UAMS Travel Guidelines Updated

By Ben Boulden

| On March 30, 2020, in response to the global pandemic, UAMS implemented travel guidelines for all faculty, staff, and students that prohibited University-sponsored travel to countries with a CDC travel advisory of level two or above.

In accordance with updated CDC travel guidelines, people are who are fully vaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine can travel within the United States and internationally to countries with a CDC travel advisory of level two or below.  The following steps are required when travelling to protect yourself and others:

    • Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required on all forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and in transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
    • All state and local recommendations and requirements, including mask wearing and social distancing, should also be followed.
    • Employees will complete all standard entrance screening surveys, temperature checks and comply with all UAMS PPE requirements, including universal masking.  If the employee develops any symptoms, the employee must report to their supervisor and Student Employee Health Services (SEHS) immediately, and follow SEHS guidance on next steps.

If you are not fully vaccinated, and must travel domestically or internationally, or fully vaccinated and must travel to a country with a CDC travel advisory of level three or above, the following steps must be taken to protect yourself and others from COVID-19:

    • Wear a mask over your nose and mouth in all public areas.
    • Avoid crowds and stay at least 6 feet/2 meters (about 2 arm lengths) from anyone who is not traveling with you.
    • Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol).
    • Upon return, students or employees essential to patient care must be tested with a PCR test and self-quarantine until notified by Student Employee Health that you are cleared to return to campus.
    • Students or employees not essential for direct patient care operations will quarantine for 14 days per Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) guidance with monitoring by SEHS based on established protocols.
    • Employees will complete all standard entrance screening survey and temperature checks and comply with all UAMS PPE requirements, including universal masking. In addition, masks must be kept on at all times, except for meals, which must be taken away from any other persons (no eating in common areas/break rooms unless they are alone in the room). In addition, they must complete mid-shift symptom surveys. If they develop any symptoms, they must report to their supervisor and SEHS immediately and leave work to quarantine and be tested.
    • Employees cleared conditionally who continue to be asymptomatic will be tested again by PCR on NP swab on days 4 and 7. If they continue to test negative and remain asymptomatic, they may continue to work with conditional clearance as above until 14 days after arrival.
    • If the individual develops symptoms OR tests positive at any point, they will not be cleared to return to work and must complete the appropriate isolation period while being monitored by SEHS following the COVID work exclusion protocols for COVID exposed or COVID positive, as indicated.
    • Employees on conditional clearance must follow all ADH requirements for quarantine outside of work.

Please contact SEHS at 601-686-6565 for more information.

Although UAMS is not prohibiting travel at this time, faculty, staff and students on UAMS campuses are encouraged to use good judgment when making travel decisions and work with campus administration to evaluate alternative methods of remote participation such as live streaming of conference sessions and meetings.   University funded attendance at meetings or other events necessitating international travel requires cabinet level approval. Non-essential travel is strongly discouraged.

Please review the latest CDC guidelines and consider the possibility of travel restrictions, quarantines, and other travel-related issues. CDC guidance on travel is available here.

The UAMS COVID-19 Task Force will continue to work closely with ADH to keep our community safe and healthy.  As this remains a fluid situation, we will reassess the guidelines after 60 days to determine if future changes are needed.