International Travel Challenges Remain; UK’s Travel Suspension Still in Effect

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 24, 2021) — As summer approaches, vaccines continue to roll out and COVID-19 infection rates begin to decline, many members of the University of Kentucky community may want to start planning a trip abroad. While there’s hope on the horizon, there are still considerable challenges associated with international travel.

“Even though you may be fully vaccinated, and your host country may be doing well with managing the pandemic, there are still border closures, testing requirements and quarantine periods in place all over the world, and those regulations tend to change quickly and without notice,” Jason Hope, director of International Health, Safety and Security, said.

The risk landscape is starting to shift a bit — you may now be at less risk of contracting COVID-19 and becoming ill, but you be an asymptomatic carrier — even after being vaccinated. Beyond the health implications, local government lockdowns and quarantine requirements make planning very difficult.

For these reasons, UK’s international travel suspension for all university-sponsored or -endorsed travel remains in effect. All faculty, staff and students who wish to travel abroad for UK purposes must seek approval through a review process managed by the university’s International Health, Safety & Security (IHSS) Committee. No payments should be made for international travel until this process has been completed.

In addition to employee international travel, students are also considering opportunities to study abroad this summer. Education Abroad & Exchanges (EA) is offering a select number of programs, which are being reviewed and approved by the IHSS Committee. EA and IHSS are working together to thoroughly vet each program’s health and safety support and to review travel restrictions and logistical challenges.

“Not only must we ensure that programs have robust COVID-19 preparations in place, but we must also make sure our student travelers are well prepared and understand what international travel looks like right now,” Miko McFarland, executive director of EA, explained. “Education abroad is a critical high-impact experience for our students and, even though it’s challenging in the current context, we want to provide these enriching experiences in a safe and manageable way.”

Hope added, if anyone is considering an international vacation or other personal trip this summer, the most important thing to do is ensure understanding of the landscape at the destination:

• Are U.S. citizens eligible to enter the host country as tourists?
• Are there testing or quarantine requirements?
• Are the places a traveler wants to go open to visitors?
• Will they be able to get tested while there in order to return to the U.S.?
• Is the local health care infrastructure already under stress, and could you be negatively impacting the host community by being there?

“Keep in mind, the answers to any of these questions may change before or even during your trip,” he said. “You really have to be prepared to be flexible in order to travel successfully right now.”

The CDC provides resources for travelers on their website, including tips for actions to take before, during and after travel, and country-specific information. Every U.S. embassy abroad also has a webpage specific to COVID-19 that provides travelers with detailed information about the situation in their host country.

“We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel with the pandemic,” Hope said. “But we just aren’t quite there yet.”

For any updates related to domestic travel, please visit UK’s Travel Services website. For additional questions about UK’s international travel suspension, please contact Jason Hope.