The University announced the suspension of the Jerusalem study abroad program and offered updates regarding responses to COVID-19 in an email to the Notre Dame community Tuesday morning. “The University has suspended programs at the Jerusalem Global Gateway at Tantur and the Tantur Ecumenical Institute there after Israeli authorities closed the crossing between Jerusalem and Bethlehem because of confirmed cases of coronavirus there,” Paul Browne, vice president for the Office of Public Affairs and Communications, said in the email. “As a result, most Tantur staff can no longer get to work.” According to the email, the University Emergency Operations Center is currently making plans to send students home as soon as possible, but the students will not be required to self-quarantine because they are asymptomatic.
Additionally, the email offered updates on the students who were previously studying in Italy and Japan. The students currently being quarantined after returning from Italy will be able to return to campus following medical clearance. Students who do not need to be on campus in person to finish the semester will be able to work remotely from their home.
Browne confirmed the students studying in Japan have returned home safely. Regarding other European countries, the email said the University is monitoring the situation. “Conditions in Spain, France, Germany, Ireland and the U.K. or anywhere Notre Dame students are studying are being monitored closely by the University,” the email said. “Students studying there will be repatriated quickly if the CDC elevates the countries to Level 3 or other circumstances warrant.” Browne also addressed the coronavirus’ presence in Indiana. “A fourth case of coronavirus in Indiana was reported Monday near Fort Wayne, the first in the northeast part of the state. There are no reported cases on the Notre Dame campus,” he said in the email. The University urges students to seek medical attention from either University Health Services or their primary care physician if they have questions or concerns.
