UK Creates Voluntary Registry to Help Monitor Travel of University Community During Spring Break

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 9, 2020) — As Spring Break quickly approaches, University of Kentucky officials are urging every member of the UK community to carefully consider all travel plans both domestically and internationally.

Specifically, UK President Eli Capilouto said Monday that the university has created a travel registry so that the institution can help support returning faculty, staff and students, who will be throughout the country and around the world over Spring Break, March 16-20.

“We strongly encourage and ask anyone who is traveling domestically or internationally during Spring Break to fill out this travel form so we can support returning travelers and safeguard the community as much as possible,” Capilouto said. “In addition, we encourage our community to download UK’s LiveSafe mobile safety app, in which users can connect with safety and wellness resources on campus.”

As of today, UK Education Abroad and Exchanges (EA) is moving forward with its Spring Break programs in areas other than China, Italy and South Korea.

Capilouto said many students and employees have already made personal travel arrangements in the United States and abroad, so it is critical that members of the community “educate themselves and consider the risks associated with destinations, especially if it is a country where the Department of State or Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) have issued specific guidance related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.”

Earlier this month, UK suspended university-sponsored travel to China, Iran, Italy or South Korea because of heightened travel advisories from the CDC. Capilouto said UK is strongly discouraging personal travel over the break to those countries as well, because it “will result in a prolonged period of self-isolation upon return to the U.S. and prior to return to campus.”

Capilouto said any students who no longer feel comfortable participating on their Spring Break Education Abroad programs should immediately notify their program directors and EA. 

UK’s decisions about university travel are following the guidance of the CDC and its advisories.

Capilouto said members of the UK community who are not U.S. citizens should also review recent United States presidential proclamations to understand how traveling to China or Iran may affect their ability to re-enter the U.S.

Finally, Capilouto urged UK community members to stay focused on the rapidly changing dynamics of the issues surrounding COVID-19, including:

• The U.S. government and/or local governments can enact travel restrictions, institute quarantines and activate additional border screening processes at any time and without advance notice.
• International governments can do the same, and you will be subject to the laws and regulations of your destination country’s government should any such events occur.
• Airlines can announce the suspension of travel routes to or from any country at any time.
• If a university community member travels to China, Iran, Italy, or South Korea, they will not be allowed to return to UK’s campus until they have completed a 14-day self-isolation period.
• If other countries are added to the CDC list for a heightened travel advisory during Spring Break, returners from those areas will have to undergo the same protocol — including 14 days of self-isolation — before returning to campus.

If members of the UK community have questions about warning levels or international travel plans, they can contact UK’s Office of International Health, Safety, and Security within the UK International Center at 859-218-4961.

UK also is maintaining a website on its home page with the latest updates about the university’s preparedness for coronavirus, FAQs, Spring Break guidance, and the latest information and advisories from the CDC and Department of State: https://www.uky.edu/coronavirus/. Anyone from the UK community who has questiions, can email coronavirus@uky.edu.