By Haley Knight |Editor-in-chiefUpdate: As of March 26, 2020, all students on the Peru Study Abroad have returned home to the United States.Due to the continuing spread of COVID-19, or novel coronavirus, a total of 18 students from four different universities are stuck in Cusco, Peru, due to a government-issued border closure that gave less than a 24-hour notice to the public.Almost half of the students are from Augusta University with remaining students from University of Georgia, University of South Alabama and Lenoir-Rhyne University.“Seven PA [physician assistant] students were doing their clinical rotation in Cusco, Peru," said Maria Darley, director of Study Abroad at AU. "Peru gave less than a 24-hour warning that they would be closing the borders both coming and going. When our students found out this information, there was no chance to get on any of the remaining departing planes."The students are safe, according to Darley. She has had the ability to speak with students through conference calls and WhatsApp. Darley has been speaking with the emergency committee to discuss all options regarding the students’ safety during this time.The travel ban is set to end March 30. However, the universities are working with state senators and congressmen to evacuate their students sooner.“It really is taking the collective effort of many people from each institution to help get the correct type of help to get our students out of Peru," Darley stated. "The students have been amazing about reaching out to all of their contacts, as well and to bring awareness to this situation.”There have been no previous situations at AU in which a travel ban has blocked students from coming home. Contact Haley Knight at HKNIGHT@augusta.edu.