ELON, N.C. — Elon University is pulling students back home from the Florence, Italy study abroad program.

School officials made the decision to suspend the program due to health and safety concerns from the coronavirus outbreak. Twenty students and one faculty member are expected to return home from Florence this week.

“For students in Florence, we understand that they're frustrated. We're frustrated too,” said Shanna Van Beek, Communications Manager of Global Education. “We're doing the best we can and we're making our decisions primarily based on their health and wellness and safety.”

The students will finish their programs online with professors from Italy.