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Medical supplies could be on the way for Chesapeake international students in China

Veritas Collegiate Academy is working together to help families in China, including their own students.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. — The Veritas Collegiate Academy in Chesapeake teaches students from all over the world. Some of their students are from China. 

Kai Yang wanted to go back home for spring break, but the coronavirus has stopped his trip. 

"I know the situation in China is pretty bad. People stuck at home and there’s the virus out there everywhere," said Yang "Almost the whole China, and my family and friends, they're all struggling with these things."

Veritas Collegiate Headmaster Mark Keating explains they have some students who were supposed to come to Chesapeake this year.

"We have three schools in China so we’re in contact with them. In fact, one of my students left to go for the Chinese New Year and he’s now stuck over there," said Keating. 

Credit: Angelo Vargas

School staff and students have started China Project 2020. They have teamed up with one of their schools in Budapest, Hungary. This school has partnered with an organization that helps get medical supplies to China. 

They hope the items get their much faster than by sending from the United States. 

"Once it goes into customs, a lot of those supplies now are really rare items and you never know where they're going to end up for sure," said Keating. 

Meanwhile, Virginia Port Authority representative Joseph Harris explained the port is aware that some ports in China are closed. Port staff are waiting to see the impact the coronavirus will have on their cargo. 

In a statement, Harris said: 

“We understand that ship calls at, or through some Chinese ports are down and we are closely monitoring whether the Coronavirus is going to have an impact on cargo volumes at The Port of Virginia and our peers along the East Coast,” said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. “At this point it is too early to make any projections, but we are speaking with our customers to better understand their operating posture as this issue continues to unfold. We are working hard to deliver for our customers, partners and stakeholders and will be prepared to pivot if necessary. We’ll also continue to support the US Coast Guard and other governmental agencies as we monitor this situation.”

The Center for Disease Control confirms the 15th U.S. case of coronavirus in San Antonio, Texas. The patient arrived days ago on a government-charted flight out of China. 

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