COLLEGE STATION, TX — Texas A&M University has suspended all student travel and non-essential travel by faculty, staff and researchers to China due to the outbreak of coronavirus.
Texas A&M suspends all student travel and all non-essential travel by faculty, staff, and researchers to China: https://t.co/JfwCUeFZ3t #tamu pic.twitter.com/vjeqkWEDDq
— Texas A&M University (@TAMU) January 28, 2020
The university said they have suspended all university-sponsored travel to China based on advice from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
Faculty, staff and graduate researchers are urged to give serious evaluation before requesting travel to China, as it will require pre-approval and only be granted for essential travel.
The university said travel to China is considered high risk and no precautions are available to protect against the identified increased risks.
A Texas A&M student was tested for a suspected case of the 2019 coronavirus. That student tested negative.
Sunday morning, China announced 15 more deaths in connection with the virus, including the first case in Shanghai, bringing the total in the Asian country to 56, The New York Times reports. The number of confirmed cases in the country reportedly stands at 1,975.
As for the U.S., officials say more confirmed infections are expected here and, as always, the public is encouraged to wash their hands, avoid touching their face with unwashed hands, and avoid close contact with sick people.