KALISPELL — Flathead Valley Community College officials have canceled a study abroad trip to Italy due to coronavirus concerns.
As of Wednesday morning, there are more than 2,500 confirmed cases of the virus in Italy.
Italy’s government announced Wednesday that schools and universities in the country are closed through March 15, due to the coronavirus outbreak.
10 Flathead Valley Community College students had planned to travel to Venice, Italy on March 18 for a two-month program.
Flathead Valley Community College President Jane Karas said the trip to Italy was the college’s only study abroad program planned spring semester.
She said school officials decided to cancel the trip in the best interest of student safety.
“Certainly, with the warnings from the State Department and the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, we really felt that we didn’t have any other option,” said Karas.
Karas added that all students affected by the cancellation will be given a chance to participate in next year’s Venice trip.
