CLARIFICATION SURROUNDING TRAVEL & QUARANTINE

The following information is taken from the MN Department of Health website. These are their recommendations regarding travel & quarantine:

Considerations before traveling

Given the high level of COVID-19 spread in our communities, any unnecessary travel is highly discouraged. If you must travel outside the state or country for work, study, medical care, or personal safety and security, do what you can to protect yourself and your family.

Before you travel, think about:

• How much COVID-19 is spreading where you are going and how much it is spreading in your local community.
• Whether you or someone you are traveling with could get very sick from COVID-19.
• How easy or difficult it will be to keep 6 feet between people.
• Whether you would be able to miss work, school, or other activities if you get sick.

If you must travel

Protect yourself and others during your trip:

• Clean your hands often with soap and water or hand sanitizer.
• Keep 6 feet of space between yourself and others.
• Wear a mask.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Cover coughs and sneezes.
• Bring enough of your medications to last the entire trip.
• Consider packing food or picking up food from the store, drive-throughs, or curbside pickup.

Travel to or from Minnesota

If you are sick or have tested positive for COVID-19, do not travel.

Out-of-state travel is highly discouraged.

• People who visit Minnesota, and Minnesotans returning after traveling out of state, are asked to stay away from others (quarantine) for 14 days after they arrive in Minnesota. During those 14 days, it is important that you stay home and watch for symptoms. If you must go out, wear a mask, stay 6 feet from other people, and wash your hands often.
• Staying away from others for 14 days is safest. In some circumstances, a shortened quarantine period may be possible.

International travel

For international travel, follow federal guidelines.

The CDC now requires all air passengers arriving to the U.S. from another country to get tested for COVID-19 no more than three days before their flight departs. Travelers will need to provide proof of the negative result or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 to the airline before boarding the flight.

More information can be found here: Protect Yourself & Others: COVID-19

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ISLA is recommending that all staff members and students follow these Guidelines established by the MDH. It is the responsibility of individual staff and students to share information with ISLA about travel outside of MN, by sending an email to [covid19reporting@isla.school]. If you feel that your (staff member) or your student’s travel plans/social activity have put themselves, and potentially others, at risk for exposure to COVID-19, then please take responsibility for quarantining after returning home. Only the staff member/student who traveled outside of the state needs to consider quarantining. Traveling outside of MN would qualify for the shortened quarantine period, as long as all other criteria are met. Please see the Shortened Quarantine Request for further information.

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