CLEVELAND — As concerns about coronavirus continue, 3News has learned that 10 Semanarians from Lake County and two faculty members have returned to Cleveland after traveling with John Carroll University students in Italy.
Athough none have shown signs of sickness, all are being self-quarantined back with their families. Their rooms at Borromeo seminary are being cleaned and disinfected.
Sources tell 3News that the Semanarians and students visited Rome and Sicily.
The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland issued the following statement to 3News:
Following federal and local guidelines recommended to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Saint Mary and Borromeo seminaries in Wickliffe, Ohio are suspending all seminary-related international travel. Seminarians, as well as faculty and staff members currently travelling abroad, have been requested to return to the United States. Those returning from international travel are being required to self-quarantine for 14 days within their homes before returning to campus.
New guidelines issued March 1 by the Centers for Disease Control encourage higher education institutions to consider these measures given the speed of spread and number of countries experiencing human-to-human transmission of the coronavirus.
The seminary administrations continue to work with the Lake County General Health District in monitoring the situation.
The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland has also released health-related steps that it is encouraging priests, deacons, ministers, and parishioners to take in preparation for the celebration of the liturgy.
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