2/12/20 – Update

*Published Feb. 12, 2020*

Northeastern University continues to monitor the developments on the current coronavirus outbreak, which the World Health Organization has named COVID-19, and university leaders remain in constant communication with government and public health agencies around the world.

Here are a few important updates, including updated travel restrictions in the U.S., U.K., and Canada; upcoming drop-in info sessions for the Northeastern community held on our Boston campus; and a university travel registry we encourage all travelers to use.

• China has introduced port-of-exit screening and people already exhibiting symptoms are not allowed to leave the country. Many airports around the world no longer allow flights arriving from China, and many airlines have discontinued flights to and from China for the time being.

• In accordance with the U.S. State Department, Northeastern University has prohibited all university-sponsored travel from the U.S. to China. For personal travel, we strongly discourage traveling to China at this time. Returning from China may result in a 14-day quarantine, which may impact your ability to return to campus.

• If you are planning to travel and have questions, please contact mytravelplans@northeastern.edu for further travel guidance.

• We encourage every member of the Northeastern community to register planned travel, including personal travel, through the NU Travel Registry. Once registered, you will have access to information and notifications specific to your travel destination.

Do you have questions about coronavirus, travel, or Spring Break you want to ask in person? 

DROP BY AND TALK TO OUR EXPERTS:

• Thursday, February 13th, 2020 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the Living Learning Center, Speare Hall (Follow signs to 20 Stetson East Learning Living Center from front entrance of Stetson East Dining Hall)

• Friday, February 14th, 2020 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in Curry Student Center Room 344

• Stay tuned for information about info sessions at the other campuses across Northeastern’s global network.

COUNTRY-SPECIFIC TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

United States

The White House has issued a proclamation that includes suspending entry into the U.S. for foreign nationals who have visited China within the past 14 days. Measures to assess symptoms and diagnose the coronavirus (COVID-19) among those who are allowed entry into the United States (U.S. citizens, residents, and family) and have been in China within the past 14 days also are being implemented and may include quarantine.

At the U.S. embassy in Beijing and the U.S. consulates general in Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenyang have suspended regular visa services.

For U.S.-specific updates, please continue to monitor: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/novel-coronavirus-hubei-province–china.html

United Kingdom

Public health authorities are asking travelers arriving to the U.K. from mainland China, Thailand, Japan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, or Macau in the last 14 days to stay indoors, avoid close contact with people, and call NHS 111 if they are experiencing any symptoms.

The U.K. government has also introduced advanced monitoring at airports that receive direct flights from China. Public health hubs with medical staff have been established at Heathrow airport to support anyone arriving from China who is symptomatic.

For U.K.-specific updates, please continue to monitor https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public

Canada

Public health agencies are asking travelers arriving from Hubei Province, China to stay home, self-isolate for 14 days, and monitor themselves closely for symptoms of illness.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has issued a Travel Health Notice to avoid all non-essential travel to China and avoid all travel to the province of Hubei, including the cities of Wuhan, Huanggang and Ezhou.

For Canada-specific updates, please continue to monitor http://www.bccdc.ca/about/news-stories/stories/2020/information-on-novel-coronavirus

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

• Although respiratory illness and fever are among the symptoms of the coronavirus (COVID-19), at this time of year, these same symptoms are far more likely to be associated with the flu or a flu-like illness. Please get your flu shot if you haven’t already. UHCS holds Flu Clinic hours regularly for current Northeastern students. Faculty and staff should check with their healthcare providers for information on receiving a flu shot.

• If you have plans to travel to China over spring break for a personal, non-university-sponsored trip, please check with the airlines. Many flights to and from China have been suspended (other than flights out of China for U.S. citizens). Please note that non-U.S. citizens who may be able to travel to China over spring break are not guaranteed return to the U.S., given the current travel restrictions.

• Wearing masks are for those who are sick or have upper-respiratory symptoms, such as a cough. At this time, the CDC and public health experts are not recommending that healthy people wear masks or cancel activities. The best way to protect your health is by practicing preventive measures, such as consistent hand-washing and getting a flu shot.

• If you are concerned or anxious about the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and want to talk to someone, Northeastern has counseling services for students, faculty, and staff.

Students, please contact:
Find@Northeastern – 877-233-9477
International: +1 781-457-7777

Faculty and staff, please contact:
Employee Assistance Program – 877-739-3989
International: +1 877-739-3989