COVID-19 Travel Information

Domestic travel for university-related purposes is permitted. You should follow CDC guidance on domestic travel and adhere to policies of the states/localities you are visiting, and you are expected to follow the CDC’s safe travel guidance to protect themselves and others during the conduct of research.

International travel by individual students and university-affiliated groups (including student groups) is permitted. 

In order to travel internationally, you will need to:

• Get approval from the IRB and the Integrative Safety Committee (ISC) within the Office of the Vice Provost for Research if your travel is for the purpose of research.  For human subjects research, you need to submit a request to the ISC using this form.

• Get approval from the International Travel Review Committee for travel to countries that are designated US Department of State Level 3 or higher and register your international travel in the Tufts Travel Registry.

• When you return, abide by federal, Massachusetts, and Tufts’ policies (including any school-specific requirements). Check Testing at Tufts for up to date information on COVID testing requirements, which may change.  

• When you book your travel, we recommend you try to find airlines, hotels or rentals that are offering flexible cancellation and refund policies. You are highly encouraged to book through the university’s preferred travel provider, Travel Collaborative.

Yes, individual international travel by faculty, staff or students for university-related purposes is allowed. 

• If you are traveling internationally for the purpose of research, your travel will also need to be approved by the Integrative Safety Committee (ISC) within the Office of the Vice Provost for Research.  For human subjects research, you need to submit a request to the ISC using this form; for travel related to non-human subjects research, contact the ISC, with a description of the research and COVID-mitigation measures being undertaken, to request approval.
• Register your international travel in the Tufts Travel Registry.
• When you return, abide by federal, Massachusetts, and Tufts’ policies (including any school-specific requirements). Check Testing at Tufts for up to date information on COVID testing requirements, which may change.  
• When you book your travel, we recommend you try to find airlines, hotels or rentals that are offering flexible cancellation and refund policies. You are highly encouraged to book through the university’s preferred travel provider, Travel Collaborative.

All personal travel is allowed without restrictions. All travelers should be familiar with and follow local guidance at their destination. Even if fully vaccinated, travelers should follow safe travel guidelines to protect themselves and others. 

Travelers should stay updated on Tufts return to campus instructions. For more information, visit Testing at Tufts.
 

Traveling—along with other factors—can significantly increase your risk of exposure—e.g., destination, mode of travel, ability to social distance, mask use, use of good hygiene resources and procedures, and avoiding large groups of people in close proximity for extended periods of time. If you do choose to travel, we urge you to exercise caution.

When you book your travel, we recommend you try to find airlines, hotels or rentals that are offering flexible cancellation and refund policies. You are highly encouraged to book through the university’s preferred travel provider, Travel Collaborative.

We urge you strongly to:

• Monitor both domestic and international destinations where COVID-19 is present, as well as information, travel warnings, health advisories, travel and movement restrictions (e.g., use of public transportation, border closings, screening procedures at airports/stations, etc.) and quarantine requirements and conditions at your destination. These do change frequently.

The CDC website, as well as the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), U.S. Department of State, and International SOS provide useful updated information. Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering also has an excellent site with daily updates of cases worldwide.

• Take basic precautions recommended by the CDC while you travel.  Your risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19 depends on your own behavior as well as your travel pattern, destination or means of transportation. Therefore, you should be sure to:        
  • Avoid close contact with sick people
  • Distance yourself from others - stay at least 6 feet away to prevent exposure through coughing
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a mask
  • Plan ahead to have a sufficient quantity of masks (face shields, googles, etc.) for your entire journey; they may not be available at your destination. Moreover, ensure that these masks (face shields, googles, etc.) meet any criteria specified by the integrative safety committee.
  • Cover your cough with your upper sleeve or elbow
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 60 percent to 95 percent alcohol
  • Wipe down frequently touched objects (e.g., phones) and surfaces
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
  • Do not share drinks/food/cigarettes, utensils, vaping products, etc.
  • Always strictly follow any guidance at the institution you are visiting or at your destination which are stricter than those delineated above.
  • If eligible under the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ COVID vaccination phased approach to vaccination, consider being vaccinated against SARS-Co-V-2 prior to travel.
• Seek medical attention immediately if you get symptoms, which include coughing, fever, and difficulty breathing.

If you are on university-related international travel, please call International SOS at +1 (215) 942-8478. They can help you assess your situation and find suitable accommodation and medical advice or treatment, if needed.  You will need to follow local guidance on procedures and next steps.

For personal travel, it is highly recommended that you obtain a travel assistance provider. Tufts travelers can purchase International SOS coverage plans at a discount. 

For travel on sponsored programs, higher costs for refundable tickets and additional costs that may be incurred if you are quarantined or need to change your travel plans because of the COVID-19 situation in your destination are generally allowable. The charges will need to be booked to the applicable project, grant, or Dept-ID.

For charges on non-sponsored programs or activities, the university will not pay for charges unless you have previously received explicit permission from your EAD or VP (or their designee). Travelers should be informed of their department’s or school’s policies regarding reimbursement of any additional expenses that might be incurred if the traveler contracts COVID while abroad. While the Tufts international travel assistance and medical program does provide coverage for quarantine costs in some cases, there may be circumstances that are deemed ineligible and where additional, non-quarantine related costs are incurred, particularly prior to your international departure.

Please contact internationalsafety@tufts.edu for more information.

You will need to carefully check the policy to ensure that pandemics are not excluded, particularly during a current event of this magnitude. Some carriers offer “cancel for any reason” policies, which may cover COVID-19 trip interruptions. However, those policies tend to be significantly more expensive. Booking a refundable ticket may be the preferred method of accounting for potential changes in your travel plans.

New requirement as of January 5, 2023: "...air passengers 2 years of age and older traveling to the United States from China, Hong Kong, or Macau, and those traveling from Seoul, Toronto, and Vancouver who have been in China, Hong Kong, or Macau in the past 10 days. These passengers, regardless of citizenship or vaccination status, are required to show a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than 2 days before their flight departs. Those who had COVID-19 in the 90 days before their travel to the United States can instead show documentation of recovery from COVID-19." (CDC International Travel to and from the United States)

All other travelers are no longer required to have a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in order to board a plane to the United States. More details can be found on the CDC website. 

These requirements can change quickly and without notice. Please monitor the appropriate public health agency notices.

If you are a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or immigrant, proof of vaccination is not required for entry to the US.

If you are a non-U.S. citizen, non-U.S. immigrant (not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or traveling to the United States on an immigrant visa), you must be fully vaccinated with the primary series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to travel to the United States by plane. For more information on traveling to the U.S. by land or ferry, review this Guidance for Travelers to Enter the U.S. at Land Ports of Entry and Ferry Terminals.

For more information, please see the CDC website.

If your name and/or DOB is either incomplete or incorrect on your test report, the Broad Institute can issue a corrected report. Please check your test report as soon as you receive it and contact the Broad immediately at crsp-careevolve@broadinstitute.org if a correction is needed. The turnaround time is approximately 24 to 48 hours.