Peace Corps suspends all global operations and evacuates volunteers amid coronavirus outbreak

• The Peace Corps said it will temporarily suspend all operations and evacuate volunteers due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
• In a statement published on Sunday, the volunteer service organization comprised of 235,000 people said it understood it was a "very stressful time."
• "Evacuations are difficult, emotionally draining experiences for everyone involved," Peace Corps Director Jody Olsen said in a statement. "We are here for you, and we will do all that we can to keep you informed and up to date on the latest developments."
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The Peace Corps said it will temporarily suspend all operations and evacuate volunteers due to the coronavirus outbreak, which causes a disease called COVID-19.

As of Sunday evening, over 169,000 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed globally along with around 6,500 deaths. There have been over 3,700 cases in the US alone.

In a statement published on Sunday, the volunteer service organization comprised of 235,000 people said it understood it was a "very stressful time" for host communities and its staff.

"It is against this backdrop that I have made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend all Peace Corps operations globally and evacuate all of our Volunteers," Peace Corps Director Jody Olsen said in a statement. "As COVID-19 continues to spread and international travel becomes more and more challenging by the day, we are acting now to safeguard your well-being and prevent a situation where Volunteers are unable to leave their host countries."

The Peace Corps evacuated 139 volunteers from China in February, where the coronavirus outbreak originated from.

Since 1993, roughly 1,300 Peace Corps volunteers have worked at over 140 Chinese colleges, where they taught English.

"Evacuations are difficult, emotionally draining experiences for everyone involved," Olsen added. "We are here for you, and we will do all that we can to keep you informed and up to date on the latest developments."

Olsen assured her staff and host countries that the suspension was only temporary and that the organization "will be ready to return to normal operations when conditions permit."

Volunteers who are evacuated will also retain their current positions and the Peace Corps headquarters will remain operational.

"My thoughts are with you, and I am incredibly grateful for your service," Olsen said.

Americans who volunteer for the Peace Corps typically serve abroad for two years on behalf of the US, often in areas that lack basic necessities. Established by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, Peace Corps volunteers now serve in over 60 countries.