THUNDER BAY - Students who were hoping to get away this spring break and see the world will be remaining here in the city after fears over Covid-19 has grounded several school trips.
The Lakehead Public School Board has officially cancelled three international trips that were to depart this week and next following the growing number of Covid-19 cases around the world.
Last week, a Westgate C.V.I. trip that was to depart today for a tour of France, Austria, and Switzerland was cancelled. A meeting was held to provide information to parents and students about the cancellation and the two remaining trips.
“It was a very tough decision, but we absolutely had at the forefront the safety of our staff and students in mind,” said Michelle Probizanski, superintendent with the Lakehead Public School Board following that meeting.
On Wednesday, the Lakehead Public School Board confirmed a second trip at Westgate to Greece that was to leave on Friday is cancelled and a trip through Superior C.V.I. to Eastern Europe departing next Monday is also cancelled.
Probizanski said parents have been made aware of the cancellation policies through EF Tours and Explorica, the two companies used to organize the trips.
“The next step for both students and parents is to deal with individual tour companies,” Probizanski said. “Both the tour companies have cancellation polices and they are dealing with insurance companies. Each of the trips as far as we have been told will either get travel vouchers in the full amount of what the students have spent or be able to put in an insurance claim to get back the full amount spent minus the deposit.”
There has been a growing number of new cases of the novel coronavirus arising in Europe, particularly Italy, which has the highest number of cases outside of Asia and the entire nation is now under lockdown.
Probizanski said all the students and parents have been very understanding with respect to the decision and it will be up to each individual school to decide if the trips will be rescheduled.
This issue is not unique to the Lakehead Public Board, with school boards across the province deciding to cancel international trips due to Covid-19.
