In this picture taken on March 1, 2020 a child rides his bicycle outsited a closed Allianz Stadium in Turin, northern Italy. The Italian Cup semifinal between Juventus and AC Milan scheduled for Wednesday, March 4, 2020 in Turin has been postponed indefinitely as part of measures to stop the spread of the virus outbreak in Italy. (Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via AP)

A handful of SUNY Fredonia students who are currently studying overseas have been ordered to return home.

On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that the State University of New York’s and the City University of New York’s study abroad programs in China, Italy, Japan, Iran and South Korea have been suspended effective immediately in response to concerns over novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. The decision was made based on recommendations from the New York State Department of Health. SUNY and CUNY are making arrangements to bring back all non-essential students, faculty and staff currently studying or working in those countries and begin 14-day quarantine.

All five countries have either been issued a Level 2 or Level 3 travel notice from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to Jeff Woodard, director of Marketing and Communications at SUNY Fredonia, due to this order, five students who are in Italy will be returning.

“As we continue to see a rise in cases of novel coronavirus around the world, we are taking every precaution necessary and mobilizing our public health system to protect New Yorkers,” Cuomo said in a news release Tuesday. “Out of an abundance of caution, SUNY and CUNY study abroad programs in the highest impacted countries will be suspended effective immediately and all students and staff will return to New York and begin a 14-day quarantine. It’s important that facts outweigh fear, and the reality is we are getting the testing done, getting the information out and deploying healthcare resources to treat people who need it, so I am reminding New Yorkers that there is no reason for undue anxiety and the general risk remains low in New York.”

For SUNY and CUNY students in impacted countries who have yet to return to the U.S., SUNY is currently arranging chartered flights from South Korea, Italy and Japan to New York Stewart International Airport in the coming days. Upon arrival and in accordance with DOH guidelines, local and state health representatives will screen passengers and SUNY will arrange transportation to designated SUNY campus dormitories to begin 14-day quarantines. SUNY and CUNY will then work closely with campuses, the DOH, and local health departments to provide medical monitoring, remote course study, and various resources to help individuals during the quarantine period.

Woodard did not say where the Fredonia students will be staying during their quarantine.

According to the governor, “out of an abundance of caution,” SUNY and CUNY have cancelled campus-sponsored travel outside of the United States to impacted countries for the spring semester. SUNY and CUNY will continue to review CDC guidance and work closely with DOH to make additional determinations on continuing or cancelling upcoming travel at all other campus sponsored international locations.

SUNY Chancellor Kristina Johnson said the students will be provided with financial and academic resources and work to minimize any disruption the action may cause.

In related news, the 12 members of two Buffalo-area families who were quarantined after returning from Italy have tested negative for the virus.