Brussels school trip cancelled over coronavirus concerns

The Athénée Adolphe Max school in Brussels has axed its plans to organise a ski trip to Italy over concerns about the coronavirus.

The primary school situated near the Ambiorix Square would normally have taken 90 of its pupils on a ski trip to northern Italy this Saturday.

But those plans have now been cancelled by the Brussels Capital-Region, the school’s governing body, over concerns about the coronavirus.

In total, 400 coronavirus cases have now been announced in Italy, and more than 80,000 people in 40 countries around the world have been infected with the virus since its emergence in December of last year.

An aide to Faouzia Hariche, the alderwoman for French-language education, told the French-language public broadcaster RTBF that the children’s parents would be reimbursed the costs of the €600 trip.

“It’s a shame but it was inevitable given what is happening,” said Laurent Dennemont, one of the parents.

“I had filled my small bag with toys to play with in the car,” added his 11-year-old son Thomas. “My friends and I had made plans; we’d looked at the countries we’d be driving through at night while on the trip.”

Photo: Belga / Eric Lalmand

Written by Linda A. Thompson