BREAK'S OVER
STUDENTS are being urged not to travel to places like Miami and Cancun for Spring Break as the coronavirus outbreak continues to worsen.
Music festivals have been cancelled and beach parties strongly discouraged as authorities battle to contain the virus which has killed more than 1,000 people in the US.
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Each March and April, thousands of students flock to beach resorts in Florida, Texas and Mexico for raucous Spring Break parties — but are they safe to visit this year?
Most colleges across the nation think not and are warning students not to go as coronavirus cases across the US balloon to more than 75,000.
MEXICO TRAVEL UPDATES
Mexico has fewer than 500 COVID-19 cases, but several were found in party resort Cancun, which has now closed all bars, clubs, movie theaters and casinos.
"We cannot allow the virus to spread, we must put up barriers, which is why we are working with all sectors, hoteliers, restaurateurs, shopping malls, street vendors," said Mayor Mara Lezama Espinosa, according to Travel Pulse.
"We have to act based on a strategy and in an orderly manner."
The US State Department raised the worldwide travel advisory to Level 3 earlier this month - meaning US citizens should reconsider all travel abroad.
FLORIDA BEACHES SHUT DOWN
Officials have closed beaches in Florida as the coronavirus continues to spread.
There have been nearly 2,000 people infected and at least 23 deaths in the state.
Stunning pictures showed crowded spring break beaches in Florida in the last few weeks, but local officials have now taken action and closed the beaches.
Earlier in March, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said: "I liken this to a hurricane threat."
He also issued guidance on how to avoid catching the virus, saying: "We want to remind persons to clean their fingers frequently — use hand sanitizer. A nod is much better than a handshake or a kiss."
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Miami Beach had previously banned restaurants and nightclubs from hosting more than 250 people at a time.
There have been widespread cancellations of large events, including the closure of major theme parks. On March 12, Disney announced it's closing Walt Disney World, in Orlando, Florida.
Universal Studios theme parks in Orlando and Los Angeles have also announced plans to temporarily close.
Dennis Speigel, president of the International Theme Park Services consulting firm, warned of the inherent risks.
He told the Orlando Sentinel: "If there’s a serious US outbreak, it would manifest at about the time the destination parks are really starting to kick in with Easter and Spring Break.
"That could be horrible — Spring Break, that is one of the biggest periods."
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Colleges across the US are stepping up precautions against the virus and many have cancelled study abroad programs in Asia and Italy.
Students on exchange schemes in affected regions have been ordered to return to the US.
Schools that have called back students include Elon, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield University, the University of Georgia, Villanova, Gonzaga, University of Colorado Boulder, New York University, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Auburn University and the University of Tennessee.
CORONAVIRUS CASES RISING IN THE US
More than 1,000 people in the US have died from the coronavirus.
There have been 285 deaths alone in the state of New York.
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There have been 124 deaths from the virus in Washington state.
Additionally, California has seen more than 3,000 cases so far with at least 67 deaths.
Experts had warned the virus could have been in the country unnoticed for six weeks and infected hundreds.
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