[KS] Study abroad cancellations

[Dylan Davis]

Hi Robert,

Below is the latest UC Berkeley guidance on travel to South Korea (see
yellow highlighted section). Waivers are now required for all
university-funded travel to Korea (and China). Study abroad programs to
Korea have been suspended for spring 2020 (see link here
<https://uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu/coronavirus-notice>for more). Not
sure about summer and fall.

Sincerely,

Dylan


Dylan Davis
Associate Director, Institute of East Asian Studies,
University of California, Berkeley
1995 University Avenue, Suite 510
<https://maps.google.com/?q=1995+University+Avenue,+Suite+510+Berkeley,+CA%C2%A0+94704&entry=gmail&source=g>
Berkeley, CA  94704
<https://maps.google.com/?q=1995+University+Avenue,+Suite+510+Berkeley,+CA%C2%A0+94704&entry=gmail&source=g>-2318
USA
T: 510-642-2815 F: 510-642-5035 C: 510-292-8632
http://ieas.berkeley.edu

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Marc Fisher Vice Chancellor Administration (campus-wide) <
CALmessages at berkeley.edu>
Date: Thu, Feb 27, 2020 at 6:43 PM
Subject: Update on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)
To: <calmessages_communication at lists.berkeley.edu>


[image: White Berkeley logo on Founder's Rock Blue background]
Vice Chancellor, Administration

Dear campus community:

There have been a number of new and significant developments regarding the
novel coronavirus (COVID-19), consequently we are writing to you today to
share the latest information and guidance with you.

At this time, there are no confirmed cases of the virus on campus or in
Alameda County. We remain vigilant in our campus prevention and response
efforts, which have been underway for months now, and are ready to take
prompt and effective action should a case occur here.

Recent developments regarding the virus include the announcement by public
health officials this week of a new and troubling confirmed coronavirus
case in Solano County; news of notable spread of the disease in more
countries; and a warning from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) that Americans should expect to see more cases here
including the possibility of the virus spreading in some communities.  To
prepare, local officials should review their pandemic plans, and everyone
should follow the standard protocols of washing their hands frequently, not
touching their face and staying home if sick.

Please keep in mind that while the potential public health threat posed by
COVID-19 is high, both globally and to the United States, the CDC states
that the risk to the general American public, which is unlikely to be
exposed to this virus at this time, is considered low. Still, we realize
that this is a difficult time and we encourage the entire campus community
to look out for one another.


*New case in Solano county*The CDC and public health officials have
announced that the new confirmed case in Solano County involves an
individual who has not traveled to the impacted countries and has had no
known contact with individuals with the virus. The individual is being
treated at the UC Davis
<https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/message-campus-community-covid-19> Medical
Center.

Because this case is not connected with travel, it suggests that the virus
may now be present in the U.S. community. As a result, public health
professionals have today updated protocols for determining the criteria for
testing individuals, have bolstered testing capacity at state and local
laboratories, and are updating travel and other guidance daily.

On the Berkeley campus, we are proactively engaged in pandemic planning in
collaboration with our public health partners: this includes everything
from intentional use and preservation of essential medical supplies and
staffing resources, to enhancing protocols and coordinating efforts to
isolate sick and quarantine at-risk individuals. This is in addition to
ongoing efforts that include campus leaders meeting at least weekly to
develop and review plans regarding best practices such as where and how to
house individuals if a case occurs; how to ensure we will meet teaching
obligations if there are a number of cases on campus; and how to assist and
support international students, researchers and other potentially impacted
members of our campus community.

Campus officials are also working in coordination with the University of
California, Office of the President, which activated its Emergency
Operations Center many weeks ago and continues to hold regular conference
calls including medical, environmental health and safety, administrative,
and emergency management leadership from across the UC system.


*Spread of the disease in more countries*There have been a number of news
reports of the virus’s growing impact in other countries including Italy
and South Korea. UC President Janet Napolitano recently updated her
systemwide directive
<https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/2020/01/letter-from-president-napolitano-february-26-2020.pdf>
regarding travel to advise the UC community to temporarily avoid all
nonessential travel to countries that are designated with a CDC Travel
Warning <https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html> –
Level 3 Notice (avoid nonessential travel). Note that the CDC travel
warning is distinct from the State Department travel advisories
<https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/>.
The systemwide directive currently includes South Korea as well as China
(excluding the Special Administrative Regions of Macau an d Hong Kong).

We would in addition strongly recommend that everyone carefully review both the
CDC website <https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html>
and the State Department
<https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/>website
in planning for upcoming personal travel: additional hot spots are likely
to emerge and in addition to the risk of exposure while abroad, there is a
risk that border controls similar to those currently in place for China may
be put in place by the U.S. Government and it could be challenging to
return.

The Berkeley campus has a process
<https://globalengagement.berkeley.edu/faculty-staff/international-travel-resources>
in place by which members of the campus community may seek exemptions for
university-related travel. We also encourage everyone who travels, whether
for university business or for personal travel, to register with the
campus travel
service <https://riskservices.berkeley.edu/insurance-programs/travel>,
which provides additional protections and safety measures.

Please continue to refer to the University Health Services’ advisory page
<https://uhs.berkeley.edu/coronavirus-covid-19-information>, which is
updated weekly or more frequently when needed.  Significant campus updates
will be communicated through Cal Message and other means, as appropriate

And, once again, please continue to take care of yourselves and look out
for each other as we work our way through these difficult times.

Sincerely,


*Anna Harte, M.D.*Medical Director, University Health Services


*Marc Fisher*Vice Chancellor, Administration






On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 5:42 PM Robert M Oppenheim <rmo at austin.utexas.edu>
wrote:

> Dear Korean studies list members,
>
> The University of Texas at Austin is one of the North American
> universities that cancelled Spring 2020 undergraduate study abroad in S.
> Korea a few days ago, and recalled all undergraduate students already
> there.  Because of where we already are almost halfway through the Spring
> 2020 semester here in Austin, the affected students are not being allowed
> to register for replacement UT courses.  They are, instead, being required
> to withdraw for the semester, and actually must apply for readmission to
> the university in Fall 2020, although they have been assured that this is
> pro forma.
>
> While I suspect that the situation is roughly the same at other
> semester-system universities that have recalled their Korean study abroad
> students, I am curious if there are exceptions or better alternatives in
> the works elsewhere.
>
> Best,
>
> Rob
>
> Robert Oppenheim
> Professor
> Department of Asian Studies
> University of Texas at Austin
>
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