UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State is officially canceling all University-affiliated student travel to the United Kingdom and Ireland and directing students to return home. Future University-affiliated travel the United Kingdom and Ireland is restricted and faculty and staff currently at these locations are strongly encouraged to return home immediately.
This decision comes after the U.S. government announced on March 14 that the restrictions on travel from Europe to the United States had been extended to include the United Kingdom and Ireland and would go into effect after midnight on Monday, March 16. The U.S. Department of State issued a Global Health Advisory related to coronavirus at a Level 3 (Reconsider Travel), which remains in place. Based on these developments, we strongly advise non-U.S. citizens who plan to return to the United States to make arrangements to leave the United Kingdom and Ireland as soon as possible.
Penn State will work with affected students to minimize the disruption to their academic plans and to mitigate financial impacts of this decision.
The CDC issued a worldwide coronavirus travel notice at a Level 2 (Practice Enhanced Precautions), which includes the U.K. and Ireland. Students currently abroad in other CDC Level 2 locations for which there are no restrictions on returning to the U.S. have nonetheless been contacted with instructions and options for returning to the U.S. or to continue their coursework.
For those choosing to stay abroad, the University is recommending they limit all personal travel and follow the latest guidance from these sources:
Penn State will continue to monitor available resources and will communicate any changes in the University’s travel policies or guidance to the relevant people. The health and safety of the Penn State community is the University’s top priority. Additional information on what Penn State is doing in response to the coronavirus, or COVID-19, is available on the university website for coronavirus.