UPDATE: Travel Protocols
Travel Protocols
With the domestic and global spread of COVID-19, UTRGV continues to strongly discourage all personal domestic and personal international travel. Travel increases your chances of contracting and spreading COVID-19.
Before you travel, learn if coronavirus is spreading in your local area or in any of the places you are going. Traveling to visit family may be especially dangerous if you or your loved ones are more likely to get very ill from COVID-19. People at higher risk for severe illness need to take extra precautions.
Business Travel
UTRGV continues to restrict business travel outside Texas and internationally.
In addition, for passenger vehicles and trucks, no more than two travelers are allowed per vehicle for local travel of a duration of 15 minutes or less. Trips of more than 15 minutes should only have one traveler per vehicle.
Personal Travel
Domestic:
- Personal travel outside Texas does not require the completion of the travel form. Travel to the United States’ five permanently inhabited territories (Puerto Rico, U.S., Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa) is not considered Domestic Travel. Prior to traveling, please check to see if there are any State travel restrictions.
International:
- Individuals conducting personal travel internationally (see specific protocol for travel to Mexico below) outside the United States are required to report their travel to the university. The process is as follows:
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- Please complete the Self-Reporting Travel Form to let us know about your upcoming travel a minimum of 30 days prior to traveling.
- Once the form is completed and reviewed, your supervisor receives an email notification.
- The supervisor will then contact you to discuss any restrictions associated with your travel (upcoming travel). For students, the notification is received by the Dean of Students, who reaches out to the student.
- If you choose to travel internationally, you will be required to self-isolate for a period of up to 14 days from the date of return to US and to test negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA via PCR nasopharyngeal swab. Employees will need to utilize Vacation Leave during this isolation period, if not approved to work remotely.
- Upon return to campus, please complete the Preliminary COVID-19 Screening Form, which is managed by the UTRGV COVID-19 Response Team (CRT) for case management, testing, and scheduling.
The CRT will then formally release you to campus after the quarantine period has elapsed and the testing has been completed and the results reviewed.
Living In and Commuting From Border Cities
Members of the UTRGV community who reside or must make frequent trips to Mexico border cities abutting the Rio Grande Valley Counties are not required to complete the travel form. Any travel beyond the border cities requires the completion of the travel form.
Questions
For any questions regarding University related travel, please contact Travel Services Office at travel@utrgv.edu, (956) 665-2161, 665-2612 or 882-3822.
Our main concern continues to be the health, safety, and security of our UTRGV community. We appreciate your patience and cooperation while we work through this unprecedented situation.