Middle Tennessee State University continues to closely monitor the coronavirus outbreak. As of this morning, Feb. 3, no MTSU students have been identified who have traveled to one of the impacted areas within the past 14 days and have physical symptoms of coronavirus. Both presence in the area and the presence of physical symptoms must be present to indicate the need for further testing. 

The U.S. Department of State late last week issued a Level 4 travel advisory, also known as a “Do Not Travel” alert, for the entire country of China. This is the government’s most severe warning and it expands the caution beyond Hubei Province, where the virus' epicenter, Wuhan, is located. 

Therefore, in line with federal government guidance, MTSU will curb all students, faculty, and staff from traveling to China on university matters or business until further notice. All non-essential, university-sponsored travel to China will not be approved during this period. 

We are also discouraging the university community from personal travel to China, as the State Department has further advised that travelers to that country should be prepared for the possibility of travel restrictions with little or no advance notice and that most commercial air carriers have reduced or suspended routes to and from China.

Although the risk of transmission of the virus to our university community remains very low, we are implementing these measures out of an abundance of concern for the safety and well-being of our campus.

We will continue to update the University community as warranted.

Thank you,

Sidney A. McPhee