New Guidelines for Travelers – Updated March 15

Chancellor Douglas A. Girod M.D.
Sunday, March 15, 2020, 9:45 p.m.
KU Lawrence All Staff Faculty and Affiliates,All KU Lawrence and Edwards Students

A message from Chancellor Douglas A. Girod and Provost Barbara A. Bichelmeyer

Summary: New guidelines for those who have traveled recently or are traveling now. Significant changes include home quarantine for domestic travel to key states and certain counties in Colorado. Please read the details below.

Jayhawk community – 

As more is known about COVID-19 and its spread in the United States we will make adjustments to our recommendations for the students, faculty and staff at KU.

The Public Health Planning team relies on a variety of sources, including the Centers for Disease Control, Shoreland Travax and professional medical communities, to determine best practices and appropriate steps for our KU community who have traveled since March 1, are currently traveling or are planning personal travel in the foreseeable future. This guidance incorporates new guidelines from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment issued on Sunday, March 15.

International travelers: If you have traveled anywhere outside the United States, which includes cruises, you MUST take these steps:

  • Quarantine at home for 14 days upon return to the U.S. Do not attend school, work or any other setting where you are not able to maintain about a 6-foot distance from other people.
  • Call and report any symptoms of respiratory illness, such as fever, a dry cough or shortness of breath, to a local medical provider for instructions on treatment.

Domestic travelers: If you traveled and spent time in California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon or Washington from March 1 on, or visited Eagle, Summit, Pitkin or Gunnison counties in Colorado from March 8 on you MUST take these steps:

  • Quarantine at home for 14 days upon return to Kansas. Do not attend school, work or any other setting where you are not able to maintain about a 6-foot distance from other people.
  • Call and report any symptoms of respiratory illness, such as fever, a dry cough or shortness of breath, to a local medical provider for instructions on treatment.

In addition, anyone who has previously been told by a public health official to quarantine because of travel OR because they are a close contact of a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19 should quarantine at home for 14 days since their last contact with the case. A close contact is defined as someone who has been closer than 6 feet for more than 10 minutes while the patient is symptomatic.

Individuals who work on the KU Medical Center campuses must adhere to additional post-travel conditions. Please refer to the KUMC travel policy.

Jayhawks, we can expect there may well be additional changes to these guidelines in the days ahead. Until then, thank you for taking care of yourself, and for your commitment to the members of the Jayhawk community.

Respectfully,

 Doug and Barbara

 

Douglas A. Girod

Chancellor

 

Barbara A. Bichelmeyer

Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor