Peace Corps Suspends Worldwide Operations, Evacuates Volunteers Amidst COVID-19 Scare

The Peace Corps is temporarily suspending its worldwide operations and evacuating all volunteers as COVID-19 has turned into a global pandemic.

In an open letter written posted on the organization's official website, Director Jody Olsen said that the recent suspension is line with their previous efforts when they evacuated their volunteers from China and Mongolia in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.

“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,” said Olsen in her letter.

Despite admitting that evacuations will take a toil on “everyone involved,” especially their volunteers, Olsen assured them that the Peace Corps Headquarters will operate under its own Continuity of Operations Plan, while personnel are on standby 24/7 to help them and their overseas staff.

The letter also detailed that they are not closing all posts and that host country staff will remain in their positions as they “play a critical role” in their mission, especially in times of crisis.

“We will be ready to return to normal operations when conditions permit,” Olsen added.

The decision came after the U.S. State Department raised the worldwide travel advisory to Level 3, making it difficult for U.S. citizens to travel abroad, said the Gwinnett Daily Post.

Established in 1961 by former United States President John F. Kennedy, the Peace Corps has sent more than 235,000 Americans from all walks of life to 141 countries to work with different communities and pursue "lasting change."