Updated Quarantine and Travel Guidance

December 4, 2020

As part of our continuing efforts to protect our employees, students, patients, and their families during the pandemic, we are updating the quarantine and travel recommendations for all Rutgers employees in alignment with the CDC’s recent quarantine guidance and the New Jersey Department of Health’s updated travel guidance.

On December 2 the CDC amended quarantine options for people without symptoms, indicating that quarantine may end after 10 days without testing, and after seven days after receiving a negative test result. If individuals choose to end quarantine according to this schedule, they should watch for symptoms until 14 days after exposure and immediately self-isolate and contact their local public health authority or health care provider if symptoms develop. In some situations, testing may be required to return to campus less than 14 days after exposure.

Additionally, on November 25 the State of New Jersey revised its travel recommendations to strongly discourage all non-essential interstate travel. Accordingly, we are discouraging all out-of-state non-essential travel. Travelers and residents returning from any U.S. state or territory beyond the immediate region (New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Delaware) should self-quarantine at their home, hotel, or other temporary lodging. International travelers should review the CDC’s COVID-19 travel recommendations by destination.

Healthcare Worker Travel Exception
Exceptions to the NJDOH travel advisory for “critical infrastructure workers” – including health care workers – have been established.  All health care workers traveling to restricted areas should notify a department supervisor of their travel plans and monitor themselves for new COVID-19-related symptoms before returning to work.  If no symptoms are present (asymptomatic), they may return to work as scheduled. Daily employee screenings (such as utilization of the My Campus Pass app) before reporting to work and adherence to preventive guidelines, such as mask wearing and distancing, and frequent hand hygiene are required.

If at any time you experience fever or other COVID-19-related symptoms, DO NOT REPORT TO WORK, even if you received a negative result from a COVID-19 test. No employee who has new COVID-19-related symptoms should report to campus regardless of a test result. Employees who are regularly present on campus who test positive for COVID-19 should contact Occupational Health to report the case and seek guidance. Contact information for these offices can be found in this email below the signature.

Because employees may be prohibited from returning to their physical work locations, we encourage supervisors to work with impacted employees to determine whether telecommuting accommodations can be made available. If telecommuting is not possible, employees should contact UHR One Source to determine available leave options.

We are very proud of the way our university community has come together and embraced the protocols and procedures necessary to keep our communities and families safe.

Thank you for your continued efforts and commitment as we work together to manage this global health crisis.

Sincerely,

Vicente Gracias, MD
Senior Vice Chancellor for Clinical Affairs, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Vice President Health Affairs, Rutgers University

Brian L. Strom, MD, MPH
Chancellor, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Executive Vice President for Health Affairs