The 22 University of Delaware students who returned from Rome after the university canceled its spring study abroad program in Rome have been instructed to isolate themselves from others while monitoring for symptoms of coronavirus.

Students who wish to return to campus must first self-quarantine for 14 days.

The university canceled the program in late February because of the rapidly escalating coronavirus outbreak in Italy. With more than 9,000 confirmed cases as of Tuesday, the Italian government ordered a nationwide lockdown, including travel restrictions. It also banned public gatherings.

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UD will refund student fees paid to the university, as well as the cost of evacuating from Italy. Students were given the option to complete the semester online through host school John Cabot University.

In line with Italy's travel restrictions, all students at John Cabot have been advised to stay home. The university will move to remote learning next week.

With no confirmed cases in Delaware, classes will proceed as normal, the University of Delaware told students in a written statement last week. That was still in effect early Tuesday. The university said it is continuing to monitor the situation and is evaluating distance learning options should the need arise.

Across the country, colleges are taking more drastic measures. At Harvard University, students were told not to return to campus after spring break, as the school will switch exclusively to distance learning.

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More than 40 colleges have canceled in-person classes because of growing coronavirus concerns, according to NPR. Ohio State canceled in-person classes Tuesday through the end of the month.

UD has restricted all university-sponsored travel to countries labeled by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a Level 3 risk. That includes China, Italy, South Korea and Iran. Students and staff who travel to a Level 3 country over spring break must self-quarantine for 14 days before returning to campus.

Natalia Alamdari covers education for The News Journal. Have a story about schools to share? You can reach her at (302) 324-2312 or nalamdari@delawareonline.com.