The Office of Health Security has announced updates to the institution’s travel guidance:
In brief:
- Pre-approved essential domestic travel continues with approval now allowed by the immediate supervisor instead of the associated vice chancellor or senior vice chancellor.
- Pre-approved essential international travel will be allowed beginning July 1. Pre-trip approval from the immediate supervisor is required for all international travel and is limited to essential university-related business.
Domestic Travel
Essential university-related domestic travel continues to follow the previous guidance with one key update. Requests for essential university-related domestic travel by university employees now must be approved in advance by the immediate supervisor rather than the vice chancellor or senior vice chancellor.
The Concur software program should be used for pre-trip travel authorization.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends delaying domestic travel until you are fully vaccinated. Because all university travel is contingent upon the traveler agreeing to comply with all guidance, supervisors are not responsible for knowing the traveler’s vaccination status for the approval process and should not ask travelers about such status.
UNMC students, faculty and staff are expected to follow the CDC recommendations for domestic travel for university-related travel. The current recommendations are described below:
- Wear a mask over your nose and mouth on planes, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation.
- If you are fully vaccinated:
- After you travel: self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms using the 1-Check app.
- If you are not fully vaccinated:
- Before you travel: get tested with a viral test one to three days before your trip.
- After you travel: get tested with a viral test three to five days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for a full seven days after travel or 10 days without a test and self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms using the 1-Check app.
Source: CDC.gov
International Travel
Beginning July 1, pre-approved essential international travel for students, faculty and staff will be allowed. In addition to pre-trip approval using the Concur software program, additional pre-trip approval by the immediate supervisor is required for all international travel and is limited to essential university-related business. Because all university travel is contingent upon the traveler agreeing to comply with all guidance, supervisors are not responsible for knowing the traveler’s vaccination status for the approval process and should not ask travelers about such status.
After approval by the immediate supervisor, an international travel request must be submitted to the Office of Global Engagement via email at least 30 days prior to departure. The traveler will be required to complete a travel application that includes an explanation of why the travel is essential and a detailed summary of local health and travel guidance for the travel locations at least two weeks prior to travel. The Office of Global Engagement will appoint an international travel risk committee that will consider the essential nature of the travel, CDC Travel Health Notices, U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories and the ability of the traveler to mitigate risk. All university-related international travel must comply with Executive Memorandum 25.
For destinations that are below the U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory Levels 3 and 4, or CDC Travel Heath Notices Levels 3 or 4, travelers do not need to complete the full travel application with committee review.
All international travel authorizations are subject to continuing review by the Office of Global Engagement. Each traveler is required to monitor their destination’s situation carefully and update the Office of Global Engagement with any changes at least two weeks prior to departure.
All travelers, regardless of CDC Travel Health Notice Level, should comply with the CDC recommendations for international travel listed below.
The CDC recommends delaying international travel until you are fully vaccinated. Because all university travel is contingent upon the traveler agreeing to comply with all guidance, supervisors are not responsible for knowing the traveler’s vaccination status for the approval process and should not ask travelers about such status.
UNMC students, faculty and staff are expected to follow the CDC recommendations for international travel. Current guidance includes the following:
- Delay travel until you are fully vaccinated.
- Assess the COVID-19 situation at your destination prior to departure to ensure travel to the location can be safely managed. This is particularly important if you are considering international travel as the situation can be very fluid.
- Review the CDC recommendations for your travel location.
- Before arriving in the United States, all air passengers coming to the United States, including U.S. citizens and fully vaccinated people, are required to have a negative COVID-19 test result no more than three days before travel or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past three months before they board a flight to the United States.
- Wear a mask over your nose and mouth on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation.
- Continue to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms before, during and after travel.
- If you are fully vaccinated:
- Before you arrive in the U.S.: you must have a negative COVID-19 viral test no more than three days before your flight.
- After you travel: get tested with a viral test three to five days after travel; self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms using the 1-Check app.
- If you are not fully vaccinated:
- Before you travel: get tested with a viral test one to three days before your trip.
- Before you arrive in the U.S.: you must have a negative COVID-19 viral test no more than three days before your flight.
- After you travel: get tested with a viral test three-five days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for a full seven days after travel or 10 days without a test and self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms using the 1-Check app. Please contact UNMC Student Health or UNMC Employee Health for a return to campus authorization.
Source: CDC.gov