Saskatoon schools cancel Japan exchange trips because of corona virus fears

A nearly 30-year Saskatoon Public School tradition has been interrupted this year.

The Japan student exchange has been cancelled as a direct result of the rapid spread and transmission of the corona virus around the globe.

Japanese students were initially supposed to arrive tomorrow (Friday, Mar. 6).

Similarly, the Greater Saskatoon Catholic School Division has also cancelled its Japanese exchange trips.

Currently, the Federal Government’s travel advisory for Japan includes information about local transmission of COVID-19, and the risk to travellers – especially in Hokkaido.

It also asks travellers to Japan to avoid large crowds and to monitor their health for 14 days upon return to Canada. The students from Saskatchewan were to visit the areas of Takaoka and Kitahiroshima, with tours of Tokyo and Kyoto.

Public School Division spokesperson Veronica Baker says Japan parents initially contacted them about their concerns.

“We subsequently heard from them in the last couple of days that both host locations cancelled receiving students from Canada as well. And there’s of course been a number of stringent steps taken in Japan to be managing the outbreak there.”

Both school divisions also have some trips to France, Spain, and Portugal booked for their high school students, during the Easter break. It’s not clear at this point, says Baker, whether those trips may also be scrubbed.

“(There’s) nothing of imminent concern right now. The areas that they’re going to are not areas that have had real concerns raised. But we will be watching this as it develops to see if there’s anything else we need to be doing.”

At this point, while there haven’t yet been any confirmed cases of corona virus in Saskatchewan, both school divisions are also telling students to be mindful of their hygiene, have updated their information and are sending that information home with them.

Principles have also been made aware of any students/families travelling  to and from China, South Korea, Iran and other countries who may attend local schools.