CU Boulder Suspends Education Abroad-Sponsored Programs To China

BOULDER, CO — The University of Colorado Boulder is among many colleges around the world that are suspending programs to China after the World Health Organization's coronavirus public health emergency declaration. CU Boulder has halted its Education Abroad-sponsored programs for the spring 2020 semester.

Boulder County and university health officials are closely monitoring the spread of the virus and are taking measures in accordance with the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

“While the CDC considers this a serious public health concern to monitor, the immediate health risk to the general public is currently considered low in the U.S.,” Gloria Brisson, the university's senior director of medical services, told CU Boulder Today.

There are currently no confirmed cases in Colorado. An Illinois woman and her husband mark the first U.S. case of coronavirus spreading from one person to another. The virus has reportedly caused 132 deaths in China and more than 5,000 confirmed cases.

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Symptoms and how to stop the spread of coronavirus

Common human coronaviruses usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory illnesses, like the common cold, health officials said. These illnesses typically only last for a short time.

Symptoms may include:

• runny nose
• headache
• cough
• sore throat
• fever
• a general feeling of being unwell

Coronaviruses can also sometimes cause lower-respiratory illnesses, such as pneumonia or bronchitis.

The illness can spread through:

• the air by coughing and sneezing
• close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
• touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands
• rarely, fecal contamination

There are currently no vaccines to prevent coronavirus, but health officials offer these tips for preventing the spread of the illness:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.