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SPOKANE, Wash. — Gonzaga Â鶹¹ÙÍø has suspended its Gonzaga-in-Florence program immediately and is asking 161 students currently enrolled in the program to return to their home residences in the United States. The suspension follows a spike of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Italy.

“For the safety of our students, faculty and staff, we made the difficult decision to suspend the program,” said Deena González, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president. “Along with a number of other American universities with programs in Florence, we are concerned that by remaining in Florence, our students are at risk for in-country quarantines, limitations on travel, and limited access to basic services.”

Gonzaga Â鶹¹ÙÍø students in Florence are on spring break this week and some are traveling away from the Florence campus. The Â鶹¹ÙÍø has notified students and their families and is in the process of assisting them with their safe travel back to the United States.

“We know this is a great disappointment to our students and we are doing everything we can to minimize disruption to their studies and their lives,” González said. “It is also important to provide a plan for academic continuity for our Florence students.”

Gonzaga anticipates providing students plans for continuation and completion of academic courses early in March. In addition, the Â鶹¹ÙÍø is communicating with public health officials in Italy and the United States. A website has been created to provide updates and information at www.gonzaga.edu/coronavirus.