Coronavirus Closings: Several Maryland School Districts Cancel Travel
TOWSON, Md. (WJZ) -- A number of area school systems have canceled field trips due to the spread of the coronavirus.
According to Cecil County Public Schools, The Maryland Department of Education advised Wednesday that all out-of-state field trips be canceled.
Both the Baltimore County and Anne Arundel County public school systems have canceled all field trips outside of Maryland and Washington, D.C., until further notice, officials said Monday.
Anne Arundel County Public Schools also announced the immediate cancelation of all school-system related large-scale public events and all school field trips that are not part of the core mission of school system instruction.
Baltimore City Schools previously canceled all travel out of Maryland and DC.
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"It had been our -- and still remains our -- goal to operate our school system as normal as possible," Anne Arundel County Schools spokesperson Bob Mosier said.
On Tuesday, Howard County Public Schools said they are canceling all out-of-state field trips and athletic events, including those to the nation's capital, for the rest of the school year.
In-state trips are being "reassessed individually," school officials said.
Prince George's County Schools have also canceled all international trips. Officials said they are "monitoring" in-state travel.
Also Tuesday, Frederick County Public Schools said it is canceling all overnight out-of-state field trips, athletic events and staff travel.
Carroll County Public Schools announced it is canceling all out-of-state travel for students and staff effective immediately and until further notice. This includes all out-of-state field trips, meetings, events, conferences, and athletic activities.
Harford County Schools have not announced any cancellations but are asking schools not to schedule any new trips.
Montgomery County Public Schools said all out-of-state field trips and athletic events are suspended until further notice. This guidance will be updated no later than the week of April 20, 2020. All scheduled trips and athletic events within Maryland will continue as planned.
Queen Anne's County Public Schools said all out-of-state and international travel has been canceled for students and staff, including athletic teams, field trips, educator professional development and other activities.
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Should schools need to be closed, officials in Anne Arundel County are talking about how they would handle online instruction and meals.
"You can't deliver the exact same thing online that you can in the classroom," Mosier said.
Gov. Larry Hogan announced Wednesday that there are now 12 statewide cases of coronavirus.
For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department's website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ's coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.
