Self-Quarantine Guidelines for Faculty, Staff, and Students Returning From International Travel

The U.S. State Department has declared a Global Level 3 Health Advisory. If you have traveled anywhere outside the United States over Spring Break, you MUST NOT return to a UGA campus or facility. Anyone who has traveled internationally in the past 14 days MUST self-quarantine until you have been asymptomatic for a period of 14 days from the date of entering/reentering the United States.

What does it mean to self-quarantine? You must stay home for 14 days from the time you returned to the United States and practice social distancing.

You will need to:

1. Stay home and avoid contact with others. Do not go to work or school for this 14-day period. Discuss your work situation with your employer before returning to work.
2. Take your temperature with a thermometer two times a day and monitor for fever. Also watch for cough or trouble breathing.
3. Do not take public transportation, taxis, or ride-shares during the time you are practicing social distancing.
4. Avoid crowded places (such as shopping centers and movie theaters), and limit your activities in public.
5. Keep your distance from others (about 6 feet or 2 meters).

If you get sick with fever (100.4°F/38°C or higher), cough, or have trouble breathing:

• Seek medical care. Call ahead before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room.
• Tell your doctor about your recent travel and your symptoms.
• Avoid contact with others.

At all times, each of us should follow the general CDC guidance offered here:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html

If you or anyone with whom you come into contact experiences symptoms of illness that may be consistent with COVID-19 (cough, fever), it is of paramount importance to seek professional medical assistance immediately through the resources most available to you locally. 

As a reminder, the University System of Georgia announced today that—effective Monday, March 16, 2020—all USG institutions will temporarily suspend instruction for two weeks to allow time for USG institutions to test their business continuity plans and online instruction modules and for state officials to continue to assess the current situation regarding coronavirus (COVID-19) in Georgia.

Even during the temporary suspension, the excellent professionals at the University Health Center will continue to serve as a resource for students who are unsure as to how best to seek medical assistance. Faculty and staff are best served by your primary healthcare provider.   

If you need to seek medical care for other reasons, call ahead to your doctor and tell them about your recent travel to an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of COVID-19. Employees are required to abide by these requirements as a condition of their employment. For students, failure to abide by these requirements may result in a temporary bar from campus, exclusion from University activities, and/or referral to the Office of Student Conduct.

Should you or those with whom you have come into contact test positive and are diagnosed with COVID-19, please be sure to notify the University Health Center so that we are aware of your illness (Main UHC Phone: 706-542-1162, Web: www.uhs.uga.edu, or, UHC Administration 706-542-8715). 

While we realize that this evolving situation is challenging for everyone, we must all continue to work together for the health and safety of our community. We appreciate your adherence to these travel instructions. Members of the University community should continue to monitor www.uga.edu/coronavirus for updates and resources.