Two international Nanaimo-Ladysmith Public School District trips are cancelled in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

TRIPS CANCELLED

Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district cancels international trips due to coronavirus

Mar 12, 2020 | 3:50 PM

NANAIMO — The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the cancellation of two major international trips about to be taken by Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools students.

A large trip was set for Spain and Portugal and a smaller expedition to Cuba over spring break.

Dale Burgos, communications director for SD68, told NanaimoNewsNOW the decision to cancel wasn’t made lightly.

“There were a lot of factors the district had to look at and refer to. Part of it is the travel health advisory, we’re going by what the government of Canada and provincial health officers were saying.”

Spain is currently at a Level 1 travel health notice for COVID-19, which advise tourists to practice usual health precautions. There are no advisories for Portugal.

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Burgos said Spain being listed in a health notice made the decision to cancel a “no brainer.”

While there is no advisories in place for Cuba, Burgos said the World Health Organization declaring the spread of COVID-19 a pandemic “was a big part of the decision.”

He couldn’t say how many students the trip cancellations would affect.

In recent days, Burgos said he’s fielded numerous calls and had to correct misinformation about COVID-19 and how it’s impacting the district.

“If there’s any information that people need to know about in terms of potential school closures or spring break travel, all of that will come right from the school district or the principal of the school.”

Parents should expect a letter from the district by the end of the week regarding spring break travel, urging them to refer to proper medical advice when returning from foreign countries.

Burgos said their schools will undergo some “extra cleaning” over the two-week spring break as a result of the evolving COVID-19 situation.

Seven new cases of COVID-19 in B.C. were announced by the provincial health officer on Thursday, March 12. The total numbers sits at 53, including one on Vancouver Island.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit