Second Wexford CBS trip cancelled over coronavirus
STUDENTS at Wexford CBS were left disappointed once again after a second trip fell victim to the coronavirus pandemic and had to be cancelled.
A transition year trip to China was called off at the beginning of last month as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak and yesterday Principal Michael McMahon confirmed that a TY trip to Italy had also been axed at the final hour as a result of health and safety concerns.
A total of 45 students from the school were due to fly out to Rome last night (Monday) before taking in Pompeii, Naples and Sorrento, however given concerns over travel to Italy, the decision was taken to cancel. While none of these areas are in the danger-zones of the North, the escalation of the situation and the spread of the situation in Italy has led the school and those behind the trip to exercise all available caution.
‘We tried to leave it as late as possible before making a decision in order to assess the situation,’ said Mr McMahon. ‘At this stage we had no option but to cancel the trip. Primarily it’s a matter of health and safety for our students and staff. We don’t know what might happen were they to go. Italy could be shut-down completely, leaving them stranded, or in the event of a further outbreak there, these students would be returning to their families and back into the school community. It’s a risk we simply couldn’t take.’
‘It’s a really unfortunate situation for everyone involved, but sadly there’s not much we can do about it.’
The school are currently seeking advice in a bid to see some of the money for the trip returned, however, it appears for the most part that parents will be at a loss of the cost of the trip.
For a small number of students it was a case of double disappointment. A small group of students who were due to travel on the cancelled trip to China in March were re-accommodated on the Italy trip, only for it to be cancelled as well. Some 30 students had been due to travel to Beijing on March 11, but with the Department of Foreign affairs advising against all non essential travel, the decision was taken to pull the trip.