In response to elevated travel warnings for locations around the world experiencing sustained transmission of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, Temple University has put into place an international travel protocol for students, faculty and staff. 

The university is requiring any faculty, staff or students who have traveled during the previous 14 days to any countries designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as having sustained transmission of COVID-19 to self-monitor for 14 days from the date of their arrival back in the United States. As of March 5, the countries with sustained transmission of the virus are: China, Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea. If you have not traveled to one of these countries during the past 14 days, your risk of contracting COVID-19 is very low.

This is a rapidly evolving situation, and additional countries can be added to this list at any time. Please stay up to date on the CDC’s latest COVID-19 travel notices and the U.S. Department of State’s travel advisories. 

If you have traveled to any of these countries during the past 14 days, including during spring break, this means you must self-monitor for 14 days from the date you arrived back in the U.S. You may not return to any of Temple’s U.S. campuses during that period. 

Self-monitoring means that you should stay at home and avoid group gatherings and public spaces, including Temple’s campuses. During this time, you should monitor your own health carefully, taking your temperature at least once a day.

Below are the steps you should take if this applies to you.

For students:

• Notify Student Health Services (215-204-7500 or shs@temple.edu) immediately to inform them of your recent travel and need for self-monitoring.
• Faculty members have been asked to provide alternative teaching and learning options for students who need to spend time out of class while they are self-monitoring. Because every class is different, students should contact their professors directly to inform them of the need to self-monitor and determine next steps to continue coursework remotely during this period.
  • If any student is in need of additional support to complete coursework off-campus, they are encouraged to contact their individual school or college advising office for assistance.
• We are working to ensure that if you do need to self-monitor, your studies are not disrupted and your academic progress is not affected. 

For faculty and staff:

• Faculty and staff members should notify their chair or supervisor and Employee Health Services (215-204-2679 or EmployeeHealth@temple.edu) immediately.

Most importantly, if you develop a fever, cough or have difficulty breathing, you should immediately contact health care professionals—your family physician, local health authorities, or Student or Employee Health. You should call before visiting any health care provider so that appropriate precautions can be taken.

The health and safety of our campus community is our highest priority. We continue to monitor this evolving situation and will provide updates as needed. For more information, visit the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) updates page. 

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Please contact 215-204-7500 or shs@temple.edu with any questions. 

Mark Denys, MHA, BS, RN
Senior Director
Health Services