled.

“This is our current policy for all staff, students, campus visitors and anyone else that may be coming on campus for the foreseeable future,” IMG said on its website. “All visitors on campus will also be asked to fill out a questionnaire regarding international travel and current health status.”

This story was originally published March 5, 2020 at 5:00 AM.