Workers in protective suits spray disinfectant as a precaution against the COVID-19 at an indoor gymnasium in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. China and South Korea on Tuesday reported more cases of a new viral illness that has been concentrated in North Asia but is causing global worry as clusters grow in the Middle East and Europe. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Workers in protective suits spray disinfectant as a precaution against the COVID-19 at an indoor gymnasium in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. China and South Korea on Tuesday reported more cases of a new viral illness that has been concentrated in North Asia but is causing global worry as clusters grow in the Middle East and Europe. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) Credit: Lee Jin-man

The University of New Hampshire has cancelled study and research programs in China and South Korea, the two countries with the highest alert from the U.S. Center for Disease Controls in light of the COVID-19coronavirus outbreak.

The university said Wednesday that it had previously canceled student programs in China and, due to the recent CDC decision to raise South Korea to a Level 3 Health Alert, it has canceled a program there “that has not yet started” and is “working to support the travel and study arrangements of our four students currently in Korea.”

Wednesday’s announcement noted that UNH has 96 students studying in Italy, where there has been a recent outbreak in the northern part of the country. As of Wednesday, the travel and health advisory for Italy is at Level 2, indicating the need for “increased caution.”

“At this time we do not prohibit student travel to locations other than China and South Korea,” the UNH announcement said.

“All UNH study abroad students are covered by the UNH International Travel Assistance and Insurance Program and enrolled in the UNH International Travel Registry that facilitates communication and support in the event of an emergency. Students with questions about their study abroad program should contact their in-country program staff and their UNH study abroad advisor,” the announcement said.

David Brooks can be reached at dbrooks@cmonitor.com. Sign up for his Granite Geek weekly email newsletter at granitegeek.org.