Prince George school district imposes ban on student trips to Italy

For some high school students, trips to visit foreign countries during spring break are one of the highlights of the school year.

Students, teachers and administrators begin planning those trips soon after classes convene in September and they set up fundraisers to help pay the cost of travel for organized tours of exotic destinations like Italy, Japan and England.

The outbreak of novel coronavirus has scuttled some of those travel plans for students in the Prince George school district and at least a couple groups planning overseas trips over spring break won't be going.

"Due to the risk of COVID-19 the district has canceled a few of our trips overseas and as of last night the trips to northern Italy have been canceled," said School District 57 chair Tim Bennett.

"These situations are changing as we have conversations with the tour companies and Northern Health and local schools. Each trip is being evaluated."

Secondary school students at Kelly Road and D.P. Todd had planned on visiting Italy. The need to cancel was highlighted Tuesday when Air Canada decided to ground all planes to and from that country until at least May 1.

Bennett said a group of high school students from Duchess Park is planning a trip to London, England and another group has Mexico in its sights for a spring break visit.

"As of right now, those who are staying within continental North America are still being evaluated and we have to take our leads from Northern Health, the Ministry of Education and the tour companies in talking with the sponsors and the families involved," said Bennett.

Concerns over the novel coronavirus led to New Brunswick imposing a ban Tuesday on international visitors to schools in that province for the next two weeks. Bennett said he's had no indication from provincial school authorities of calls for a similar ban in B.C. schools.

SD 57 schools have stepped up procedures to encourage more measures to encourage hand-washing and surface/object decontamination. The district sent a letter this week to all families discussing what should be done to reduce the risk of spreading germs as a result of coughing or sneezing and is encouraging students and staff to stay home from school if they are showing cold or flu-like symptoms.

"We are working very closely with Northern Health, with government and the provincial health officer to monitor the situation in regular debriefs," said Bennett. "Our staff in our building are encouraging precautionary measures to ensure that hands are well-washed and you're keeping hands away from your face and not sharing cups and containers."