There were no confirmed cases of the virus on Harding’s campus or in the state of Arkansas as of Friday, but the university continues “to work with state and local officials and university resources to prepare should the spread of the virus require modification of campus operations,” stated the email. “The university has not received any communication from the Arkansas Department of Health that suggests cause for concern at this time.”

Because several students and university employees still had plans to travel abroad independently, Harding urged those “to reconsider international travel due to CDC guidance and the uncertainty of the developing situation and potential difficulties in returning home.