A CULTURAL exchange between schools in Hong Kong and Horsham has been postponed due to concerns about putting the students under "unnecessary risk" of contracting the coronavirus.
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Holy Trinity Lutheran College in Horsham sent a letter to families from principal Daniel Weller advising them of the decision on Thursday.
"It is a sad and unfortunate circumstance but I feel this is the best course of action and is for the best of our students and the wider community."
Mr Weller said he had been carefully monitoring the outbreak of the virus and also communicating with the principals of the sister schools in Hong Kong.
"Given the current climate I feel that travelling at this time would put our students and our school community at an unnecessary risk. It is for this reason that both the Year 6 and Senior School trips planned for next month will be cancelled, he said.
"Additionally, after discussions with both principals from the Lutheran primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong it has been agreed that their planned trip to Horsham will also be cancelled."
Twenty students from Lutheran sister schools in Hong Kong had been expected to arrive in mid February, while year six and year 11 students from Horsham were due to travel to China in March.
The federal health department has issued new advice amid evidence the virus has been spread by people before they develop any symptoms.
The government has warned people to reconsider their travel to China and not go to Hubei province.
Anyone who has recently been to Hubei or had contact with a confirmed case must isolate themselves at home for 14 days from the date of their departure.
Seven people, including two in Victoria, have been confirmed to have the virus after travelling to Australia from Hubei province in central China.
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Eliza Berlage
Eliza Berlage made the move to Horsham to report for the Wimmera Mail-Times in October 2019. Originally from Sydney, she has a sociology background and spent two years working in the press gallery in Canberra.
Eliza Berlage made the move to Horsham to report for the Wimmera Mail-Times in October 2019. Originally from Sydney, she has a sociology background and spent two years working in the press gallery in Canberra.
