Dozens Of N.H. Students And Staff Asked To Stay Home Due To Coronavirus Concerns

Citing concern over the novel coronavirus, the superintendent of the Kearsarge Regional School District in New Hampshire is asking 35 high school students and several staff members who recently returned from an educational trip to Europe to stay home from school.

"Therefore, out of an abundance of caution, I am asking the students and staff who attended the trip to stay home from school next week and return on Monday, March 9," Superintendent Winifried Feneberg said in a prepared statement. "This will ensure that a 14-day time period has elapsed from the time the students left the affected region."

Feneberg says the students traveled to Italy, France and the U.K., but that there's no indication they were exposed to the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

The request for the students and staff members to stay home came Sunday, the last day of the school district's February recess.

Feneberg says affected students will not be penalized for any relevant absences and that teachers will be flexible and give students plenty of time to complete any assigned work.