React and care:
A participant tests positive
Fall 2021
Program Summary:
A week-long European trip in the fall of 2021 with 15+ participants from a US-based university. The program’s itinerary included both academic visits and cultural excursions.
The challenge we faced:
To keep the program on track as planned, while still ensuring the health and safety of the students after a participant tested positive for COVID. This was conducted in line with ISP’s standards and according to safety protocol that was set out and agreed upon with the client before travel.
How ISP handled it:
The program was managed by one of our trusted, local partners, they oversaw testing, communication with local health officials and helped guide the group through the steps required.
Daily self-testing and staying in individual rooms was required from the beginning of the program and remained in place for the healthy students throughout the program. The student who tested positive had to be quarantined in their hotel room and was tested every five days until negative.
Our partner continuously checked in on the student, ensuring they had everything they needed to feel cared for. Thanks to our prompt response to the situation the program could continue as planned.
Key Takeaways:
Pre-program briefing: Client safety onboarding and briefing is an essential part of our program preparation. These online sessions prior to traveling, ensure the client is aware of program contingency options, safety protocols and local COVID guidelines, if someone were to test positive.
Trusted on-the-ground personnel: We highly recommend traveling with an ISP representative and/or a long-time partner of ISP. Our trusted local partners and destination managers act on our behalf and always uphold our values and standards, guaranteeing a high-impact study program.
Be insured: We highly recommended the purchase of travel insurance prior to your trip, so no matter what happens on the ground, you’ll be covered and can have peace of mind!
Travel Safely with ISP:
In our 23 years, we’ve faced a variety of unforeseen situations, and we have the protocol to ensure our participants are cared for and their safety remains number-one. Both our team and our local partners are always prepped and ready to take on any situation that may arise and did so this time by communicating quickly with local health authorities, arranging testing and briefing the COVID positive individual on the quarantine procedure.
Whether you’re traveling with our ISP team or one of our trusted, local partners, rest assured your needs will always remain the top priority.