As seen on the news, Italy – particularly the Northern Regions of Lombardia and Veneto – are experiencing community transmission of the Covid-19 Novel Coronavirus, which has spread from there to most of Western Europe.
MOSF is held in Sicily, the Southern Island of Italy. Of its 5 million inhabitants, 379 to date (3/20/2020) are sick with Covid-19, but this may substantially increase. Italy is currently under strict policy of social avoidance, and people are currently confined to their homes except for authorized workers, etc. Authorities hope this will contain the spread and diminish the outbreak within the next month.
We do not know how the situation in the West will develop at this point. MOSF always advises applicants to purchase insurance (best is CFAR type) to protect their investments as tuition is not refundable under any circumstance, as clearly stated in the MOSF agreement.
We will continue to post updates to our situation on this page, including any potential updates relating to the schedule of the program and its activities.
Update: Please note – tuition schedules have not changed. We are proceeding to secure housing and teaching venue and services. Those who do not complete their tuition on schedule will be dropped from the MOSF 2020 Roster. Fear for the Covid-19 situation will not change the tuition schedule, and if you are dropped from the roster there will be no refund for tuition, nor will it carry over to a future date should MOSF be postponed.
As we monitor the situation in Sicily and internationally, we will evaluate how the program will proceed, whether it will proceed on target with its dates or be postponed. There are no plans for postponing at this moment, but rather the plan is to start MOSF on June 22, 2020. Those who have completed their tuition as scheduled will remain enrolled in the program, even if this were to change dates. We continue to advise you to purchase travel insurance to protect your investment should you choose to no longer participate, or were forced to withdraw for whatever reason. If you file a claim for insurance, you must advise us within 24 hours.
(last update 3/20/2020)