FVCC cancels study abroad amid virus outbreak

Flathead Valley Community College made the decision to cancel its study abroad program in Venice, Italy, this week due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Both the U.S. Department of State and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued Level 3 travel advisories for Italy, advising prospective visitors to avoid all nonessential travel to the country due to a widespread and ongoing outbreak of coronavirus. As of Monday afternoon, confirmed cases of coronavirus in Italy rose 50% Sunday, bringing the total to 1,694, with 34 resulting in death, according to CNN.

FVCC President Jane Karas said the decision was made in light of the state and CDC warnings. Ten students were enrolled in the eight-week program, which was scheduled to run from March 18 to May 13 and included art and Italian language courses along with tours of historical and cultural sites.

The students affected by the cancellation will have the opportunity to participate in next year’s Venice program, Karas said. Students who opt not to go next year will be able to fulfill their degree requirements by taking similar courses offerings at the college’s main campus in Kalispell.

No other study abroad programs are scheduled for the spring semester.

“We are constantly monitoring it as a college so we can provide the safest educational opportunities for our students, whether they’re here or abroad,” Karas said.

Those monitoring efforts are widespread throughout Flathead County and the rest of Montana as the coronavirus continues to spread slowly across the United States and other countries.

The virus — believed to have originated in Wuhan, China — has affected more than 90,000 around the globe, killing approximately 3,000 to date. In the U.S., more than 100 cases have been confirmed. As of Tuesday morning, nine people, all located in Washington state, have died from the disease.

Although Seattle is a direct flight from Glacier Park International Airport, officials say they have not launched any kind of screening efforts for inbound or outbound flights.

According to Airport Director Rob Ratkowski, guidelines for screening passengers at airports typically come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but he said CDC officials in Seattle have yet to indicate that Glacier Park International Airport should be concerned.

“We are doing what we normally do for communicable diseases,” Ratkowski said. “We are encouraging people to wash their hands and do what they can to prevent any further spreading, but we are not screening anyone at this time.”

In Flathead County, Kalispell Regional Healthcare, North Valley Hospital and the Flathead City-County Health Department are keeping a close eye on the situation. And according to a press release from Kalispell Regional Medical Center, those entities are “working closely on preparedness, communications and awareness around the COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation.”

“We are responding to this potential public health crisis by implementing our collaborative valley-wide emergency response and disaster readiness plans,” said Michelle Kimball, emergency preparedness program manager for Kalispell Regional Healthcare. “As community partners, we are consistently evaluating new information and coordinating our readiness, communications and response planning.”

Flathead County Public Health Officer Hillary Hansen said the best action the public can take at this point is to be diligent in hand-washing and staying home if sick. She also highlighted the CDC recommends face masks only be used by people showing symptoms of the coronavirus.

There are currently no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Montana, but according to a recent press release from the Governor’s Office, state officials are taking steps to prepare and “aggressively respond” in the event the outbreak reaches Montana.

On Tuesday, Gov. Steve Bullock announced the creation of the Governor’s Coronavirus Task Force. The group is a multi-agency task force that will coordinate public health response, continuity of government, and communication among state, federal and local partners. Partners on the task force include the state Department of Public Health and Human Services, which, according to the press release, has already been working with public health agencies across the state to monitor 25 Montanans who recently returned from mainland China for any symptoms.

“Our local county public health partners are truly on the front lines of disease surveillance, monitoring individuals potentially exposed to the virus, and keeping their communities informed,” said Sheila Hogan, director of the Department of Public Health and Human Services. “This is a rapidly evolving situation and CDC is constantly reviewing and updating its guidance as needed.”

The Flathead City-County Health Department has set up a website and phone line dedicated to updates on the virus that can be reached at https://flatheadhealth.org/novel-coronavirus-covid-19/ or at 406-751-8188.