MMC Travel Advisory and Policies Regarding Coronavirus

UPDATED: March 1, 2020

Out of an abundance of caution, the College is implementing the following travel guidelines based upon guidance from the U.S. Department of State, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO) related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak:

*These guidelines are subject to change pending updated/revised guidance and/or travel restrictions from federal, state, and/or local health agencies*


Travel to Italy, Iran, Japan, or South Korea:

  • The CDC has issued a level 3 travel alert for China, South Korea, Italy, Iran, and Japan citing coronavirus and recommending travelers “avoid all non-essential travel” to the countries.https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices
  • Consistent with these advisories, only essential College-affiliated travel to these countries will be permitted, and travel should be delayed if possible.
  • The College strongly recommends that all students currently studying abroad in any of these impacted regions return to the US and suspend their study abroad.
  • The College also strongly recommends that all students, faculty, and staff members avoid all non-essential personal travel to any of the countries outlined above.
  • Any member of the College community who travels to Italy, Japan, Iran, or South Korea, whether for College-affiliated or personal travel, is required to self-identify immediately upon return and may be required to self-isolate for 14 days. Students, faculty, or staff returning from these countries should email safety@mmm.edu with the details of their travel.
  • Pursuant to guidance from the CDC, any U.S. citizen returning to the United States who has been to any of these impacted regions within the previous 14 days will undergo health screening at select ports of entry and up to 14 days of monitored self-quarantine and/or self-monitoring.
  • The College study abroad trip to Italy for spring break has been cancelled.


Travel to China:

  • Consistent with a State Department Level 4 Travel Advisory, the College has suspended all College-affiliated travel to China, effective Jan. 31.
  • All College study abroad programs to China for the 2020 spring and summer semesters have been postponed.
  • Consistent with both State Department and CDC guidance, the College also recommends that all students, staff, and faculty members avoid all nonessential personal travel to China.
  • Any member of the College community returning from China, whether for business or personal travel, is required to self-identify immediately upon return. Students, faculty, or staff returning from these countries should email safety@mmm.edu with the details of their travel.
  • Beginning February 2, any U.S. citizen returning to the United States who has been in Hubei Province in the previous 14 days will be subject to up to 14 days of mandatory quarantine.
  • Pursuant to guidance from the CDC, any U.S. citizen returning to the United States who has been in other parts of mainland China within the previous 14 days will undergo health screening at select ports of entry and up to 14 days of monitored self-quarantine and/or self-monitoring.


Travel to Iran:

  • Consistent with a State Department Level 4 Travel Advisory, the College has suspended all College-affiliated travel to Iran, effective February 26, 2020.
  • Consistent with both State Department and CDC guidance, the College also recommends that all students, staff, and faculty members avoid all non-essential personal travel to Iran.
  • Any member of the College community returning from Iran, whether for business or personal travel, is required to self-identify immediately upon return. Students, faculty, or staff returning from these countries should email safety@mmm.edu with the details of their travel.
  • Pursuant to guidance from the CDC, any U.S. citizen returning to the United States from Iran within the previous 14 days will undergo health screening at select ports of entry and may be subject to up to 14 days of monitored self-quarantine and/or self-monitoring.

 

Public health advisories and health precautions can change with little notice. Anyone planning international travel should check the status of COVID-19 alerts and precautions at all destinations, including layovers, and continue to do so until their return to the U.S.

Students, faculty, or staff who have questions about their return from countries affected by COVID-19 should contact safety@mmm.edu

The College continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation and is following guidelines from the State Department, CDC, and WHO. As the situation evolves, additional travel restrictions may be implemented. Please continue to monitor updates from the College and public health agencies.

Official communications from the College regarding the COVID-19 outbreak can be found at www.mmm.edu/coronavirus.

Additional information about novel coronavirus:

Published: February 27, 2020