Travel Policy

For School of Medicine faculty, staff and trainees

University-wide policies
The university has implemented a number of travel restrictions and advisories.
Read university-wide travel policies »

University travel restrictions

Note: For purposes of this policy, health-care workers are defined as individuals who work in a clinic or hospital and CANNOT work entirely remotely.

Personal travel

Health-care-workers: Travel restrictions are in place, distributed daily by the Faculty Practice Plan via email. 

Non-health-care workers: No ban on personal travel, either domestically or internationally. Employees are not required to contact Occupational Health when traveling for personal reasons.

University-sponsored travel

  • Work-related domestic travel is permitted.
  • Work-related international travel must be registered in MyTrips prior to departure to facilitate review by and support from the university’s International Travel Oversight Committee (ITOC). Travelers should consider conditions in the destination country and consider whether the travel is essential. They also should consult with the ITOC; approval from both the ITOC and the department/unit is required. For questions, contact itoc@wustl.edu.

House staff work-related travel

The Office of Graduate Medical Education has released travel guidance for house staff. Under the policy, house staff are permitted to travel within the United States under certain circumstances for presenting at conferences and for electives. Standard approval processes apply.

Read full House Staff Travel Policy »

Safety requirements for travelers

Do not travel if you are sick, and do not travel with anyone who is sick. For 14 days after your return, you must monitor yourself for COVID-19 symptoms. If you develop symptoms, call the illness and exposure hotline at 314-362-5056.

If you travel, please remember that we ask all members of our community and their families to reduce potential COVID-19 exposure outside of work by practicing physical distancing and avoiding gatherings.

Domestic travel

If you travel, be aware that you are subject to any restrictions in place at your destination; in addition, federal, state or local authorities may restrict your return travel or require home quarantine upon your return. For up-to-date information and travel guidance, check the state or local health department where you are, along your route, and at your planned destination. Please also review travel guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Get advice on safe holiday travel »

International travel

Government requirements

If you travel internationally, you must follow entry requirements for your destination. In addition, you are subject to restrictions upon re-entering the United States.

Testing requirement

As of December 6, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires that all air passengers, regardless of vaccination status, must show a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than one day before travel to the United States. Further details about the testing requirements can be found on the CDC’s website.

University procedures

According to Eva Aagaard, MD, interim senior administrator for occupational health, the School of Medicine is recommending that upon returning from international travel, all faculty, staff, house officers and students follow new CDC guidelines once they are back in the U.S. These guidelines apply regardless of vaccination status.

Once you have returned from international travel:

  • Get tested 3-5 days after returning.
  • If your test is positive, isolate yourself for 14 days to protect others from getting infected. Do not come on campus. Call the COVID-19 Exposure/Illness Hotline.
  • Exception for those working in clinical environments: As long as you have tested negative and are asymptomatic, you may go to work without quarantining, but you must contact Occupational Health at occupationalhealthservices@wusm.wustl.edu prior to returning to work, and remain masked and perform active symptom monitoring while on campus. This is in accordance with local public health and CDC guidance for essential health-care workers.