XploreAsia – Our Coronavirus Response
Are you teaching in Asia? Currently, looking at joining one of our programs? Coronavirus news making you anxious? Let us fill you in on how things are on the ground, and which options are still available to you.
As the safety of our teachers is our top priority, we would like to offer some advice for our current and prospective teachers.
What We Know
Currently, there have been over 80,000 cases of the novel coronavirus, otherwise known as COVID-19, worldwide, with the vast majority of cases being in China where the infection is believed to have originated. COVID-19 is from the same family of viruses as the common flu and this new strain causes sufferers to display similar symptoms. It is unlikely to be deadly to those who are not elderly or do not have underlying health problems but it is important to stay vigilant to stop the spread to those who may be vulnerable.
Safety Advice
Across all locations, we want to share the safety measures that have been recommended by health organisations to stop the spread:
- Wash hands regularly using warm water and soap, or sanitising gel, especially before eating. It is understood that the virus spreads through droplets coming into contact with mucus membranes, so avoid touching your face with unclean hands.
- Cough and sneeze into elbows. This way, you will not dirty your hands, which can spread any germs to other people.
- Seek medical attention if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms. The UK and USA have issued advice to call a doctor rather than visit the emergency room to avoid possible infection of vulnerable people.
- When traveling, cooperate with airport staff who may be implementing extra health checks to ensure the safety of all passengers.
For reliable health advice, we suggest keeping an eye on the CDC website and the WHO website.
Our Recommendations for Current Teachers
We recommend that our teachers follow the steps above and share this knowledge with their students. Bring hand sanitiser to your classroom to keep your children safe. Some schools, particularly in South Korea, are experiencing closures as a safety precaution due to the virus. Please cooperate with your school’s safety measures.
We are closely following all travel advisories and will keep our teachers and students updated on any changes to current or future programs.
Final Advice
Stay alert, not anxious. Make sure to follow the safety procedures and travel recommendations from reliable sources.
XploreAsia ensures that steps are taken to keep our global family safe and that they feel supported. We’ve just welcomed a new group of TESOL students to Thailand and Vietnam, and have recently graduated two groups of students from our courses in South Korea and Myanmar respectively. Many of our teachers are first-time solo travelers- and that’s always scary- but we hope that this current situation doesn’t hinder your enthusiasm for traveling, teaching and making a difference.
We understand that many current teachers and prospective TESOL students may be anxious and we encourage you to get in touch with us as soon as possible to address any concerns regarding your course. For enquiries, you can contact the programs team via programs@xploreasia.org