Fall River superintendent: Out-of-state field trips canceled due to coronavirus

FALL RIVER — Out-of-state field trips are the latest victim of the coronavirus for students in Fall River Public Schools.

All out-of-state travel plans for students and faculty are canceled through May 1, including previously approved plans and future plans, Superintendent Matthew Malone said in a memo Wednesday.

Any plans after May 1 are to be determined. In-state field trips and travel are set to continue as planned until further notice, he said.

Malone on Wednesday said he was "revisiting" all previously approved travel plans for students and staff due to the pandemic of the new coronavirus, COVID-19, and Gov. Charlie Baker's declaration of a state of emergency in Massachusetts.

"We are monitoring all events and are working with state partners on all decisions to cancel and/or postpone said events based on updated information," Malone's memo stated. "I encourage students and chaperones to bring hand sanitizer on all in-state bus trips, and to wash hands regularly."

Malone said school administrators will monitor plans for all school events that would feature gatherings of large crowds, and determine whether those would be canceled case-by-case.

Malone said he made the cancellation decisions, which were also approved by the School Committee.

"Although the decision will likely upset many who were looking forward to these trips, the risks are too high and I don't want to place anyone from our school community at unnecessary risk of becoming ill," Malone stated.