Framingham State University Cancels Travel Over Coronavirus

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Framingham State University on Monday announced that it would cancel all international travel through this summer over concerns about the spread of the new coronavirus, COVID-19. The school also warned students to heed travel warnings during the spring break recess that begins this weekend.

"[T]oday we are announcing the cancellation of all university-related international travel and study abroad through the summer of 2020," Framingham State President Javier Cevallos said in a statement. "This includes all travel by faculty, staff, and students that is affiliated with or sponsored by Framingham State. At this time, university-sponsored domestic travel within the continental U.S. has not been canceled."

The cancellation comes as the number of coronavirus cases in the Boston area has jumped. On Sunday, state officials confirmed 15 new "presumptive positive" cases, bringing the state's total to 28. Only one of those cases has been confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control, however.

Still, concern about a larger outbreak was sweeping the state on Monday. Schools in Newton, Plymouth, Malden, Worcester, and elsewhere were closed after possible exposures. Natick closed the high school for a deep cleaning on Sunday night after a parent of two students tested presumptive positive.

Other local universities, including Worcester Polytechnic and Assumption College, have canceled travel-related activities. Princeton University on Monday asked students to stay home after spring break. Meanwhile, MIT has decided to stop holding classes with more than 150 students, opting to switch about 20 classes to online-only.

At Framingham State, the school's Emergency Preparedness Committee has been meeting daily to monitor the coronavirus outbreak. Facilities staff have stepped up cleaning around campus, according to the school.

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Read more on the local coronavirus spread:

• Worcester's Assumption College Closes Rome Campus Over COVID-19
• WPI Halts Travel Over Coronavirus, Leaves Students 'Scrambling'