COVID-19 & Travel

Effective May 12, 2023:

REVOKED: Implementing Presidential Proclamation on Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic from 10/25/2021

  • Effective May 12, 2023, CDC's order implementing this Presidential Proclamation ceased to be in effect and has been terminated.
  • This means that as of 12:01am EDT on May 12, 2023, noncitizen nonimmigrant air passengers no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to board a flight to the United States.

 

 

Effective December 31, 2021:

REVOKED: Suspension of Entry Proclamation from 11/29/2021

  • Effective Dec. 31, 2021, in accordance with the Proclamation on Revoking Proclamation 10315, COVID-19-related restrictions on travel to the U.S. from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe will be lifted for US-bound flights (on foreign nationals who have been in these countries within 14 days prior to their arrival in the US).
  • Travelers should continue to adhere to all official directives and refer to the available COVID-19 information from your departure and arrival destinations.

 

 

Effective November 29, 2021:

Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting Coronavirus Disease 2019

 

 

Effective November 8, 2021:

Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic

  • Effective Nov. 8, 2021, in accordance with the Presidential Proclamation on Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic, air travel into the U.S. for fully-vaccinated noncitizen nonimmigrants has resumed, regardless of the country of origin. 
    • Unvaccinated noncitizen nonimmigrants, except in limited circumstances, are suspended from entry (unless such unvaccinated individuals, where appropriate, agree and arrange to become fully vaccinated against COVID-19 within 60 days upon their arrival into the U.S.)
    • Previous Presidential Proclamations on travel restrictions (9984, 9992, 10143, and 10199) related to the suspension of entry into the United States of persons physically present in Brazil, China, India, Iran, Ireland, the Schengen Area, South Africa, and the United Kingdom have been rescinded.

 

 

Effective May 4, 2021:

Suspension of Entry to the U.S. for certain non-US Persons

 

 

Effective January 26, 2021:

CDC requirements for entering the U.S.

Suspension of Entry to the U.S. for certain non-US Persons

 

 

Effective January 12, 2021:

CDC requires negative COVID test for ALL air passengers entering the U.S.

The U.S. CDC has issued new guidance for all air passengers, regardless of destination, requiring a negative COVID test prior to entering the U.S.

  • Air passengers are required to get a viral test (a test for current infection) within the 3 days before their flight to the U.S. departs, and provide written documentation of their laboratory test result (paper or electronic copy) to the airline or provide documentation of having recovered from COVID-19.
    • Airlines must confirm the negative test result for all passengers or documentation of recovery before they board.
    • If a passenger does not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery, or chooses not to take a test, the airline must deny boarding to the passenger.
  • This order was signed by the CDC Director on Jan. 12, 2021 and will become effective on January 26, 2021.

The release statement can be found here:

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0112-negative-covid-19-air-passengers.html

 

 

Effective September 29, 2020:

Update on international travel for members of the VUMC workforce

International travel for business purposes is no longer restricted for Vanderbilt University Medical Center employees.

  • Occupational Health can order COVID testing for workforce members traveling outside the country for business purposes.
    • Employees are asked to please schedule an appointment for travel counseling with Occupational Health if international travel is planned.
  • To book your International Travel Exam including COVID testing, please visit the following link:

 

 

Effective August 6, 2020:

  • Both the U.S. State Department & Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are transitioning away from the Global Level 4 (highest risk for State) & Global Level 3 (highest risk for CDC) warnings and are reverting back to individual country risk assessments.
    • The State Department updated the International Travel page and COVID-19 Travel page to reflect the most current health and safety information as relates to the current coronavirus pandemic.
      • Visit travel.state.gov to view individual/country-specific Travel Advisories based on your destination for the most current/urgent safety and security information.
    • CDC updated the Travel Health Notices page to reflect the individual country risk assessments and have also updated the COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Country, which highlights that while the vast majority of countries worldwide remain at Level 3 (COVID-19 Risk is High), there are now a few countries the CDC assesses at Level 1 (COVID-19 Risk Is Low) or no Travel Health Notice (COVID-19 Risk is Very Low).

 

 

Effective May 26, 2020:

If you choose to travel internationally during the COVID-19 pandemic, be aware of the following:

  1. US State Department Advisory Global Level 4: Do Not Travel remains in effect. Standing State Department guidance is as follows: “The Department of State advises U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19. In countries where commercial departure options remain available, U.S. citizens who live in the United States should arrange for immediate return to the United States, unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period.” Read the full advisory here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/travel-advisory-alert-global-level-4-health-advisory-issue.html
  2. VUMC Global Support and International SOS efforts to assist you during an emergency while overseas may be substantially limited. Read here for ISOS capacity to support VUMC employees for an emergency evacuation in the COVID context: https://pandemic.internationalsos.com/2019-ncov/evacuation-capability-statement
  3. There will likely be mandatory quarantine requirements in place at your destination. You are responsible for understanding those requirements and the relevant laws in effect at your destination prior to arrival. Review the most recent restrictions and requirements for your destination here: https://pandemic.internationalsos.com/2019-ncov/ncov-travel-restrictions-flight-operations-and-screening?_ga=2.257445323.1307076709.1588531184-1579083439.1588531184
  4. Two Presidential Proclamations have been issued restricting entry/re-entry to the United States from certain countries (UK, Ireland, Schengen Area countries, China, Iran and Brazil). To understand how these proclamations may impact your entry/return to the US, read here:
    1. March 14, 2020: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspension-entry-immigrants-nonimmigrants-certain-additional-persons-pose-risk-transmitting-coronavirus-2/

    2. May 24, 2020: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspension-entry-immigrants-nonimmigrants-certain-additional-persons-pose-risk-transmitting-novel-coronavirus/

 

 

Effective March 19, 2020:

  • The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel Global Health Advisory. This affects all international travel outside of the United States, regardless of destination.

 

 

Effective March 14, 2020:

  • An additional Presidential Proclamation has been issued restricting travel to the United States from the United Kingdom and Ireland (in addition to the European countries described in the March 11 Proclamation below). Please review the proclamation linked below and contact the VUMC COVID-19 hotline (888-312-0847) with questions or concerns.
  • See the March 14 Presidential Proclamation for additional detail
  • As reported in the March 11 edition of the MyVUMC Newsletter, all VUMC-related business travel is prohibited.
    • This does not include travel between VUMC business locations.
    • Exceptions may only be granted by VUMC Executive Leadership.

 

 

Effective March 11, 2020:

  • A Presidential Proclamation has been issued restricting travel to the United States from specified countries. Please review the proclamation linked below and contact the VUMC COVID-19 hotline (888-312-0847) with questions or concerns.
  • The U.S. State Department is urging individuals to avoid all international travel regardless of location due to the coronavirus outbreak. The State Department has issued a Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisory for all travel outside of the United States.

 

 

Effective March 9, 2020:

The coronavirus outbreak continues to evolve and is prompting periodic travel advisory updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This “Information for Travel” can be reviewed in detail at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html. Guidance provided by the CDC informs VUMC’s efforts to keep all VUMC personnel aware of authoritative and current information.

Effective immediately and until further notice, all VUMC personnel are prohibited from VUMC travel to or through any country which is listed by the CDC as “Level 3” (currently China, Iran, South Korea, and Italy). The CDC will update this list from time to time and persons considering international travel must be familiar with current CDC advisories. In addition, VUMC personnel are strongly discouraged from personal travel to or through Level 3 areas.

VUMC personnel returning from Level 3 areas will be required to self-isolate at home for 14 days after leaving a Level 3 country. Self-reporting of such travel to VUMC Occupational Health is required of all VUMC personnel before returning to the workplace. Detailed information regarding this process is found at https://www.vumc.org/health-wellness/news-resource-articles/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-monitoring-employees. Additional guidance can be obtained by calling the VUMC COVID-19 hotline at 888-312-0847.

For all other travel, the March 2 guidance provided below remains in effect. With the exceptions noted above, VUMC’s current stance is not to prohibit/restrict travel by VUMC employees but to ask that individuals exercise best judgment in deciding whether to travel. It is advisable to form this judgment by carefully weighing several important considerations.

Among these are:

  • Do the proposed plans include travel through or in areas of documented coronavirus cases?
  • What is the perceived likelihood that circumstances would develop to delay or prevent your scheduled return from the travel destination?
  • What would be the consequences of mandated quarantine?
  • If one were to become ill while away, would there be access to satisfactory medical care or the opportunity for evacuation to a location where care could be provided?
  • What expenses would be incurred by an undesired event while traveling?

Please be aware that the circumstances and facts related to coronavirus are fluid and evolving quickly. Because of this, VUMC’s stance on travel is subject to change as warranted.

Further updates to this travel advisory will be provided as indicated.

 

 

Effective March 2, 2020:

The United States has imposed travel restrictions and quarantines on individuals entering the United States from China and Iran. Read details of these restrictions in the Presidential Proclamation.

The U.S. State Department is urging individuals to avoid all travel to certain locations due to the novel coronavirus outbreak currently underway. The State Department has issued advisories at Level 4: Do not travel for the following locations:

  • China (countrywide): See the China Travel Advisory for the full advisory.

  • Italy (Lombardy and Veneto): See the Italy Travel Advisory for the full advisory.
    Note that all other locations in Italy are under Level 3: Reconsider travel.

  • South Korea (Daegu): See the South Korea Travel Advisory for the full advisory.
    Note that all other locations in South Korea are under Level 3: Reconsider travel.

 

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Warning Level 3: Avoid nonessential travel to China, Iran, Italy and South Korea and a Level 2: Practice Enhanced Precautions in Japan. The CDC has established online resources with valuable information for travelers:

  1. CDC - Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
  2. CDC - Travel Guidance

If you are considering travel to China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong or Macau, please immediately reach out to our office: julie.lankford@vumc.org