Summary: JRP will continue functions and planning for future events; no decision on activities and no risks will be taken. jSchool applications will have a lengthy open window but no event will be fully confirmed unless safety is affirmed by all public health authorities.

As measures continue to be put into place by governments across the globe to slow the spread of the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, the JRP wants to provide a few remarks about timing and activities, particularly given the location of near-future events. First and foremost, please be sure to follow closely the official guidelines for local and regional public health bodies. We provide some links to those below.

For the moment, JRP will go ahead with opening of the 2020 jSchool applications, which will be left open for over a month. No one should feel rushed to complete these, and we are opening for the sake of giving the maximum possible time to apply. However, given the current situation, we are very aware of the likely need to end up cancelling this event. As current travel restrictions for Italy run through April, this would leave plenty of time for the event to go ahead, but obviously that is secondary to the health and safety of everyone.

The JRP Team, specifically including the Executive Director, Director of Operations, and all senior officers, are relying on guidance from the WHO, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Columbia University Global Programs, and the public health authorities for the EU, Italy, France, and the UK. We will continue to follow those recommendations directly and ensure all approvals for running events are in place prior to proceeding. We will not run the event if those have not been given with complete confidence. Of course, we cannot predict the future of the epidemic per country and your health and safety is our absolute priority.

We strongly suggest to follow updates on the pandemic by official bodies such as the WHO, national research bodies engaged in the topic such as the Robert Koch Institut or Public Health England, and government announcements wherever you are.

We obviously understand if individuals are reluctant to apply for 2020, and also if admitted individuals ultimately decide not to attend. For now, we will aim to keep some form of continuity, but will not make any decisions except those advised by relevant public health agencies.

Note: Should we cancel the 2020 schedule, we will decide later if topics will carry over to 2021 or if we will restart entirely. This decision will not come for some time, so there is no need to contact the JRP about that. Similarly, we may also consider a virtual arrangement for JRP Research Teams, but this is also not likely to be decided on until after travel guidelines have been stated for summer.