Updated April 16, 2021 (clarification to April 9, 2021 update)
Last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its international travel guidance for vaccinated individuals and lifted the testing and quarantine requirements for fully immunized individuals (more than 14 days post-vaccination of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, or a second dose for Pfizer and Moderna) and those with recent (last 90 days) COVID-19 infection. The MA Travel Advisory has updated travel guidance related to short-term out-of-state travel. The UMMS Travel Policy has been updated to reflect these changes.
We continue to strongly discourage travel as there are still risks related to COVID-19 variants becoming more prevalent, and vaccine efficacy related to these variants remains uncertain. When travel is necessary, please follow the MA Travel Advisory and CDC travel guidance concerning safer travel during COVID-19.
These updates apply to all UMMS employees and students; and all vendors and visitors who will return to UMMS sites in the 14 days after domestic or international travel. UMMS employees working remotely no longer need to submit a Travel Form but are expected to follow travel guidelines in the MA Travel Advisory as well as CDC guidelines.
Employees and students returning to Massachusetts after being out-of-state for fewer than 24 hours are exempt from the UMMS Travel Policy and do not need to submit a form or obtain COVID-19 PCR testing. Vendors and visitors who are not fully vaccinated and are entering Massachusetts for fewer than 24 hours are expected to obtain a negative COVID-19 PCR obtained within 72 hours of arrival into Massachusetts and be able to present it to their host if requested.
Please note that our visitor policy differs from the MA Travel Advisory in this regard.
Prior to travel
Before out-of-state travel of more than 24 hours duration, on-site employees and students must complete a UMMS/UMMHC travel form and are advised to review the current federal and Massachusetts guidance, which can change at any time.
- UMMS employees working on campus in medical school buildings, clinical research sites or DMH facilities should use this travel reporting form.
- UMMS employees working in UMass Memorial clinical care settings should complete the UMass Memorial form and email it to Employee_Health_COVID-19_mailbox@umassmemorial.org.
- Students should complete the student travel form.
Health and safety precautions
Everyone – vaccinated or not – must continue to follow all COVID-19 safety protocols.
- If COVID-19 symptoms develop at any time, stay home, call Employee Health Services at (508) 793-6400 or Student Health Services at (508) 334-2818.
- Stay physically distant when possible.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Always wear a mask, indoors and outdoors, while on campus, even in elevators, parking garages and when waiting for the garage shuttles. The only time you may remove your mask is when you are alone in your office. Please dispose of masks responsibly.
- Continue weekly COVID-19 surveillance testing if you are on campus two or more days a week.
All UMMS COVID-19 guidance, forms and resources continue to be available at https://umassmed.edu/coronavirus/.
