Editor's note: The following message was distributed to the Emory community via email on March 5.

On March 4, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance regarding travelers returning to the U.S. from countries that have a Level 3 travel health notice (wide-spread, ongoing transmission).  Presently, these countries include: China, Iran, Italy and South Korea.  

The new guidance requires that travelers stay home for 14 days from the time they left these countries in order to maintain social distancing.  Effective immediately, Emory University will observe this guidance for all returning travelers, including faculty, staff, and students.  In practical terms, this means that all returning travelers, regardless of their purposes for travel, must wait 14 days before returning to campus; travelers returning from these areas are prohibited from all areas of campus, including residence halls, classrooms, dining facilities, athletic facilities, workspaces, and other university common space, as well as at other off-campus gatherings. Given that many community members are leaving for spring break, it is imperative that all understand the ramifications of these new guidelines related to travel in China, Iran, Italy and South Korea.

For Emory community members who are returning from CDC Level-3 countries under the directive to follow social distancing guidelines, please contact the following resources for questions and assistance:

Faculty and staff who have traveled to or through Level-3 countries should call the Office of Occupational Injury Management:  (OIM) at 404-686-8587 to receive a questionnaire. 

• Students:

Students who have traveled to or through Level-3 countries within the past 14 day must call Student Health Services (404-727-7551) or Oxford Student Health Services (770-784-8376) for a risk assessment and further directives on social-distancing and self-monitoring.

For assistance with academic matters, contact your school directly at the following numbers:

Goizueta Business School: 404-727-6270

Laney Graduate School: 404-727-2183; Mackenzie.bristow@emory.edu

School of Law: 404-727-6816

School of Medicine: OfficeofSOMdean@emory.edu 

Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing: 404-727-7980

Rollins School of Public Health: 404-727-3956

Candler School of Theology: 404-727- 6322

Emory College of Arts and Sciences: 404-727-6069; OUE.advising@emory.edu

Oxford College: 770-784-8888

For assistance with housing, contact: 404-727-7631. Oxford College students should call the Office of Residential Education and Services: 770-784-8383.

For updated contact information, please visit Coronavirus Updates for the Emory Community.

• Faculty: Office of Occupational Injury Management:  404-686-8587

Returning faculty should also immediately notify their department chair or director and dean’s office.

• Post-docs: Returning post-docs must contact the Office of Occupational Injury Management upon return from a Level 3 country: 404-686-8587

Also notify your supervisor.

• Staff:  Returning staff members must contact the Office of Occupational Injury Management upon return from a Level 3 country: 404-686-8587

Also notify your supervisor.

It is also important for all travelers to be aware that this is a dynamic situation that is subject to rapid change. Actions by local, state and federal health authorities may result in delays or other difficulties at the U.S. port of entry or at the port of entry of another country. If you experience any difficulties during your international travel, please see contact lists above. 

As the number of coronavirus cases grows and expands around the world, we can anticipate that there will be constant updates on how our community responds to these health, academic and social challenges.  The list of affected countries and the warning level is constantly updated. We encourage you to monitor developments through the State Department and CDC websites.  Continue to monitor Emory’s coronavirus website for comprehensive information on Emory’s initiatives to support our community.

For the most updated information on coronavirus, please visit Coronavirus Updates for the Emory Community.