February 29, 2020

Suspending the Rome Program

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Department of State have raised the travel advisory for all of Italy to a Warning Level 3, the same as has been in effect for China and South Korea. Accordingly, we are suspending the program in Rome and urging all students to return home.

At this time, the number of COVID-19 cases in the Rome area remains low, and the Italian Ministry of Health has not yet called for any new provisions to be taken in Rome. But raising the warning level for all of Italy means that the CDC is recommending against all non-essential travel to that country. As a matter of course, we will suspend any Trinity-sponsored programs when the CDC elevates its travel advisory to Warning Level 3 for a particular area.

Trinity students returning from those Level 3 areas may NOT return to campus, as the college cannot ensure on our campus any self-isolation monitoring or quarantine of individuals that may be necessary. The college will work closely with them to attend to their academic needs. The program in Rome is hosting 39 students this semester, including 18 who are from visiting institutions. Students and families from the program have been informed of the suspension of the program and urged to make plans to travel home as soon as possible. The college is in communication with the visiting institutions and with our global health and safety partner, International SOS, through this transition.

As a reminder the college will provide updates to the community as new information or changing situations warrant; all updates will be posted on the new college advisories website.

Sincerely,

Martha O’Brien, MS, ANP, BC, APRN
Practice Director for Student Health Services
Hartford HealthCare
Medical Group

Joe DiChristina
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Campus Life