Image Credit: ADOBE STOCK
February 27, 2020 - 9:17 AM
The Central Okanagan school board has cancelled a European band trip which was scheduled to take place in March due to coronavirus concerns.
Central Okanagan Public Schools board chair Moyra Baxter said the board was approached by Okanagan Mission Secondary teachers and its principal who requested for the trip to be cancelled.
It was scheduled to take place from March 8 to March 21 and roughly 90 students were expected to travel through five countries, including Italy, Baxter said.
With students travelling through so many borders, by train, plane and boat, not only is there the danger of getting sick, there’s the danger of being stranded or being quarantined, Baxter said.
“So they have decided the best thing is not to go,” she said.
As of Thursday, Feb. 27, Italy reported 528 cases and 12 confirmed deaths from the virus, the most of any country outside Asia. The patients who died were either elderly or already sick from other ailments.
The decision was made during Wednesday night’s regular school board meeting, Feb. 26.
Central Okanagan Public Schools sent out a letter to parents this month to alleviate some concerns around the virus.
The letter outlines recommendations for extra precautions for students and staff who have travelled to China in the last few months.
- With files from the Associated Press
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