Date: 02/04/2020
At Student Travel, we know that the unprecedented global situation we all face is challenging every aspect of our day-to-day lives.
As a travel-based company, while it’s difficult for us to witness the world on lock-down, with social distancing and travel bans commonplace, we firmly believe in the measures being taken to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals, families and communities.
As this situation is evolving daily, it is important that we all stay informed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) and World Health Organization (“WHO”) have published guidance that is continuously revised as more COVID-19 information is learned.
At this point, we wanted to take the time to update you on what is happening behind the scenes at Student Travel Romania:
• The Exchange Visitor Program, the visa on which the Work and Travel and Camp USA program operates, is suspended until May 11th. All our departure dates are later dates.
• Our team, who are working remotely from their homes all across Romania, are continuing to work diligently alongside our American visa sponsors to prepare for the upcoming summer. Our goal of providing a life changing summer experience has not changed, and our host companies remain excited to welcome international staff.
• Your start dates, travel arrangements, visa appointments and length of time at your host company, may change over the coming days and weeks as we navigate our way through this unprecedented situation. With this we ask that you continue to remain as positive, open and flexible as possible.
• Due to the Corona virus outbreak we are operating with reduced levels of staff. This is having an impact on communication response times and capacity. We ask that anyone who is not due to travel in the near future help us by waiting for us to contact them first.
• Our utmost priority is the safety of our participants, staff, and partners, and we will only facilitate travel if it is safe to do so. We are following the advice and information from the U.S Department of State, local government authorities, and our partner visa sponsors.
• As a precautionary measure, we are working on alternative plans for the unlikely instance that it is not safe for the program to go ahead. Further information will be released in the near future. As of now (02/04/20) the Work and Travel USA and Camp USA programs are still going ahead and standard program agreement terms apply.
Most importantly, we would like to thank our participants, partners and staff for their overwhelmingly positive response during these difficult times. We have received many positive messages via phone, email, and on our social media page. Although the near future may be uncertain for us all, we are reminded that positivity, kindness, and cultural exchange are here to stay.
Tips to Prevent the Spread of Respiratory Diseases
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a face mask.
- CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
- Face masks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of face masks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
