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Ohio State Extends Travel Restrictions To Italy And Iran As Coronavirus Spreads

Aerial view of The Oval on Ohio State University's campus
Ohio State University
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Ohio State University

Ohio State University officials are extending travel restrictions due to concerns about the coronavirus outbreak. They now include university-sponsored travel to Italy and Iran.

Faculty, staff and students will be restricted from traveling to those countries along with China and South Korea through at least April 20.

Ohio State says they are following guidelines updated Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The school is advising students, faculty and staff to avoid all non-essential travel to Iran and Italy. 

Last month, the school announced students and employees returning from China are not permitted to come to work, attend class or participate in any campus activities for 14 days after leaving China.

Gov. Mike DeWine said in a press conference last week that all Ohioans must have a "sense of urgency" about the emerging COVID-19 threat. DeWine said that all seven people who had returned to Ohio from overseas have been tested for the virus,b ut all tested negative.

More than 200 people in the statehave been asked to voluntarily quarantine for 14 days after traveling overseas.