Coronavirus worries forcing students, colleges to make tough decisions on travel

Spring break is just days away for college students. However, worries about the coronavirus are forcing some to change their plans as schools put restrictions and recommendations on travel for students and staff.

NC State sent out new travel restrictions and recommendations to students and staff on Friday. The news comes as several universities in the Triangle are warning students about the coronavirus, which is impacting everything from spring break to study abroad programs.

On Saturday, UNC announced it is expanding its travel restrictions to Italy. It alreaady has travel restrictions in place for China, South Korea and Italy.

NC State student Saad Khan and his family had plans to travel to Saudi Arabia and Dubai. It's a trip he said they’ve been planning for three years.

"My parents called me and they were like 'there was an article that just came out saying they were not accepting people because of coronavirus," Khan said. "We were all in shock."

NCSU student Natalia Soto said her parents are vacationing in Italy right now. It's also on the CDC's do not travel list. She is planning her own trip to Florida, and even that has her worried.

"I am kind of thinking for driving instead of flying," Soto said. "Because of the hassle of going to the airport is already stressful enough as it is, and then the thoughts of getting in contact with someone who has been traveling to countries where the rates of coronavirus is really high is concerning, too."

Kyra Miles is one of nine UNC students studying abroad in South Korea right now, minoring in Korean. She just learned Thursday that UNC is suspending the program because of the virus.

"It's absolutely devastating, devastating," said Miles, a junior.

"This has just been a culmination of everything that I have worked toward, being here in South Korea. So to have that taken away from me, it feels like a dream is being crushed, truly."

Miles says while the concern is warranted, she and her classmates sent emails to UNC administrators asking them to reconsider.

"We want to stay here, we do want to stay," Miles said.