In order to contain the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, the State of Connecticut continues to impose mandatory quarantines on travelers arriving in or returning to Connecticut from various locations outside the state. Employees considering any out-of-state (domestic or international) travel should be aware of the state’s list of Affected States (updated weekly) and the list of Affected Countries for which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice. Travel to an Affected State or Affected Country requires quarantine for up to 14 days upon return. As the situation remains fluid and locations are modified weekly, UConn Health continues to strongly discourage any nonessential out-of-state travel at this time.

The Governor recently issued Executive Order 9C, effective September 18, 2020, which modified the exceptions to an individual’s requirement to self-quarantine following out-of-state travel and clarified that the self-quarantine is also required for international travel. Specifically, in addition to other changes, EO 9C:

• Clarifies that the 14-day self-quarantine rule applies to travel from countries listed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with a Level 3 Travel Advisory (Affected Countries);
• Adds a process for individuals to take COVID-19 tests as an alternative to quarantine; and
• Outlines new penalty and enforcement provisions that can be imposed on those who refuse or fail to self-quarantine or truthfully and accurately complete travel forms.

To implement the pieces of the Executive Order that relate to employment, UConn Health Human Resources issues the following updated travel guidance on domestic and international travel.

Travel Requirements

Employees of UConn Health who travel for personal reasons unrelated to their work at UConn Health, including but not limited to vacation, wedding, or personal business to an Affected State[1] or an Affected Country[2] and is present for twenty-four (24) hours or more shall be required to do the following:

Travel to an Affected State or Affected Country

• Employees are required to complete the appropriate travel form prior to traveling out of state or internationally:
  • If traveling out-of-state, employees are required to fill out UConn Health’s Employee Domestic Travel Form, which includes the employee’s dates of travel and the date scheduled to return to work.
  • If traveling internationally, employees must fill out the International Travel Form through UConn’s Department of Global Affairs.
• Prior to traveling, employees are required to schedule two (2) tests for COVID-19 through the UConn Health COVID-19 Call Center at 860-679-3199 such that the first test occurs within 48 hours following return to Connecticut and prior to return work, and the second test occurs 5-7 days following return to Connecticut. Employees will be required to self-quarantine upon return to Connecticut until they receive and file their first negative COVID-19 test result. This first test will be at the employee’s own expense;
• Employees are also required to complete State of Connecticut Travel Forms and to file the negative COVID-19 test result with the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health (DPH) before an employee will be exempted from self-quarantine;
• Employees will receive their COVID-19 test results through UConn Health MyChart. If the employee receives a negative result to the first test, the employee must provide such negative result to Human Resources at HR-EmployeeResource@uchc.edu and to the state Department of Public Health at DPH.COVID-Travel@ct.gov. The employee must also notify his or her manager of the ability to return to work.
  • Employees who receive positive test results must continue to self-quarantine and call the UConn Health COVID-19 Call Center for further guidance.
• Upon receipt and the filing of a negative COVID-19 test result with Human Resources, an employee will be cleared to report to work.
• When an employee returns to work, for a period of fourteen (14) days following an employee’s return to Connecticut from an Affected State or Affected Country, the employee will be required to observe the following while at UConn Health: (i) wear a procedural mask at all times while present on the campus, (ii) during meal periods you are required while consuming food and beverages to do so in isolation from other employees, staff and visitors, (iii) have your temperature screened upon arrival for work and midway through your shift, and (iv) self-quarantine while you are not at work.
• Within 5-7 days following return to Connecticut, the employee is required to proceed with the second COVID-19 test, scheduled through the COVID-19 Call Center. If the result of the 2nd COVID-19 test is negative the employee will be permitted to continue working. This 2nd test will be at no expense to the employee; and
• Employees will be required to utilize vacation leave for any period of self-quarantine required as a result of travel to an Affected State or Affected Country. If the employee does not have enough vacation leave the employee will be placed on an unpaid leave of absence for the balance of any self-quarantine period.

If an employee has traveled out-of-state to a state or country that becomes an Affected State or Affected Country while the employee is present in such state or country and it is within 14 days of the employee’s return to Connecticut, such employee shall be required to notify the COVID-19 Call Center, to fill out the applicable travel form, and to follow the procedures for travel to an Affected State or Affected Country.

Important Note:

If an employee makes the decision to forgo a COVID-19 test following travel to an Affected State or Affected Country, such employee will be required to self-quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of their last contact with an Affected State or Country. The employee will be required to utilize personal and vacation leave for the period of self-quarantine. If the employee does not have enough personal or vacation leave the employee will be placed on an unpaid leave of absence for the balance of any self-quarantine period. 

Exception for Employees Approved to Telecommute:

Employees who have received approval by their manager to telecommute upon their return from travel to an Affected State or Affected Country are not required by UConn Health to undergo the testing alternative to quarantine if they are not required to report to the work-site. Such employees should telecommute while they self-quarantine for 14-days following return to Connecticut. Telecommuting employees must still complete the travel forms for UConn/UConn Health and the State of Connecticut any time they travel to an Affected State or Country.

Travel for Work or on Government Business by an Essential Employee

While the Governor’s Executive Order does not require an Essential Worker[3] to self-quarantine if traveling for work, UConn Health is requiring testing in accordance with the UConn Health testing alternative process for employees who are returning to Connecticut from an Affected State or Affected Country when the travel is related to their work at UConn Health. This includes any state, local and federal officials and employees traveling in their official capacity on government business.

UConn Health Essential Employees traveling to Affected States or Countries for work-related purposes shall:

• Complete UConn Health’s Domestic Travel Form if traveling out-of-state, or the International Travel Form if traveling to an Affected Country.
• Prior to traveling, schedule two (2) tests for COVID-19 through the UConn Health COVID-19 Call Center at 860-679-3199 such that the first test occurs within 48 hours following return to Connecticut and prior to return work, and the second test occurs 5-7 days following return to Connecticut.
• Employees will be required to self-quarantine upon return to Connecticut until they receive and file their first negative COVID-19 test result.
• When returning to work, for a period of fourteen (14) days following an employee’s return to Connecticut from an Affected State or Affected Country, the employee will be required to observe the following while at UConn Health: (i) wear a procedural mask at all times while present on the campus, (ii) during meal periods you are required while consuming food and beverages to do so in isolation from other employees, staff and visitors, (iii) have your temperature screened upon arrival for work and midway through your shift, and (iv) self-quarantine while you are not at work.
• Within 5-7 days following return to Connecticut, proceed with the second COVID-19 test, scheduled through the COVID-19 Call Center. If the result of the 2nd COVID-19 test is negative the employee will be permitted to continue working.

Because the travel is work related, both tests will be administered at no expense to the employee.

Essential Workers traveling for reasons other than work (e.g., vacation) shall be required to self-quarantine or utilize the testing alternative described above.

Employees Who Have Had a Previous COVID-19 Positive Test Result

Positive Test Result will qualify for an exception if the positive result (nucleic acid COVID-19 test, e.g., an RT-PCR test) was performed within the last 3 months prior to arriving/returning to Connecticut from an Affected State or an Affected Country and the individual has clinically recovered, has been symptom free for a period of 10 days from the onset symptoms or such positive test result if the individuals was asymptomatic. The Affected Traveler must:

• provide written proof of such result to the Commissioner of Public Health; and
• complete the Travel Health Form in accordance with the Travel Advisory

An individual who had a positive test result for COVID-19 received more than 3 months prior to arriving in/returning to Connecticut will be required to follow the guidance for travel to Affected States and Affected Countries in accordance with this guidance.

Employees who fail to adhere to this Travel Guidance may be subject to disciplinary action.

[1] An Affected State is a state or territory with a COVID-19 positive case rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or higher than a 10% test positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average. Affected States are listed on the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) website and the list is updated each Tuesday.

[2] An Affected Country is a country for which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a level 3 Travel Health Notice. The CDC website lists the countries with a level 3 advisory.

[3] An Essential Worker is an individual who works in critical infrastructure as designated by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, including students in exempt healthcare professions. An Essential Worker includes any state, local and federal official or employee traveling in their official capacity on government business. Required military training is considered official travel on government business.

[4] This guidance does not address the University and UConn Health’s policy with respect to approval process for business travel to high risk states or countries.

The Governor issued Executive Order 9C, effective September 18, 2020, requiring individuals to self-quarantine following travel to states with a high COVID-19 positivity rate (Affected States) and countries listed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with a Level 3 Travel Advisory (Affected Countries). To implement the Executive Order UConn Health has updated its travel guidance on domestic and international travel and issues the following guidance:

Any employee of UConn Health that travels for personal reasons unrelated to their work at UConn Health, including but not limited to vacation, wedding, or personal business to an Affected State[1] or an Affected Country[2] and is present for twenty-four (24) hours or more shall be required to do the following:

Domestic Travel to an Affected State

• You are required to notify Human Resources and fill out UConn Health’s travel form for out-of-state domestic travel to an Affected State which includes your dates of travel and the date you are scheduled to return to work Domestic Travel Form HR Absence Management Fax: 860-679-4660;
• You are required to schedule a test for COVID-19 through the COVID Call Center at 860-679-3199 as soon as possible following your return date to Connecticut and prior to your return work. You will be required to self-quarantine from your return and until you receive and file a negative COVID-19 test result. This test will be at the employee’s own expense;
• Employees are required to complete State of Connecticut Travel Forms State of Connecticut Travel Form and to file the negative COVID-19 test result with the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health (DPH) before an employee will be exempted from self-quarantine;
• Upon receipt and the filing of a negative COVID-19 test result with Employee Health you will be cleared to report to work.
• For a period of fourteen (14) days following your return to Connecticut from an Affected State at UConn Health you will be required to observe the following: (i) wear a procedural mask at all times while present on the campus, (ii) during meal periods you are required while consuming food and beverages to do so in isolation from other employees, staff and visitors, (iii) have your temperature screened upon arrival for work and midway through your shift, and (iv) self-quarantine while you are not at work.
• Within 5-7 days following your return to work (if within 14 days of your last date in an Affected State) you are required to schedule a second COVID-19 test through employee health and if the result of the 2nd COVID-19 test is negative you will be permitted to continue working. This test will be at no expense to the employee; and
• Employees will be required to utilize vacation leave for any period of self-quarantine required as a result of travel to an Affected State. If the employee does not have enough vacation leave the employee will be placed on an unpaid leave of absence for the balance of any self-quarantine period.

If an employee has traveled out-of-state to a state that becomes an Affected State while they are present in such state and it is within 14 days of their return to Connecticut such employee shall be required to notify Employee Health, to fill out UConn Health’s travel form for out-of-state domestic travel to an Affected State and to follow the procedures for domestic travel to an Affected State.

Important Note:

If an employee makes the decision to forgo a COVID-19 test following travel to an Affected State, such employee will be required to self-quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of their last contact with an Affected State. The employee will be required to utilize personal and vacation leave for the period of self-quarantine. If the employee does not have enough personal or vacation leave the employee will be placed on an unpaid leave of absence for the balance of any self-quarantine period. 

International Travel to an Affected Country [1]

• Employees must notify Human Resources and fill out the International Travel Form through the Department of Global Affairs for international travel to an Affected Country;
• Employees must schedule a test for COVID-19 through Employee Health as soon as possible following your return date to Connecticut and prior to your return work. You will be required to self-quarantine from your return and until you receive and file a negative COVID-19 test result. This test will be at the employee’s own expense;
• Employees are required to complete State of Connecticut Travel Forms State of Connecticut Travel Form and to  file the negative COVID-19 test result with the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health (DPH) before an employee will be exempted from self-quarantine;
• Upon receipt and the filing of a negative COVID-19 test result with Employee Health you will be cleared to report to work;
• For a period of fourteen (14) days from the last contact with an Affected Country at UConn Health you will be required to observe the following: (i) wear a procedural mask at all times while present on the campus, (ii) during meal periods you are required while consuming food and beverages to do so in isolation from other employees, staff and visitors, (iii) have your temperature screened upon arrival for work and midway through your shift, and (iv) self-quarantine while you are not at work;
• Within 5-7 days following your return to work (if within 14 days of your last date in an Affected Country) you are required to schedule a second COVID-19 test through Employee Health and if the result of the 2nd COVID-19 test is negative you will be permitted to continue working. This test will be conducted at no expense to the employee; and
• Employees will be required to utilize vacation leave for any period of self-quarantine required as a result of travel to an Affected Country. If the employee does not have enough vacation leave the employee will be placed on an unpaid leave of absence for the balance of any self-quarantine period.

If an employee has traveled out-of-state to a country that becomes an Affected Country while they are present in such country and it is within 14 days of their return to Connecticut such employee shall be required to notify Employee Health and to follow the procedures for international travel to an Affected Country.

Important Note:

If an employee makes the decision to forgo a COVID-19 test following travel to an Affected Country, such employee will be required to self-quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of their last contact with an Affected Country. The employee will be required to utilize personal and vacation leave for the period of self-quarantine. If the employee does not have enough personal or vacation leave the employee will be placed on an unpaid leave of absence for the balance of any self-quarantine period.

Travel for Work or on Government Business by an Essential Employee

An Essential Worker[2] is exempt from self-quarantine if they meet the following criteria, but will be required by UConn Health to comply with the guidance contained herein:

• Returning to Connecticut from an Affected State or Affected Country when the travel is related to their work; or
• State, local and federal officials traveling in their official capacity on government business; and
• Essential Workers traveling for reasons other than work (e.g., vacation) shall be required to self-quarantine or utilize the testing alternative; and
• Essential Workers are required to complete the Travel Health Form required by the Travel Advisory prior to or no later than the day of arrival.

UConn Health Essential Workers will be required to:

• Notify Human Resources and fill out UConn Health’s travel form for out-of-state domestic travel to an Affected State Domestic Travel Form and if to an Affected Country the International Travel Form which includes your dates of travel and the date you are scheduled to return to work.
• Schedule a test for COVID-19 through Employee Health as soon as possible following your return date to Connecticut and prior to your return work.
• Within 5-7 days following your return to work (if within 14 days of your last date in an Affected Country), schedule a second COVID-19 test through Employee Health and if the result of the 2nd COVID-19 test is negative you will be permitted to continue working.
• Where travel by an Essential Employee is related to their UConn Health work or is an official traveling on government business the tests will be conducted at no expense to the employee.

Employees Who Have Had a Previous COVID-19 Positive Test Result

Positive Test Result will qualify for an exception if the positive result (nucleic acid COVID-19 test, e.g., an RT-PCR test) was performed within the last 3 months prior to arriving/returning to Connecticut from an Affected State or an Affected Country and the individual has clinically recovered, has been symptom free for a period of 10 days from the onset symptoms or such positive test result if the individuals was asymptomatic. The Affected Traveler must:

• provide written proof of such result to the Commissioner of Public Health
• complete the Travel Health Form in accordance with the Travel Advisory

An individual who had a positive test result for COVID-19 received more than 3 months prior to arriving in/returning to Connecticut will be required to follow the guidance for travel to Affected States and Affected Countries in accordance with this guidance.

Employees who fail to adhere to this Travel Guidance may be subject to disciplinary action.

[1] An Affected State is a state or territory with a COVID-19 positive case rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or higher than a 10% test positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average. Affected States are listed on the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) website and the list is updated each Tuesday.

[2] An Affected Country is a country for which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a level 3 Travel Health Notice. The CDC website lists the countries with a level 3 advisory.

[3] This guidance does not address the University and UConn Health’s policy with respect to approval process for business travel to high risk countries.

[4] An Essential Worker is an individual who works in critical infrastructure as designated by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, including students in exempt healthcare professions. An Essential Worker includes any state, local and federal official or employee traveling in their official capacity on government business. Required military training is considered official travel on government business.

Employee Domestic Travel Frequently Asked Questions

Updated 8/12/2020

1. (New) I am traveling for personal reasons to an “Affected State,” – one of the states listed as a “quarantine” state by the Governor and DPH. Do I need to complete the travel form before I leave and would the quarantine apply to me upon return?

Yes. There are two separate sets of forms that employees must fill out. First, you are required to notify Human Resources and fill out the University’s travel form for out-of-state domestic travel to an Affected State, and the fourteen (14) day quarantine applies to all personal travel to the states listed in accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order. It is the responsibility of the employee to know which states are on the list at all times since the list is updated weekly. In addition, employees must complete the Connecticut Travel Health Form for out-of-state domestic travel to an Affected State through the Department of Public Health.

Due to the fluid nature of the pandemic, UConn and UConn Health strongly discourage all employees from non-essential personal or professional out-of-state travel.

2. (New) What happens if I return to Connecticut from an Affected State on the list and during my period of quarantine that state is removed from the list of Affected States; do I still need to continue to quarantine?

Yes, you are required to complete your quarantine even if the state from which you traveled was removed from the list of Affected States during your quarantine period. State guidance requires quarantine if you arrived/returned from an Affected State because you were present in the Affected State during the period when the infection rate exceeded the level established by Connecticut for quarantining.

3. (New) If I work in Connecticut but live in a state that is adjacent to Connecticut, and my home state is put on the list of Affected States, can I still go to work? 

Yes. The self-quarantine requirement does not apply to residents of adjacent Affected States who must come into Connecticut for work, so long as your stay in Connecticut is less than 24 hours OR you are employed in critical infrastructure work as designated by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Employees who live in adjacent Affected States are encouraged to seek telecommuting arrangements; however, if you are not approved for telecommuting, you are permitted to come to work. In such cases, you are strongly encouraged to limit contacts while in Connecticut.

4. (New) If I am traveling to an Affected State to fulfill my annual training requirements for the Connecticut National Guard or military reserves, am I required to quarantine?

No. The Department of Public Health has provided guidance that Connecticut National Guard/Reserve Members travel for training is related to their Connecticut work (as members of the Connecticut National Guard). Traveling in their official capacity as members of the Connecticut National Guard would also make them subject to the exemption for essential workers.

5. (New) I was already traveling in a state when it was designated an Affected State by the Governor, am I required to quarantine upon my return to Connecticut?

Yes. You are required to quarantine for up to 14 calendar days from the date you leave a state on the quarantine list to return to Connecticut, even if the state was not listed as an Affected State when you left. If you spend less than 24 hours in an Affected State you are not required to quarantine, such as a day trip. It is why your dates of travel are important to list on the travel form and why it is important to check in with your manager (remotely) upon your return to Connecticut.

6. When does the period of quarantine commence?

The 14-calendar day quarantine period begins on the date that you depart any Affected State prior to your arrival in Connecticut.

7. Are employees able to use accrued time, such as personal leave, holiday and compensatory time, to cover their quarantine period?

Employees who can telecommute can continue to do so during the required period of quarantine.

For managers, confidential employees, and employees in UCPEA, UHP, and AAUP, the following rules apply:

An employee who traveled to a state that was not on the quarantine list but was added to the quarantine list while the employee is traveling there will be permitted to utilize up to 14 calendar days of COVID leave, if such employee has not already utilized 14 calendar days of paid COVID leave. Employees may utilize the balance of such leave if they were not previously granted 14 days. If an employee is not eligible for paid COVID leave such employee may utilize vacation, compensatory time or personal leave time to cover the required period of quarantine.

If an employee travels to state when it is listed as an Affected State and is unable to telecommute, such employee may only use available vacation time to cover the required period of quarantine. If the employee does not have vacation time sufficient to cover the period required for the quarantine the employee will be placed on unpaid leave. Employees will not be allowed to utilize holiday compensatory time, personal leave or other compensatory time. Sick time may not be used, unless the employee is or becomes ill.

Employees in classified unions are governed by guidance issued by the Department of Administrative Services.

8. If I have to use unpaid time because I don’t have enough vacation time, will it be unauthorized?

Up to 14 calendar days of unpaid time taken due to required quarantine will not be considered unauthorized leave.

9. If I recently returned from state that was not listed as an Affected State when I traveled there, but was added to the list shortly after I returned, am I required to quarantine?

No.  If the state was not listed as an Affected State when you traveled there, you are not required to quarantine.

10. Can I be tested before I return to Connecticut to substitute for the quarantine period?

No.  The testing substitute has very narrow use. The Governor’s Executive Order states that an individual may have a negative COVID-19 test in the 72 hour period prior to arriving in Connecticut as a substitute for quarantine only if an individual is “unable to quarantine.” This exception is available to out-of-state travelers since, if an individual resides in Connecticut they are capable of quarantining for the required period. There may be some limited circumstances of an extraordinary nature as determined by UConn or UConn Health that would render an individual incapable of quarantining. Employees who can or are telecommuting can do so during the period of quarantine.

11. Can I be tested after I return to Connecticut and substitute that for the quarantine? Is there any other testing alternative that can substitute for a quarantine period?

No. Please see the above. The Governor’s Executive Order did not generally provide for a test to substitute for the period of quarantine. The expectation is that all who arrive in Connecticut after traveling to an Affected State will quarantine for 14 days after arrival. Very limited exceptions, also mentioned below, apply to those who travel to an Affected State for less than 24 hours and those who travel for essential UConn or UConn Health-related business.

12. Are employees eligible for 14 calendar days of paid leave upon return from out-of-state travel to an Affected State?

An employee may be eligible for up to 14 calendar days of paid leave only in the circumstance where the employee traveled for personal reasons to a state that was not on the quarantine list at the time the employee departed for the personal trip, but was subsequently designated an Affected State. Paid leave would apply in situations where the employee had not already received paid COVID related leave or if such leave was less than 14 calendar days (10 work days). The foregoing is not applicable to employees who are able to telecommute; such employees do not need leave as they are paid for regular time.

13. If I am required to travel to an Affected State for business that is directly related to the work I perform for UConn or UConn Health am I required to quarantine when I return to Connecticut?

The Governor’s Executive Order provides an exemption from quarantine for those who work in critical infrastructure such as healthcare and public health and additionally for state employees that are traveling in their official capacity on state business in the circumstance where travel for business is required and directly related to the individual’s work in Connecticut. Although quarantine is not required in this circumstance under the Governor’s Executive Order, employees who return from Affected States may be subject to additional conditions by UConn or UConn Health before they are able to return to UConn facilities to work.

14. If I am traveling through an Affected State but will only stop there briefly, have a layover at an airport there, or will be dropping off my child at college - am I required to quarantine when I return to Connecticut?

If you are merely passing through a state on the quarantine list or are in that state for less than twenty-four (24) hours you will not be required to quarantine.

15. I will be beginning employment at UConn or UConn Health. If I am arriving from an Affected State should I arrive 14 days prior to my start date in order to quarantine? 

Yes. A prospective employee should make sure that  the employee is aware of the quarantine requirements prior to traveling to Connecticut. If arriving from an Affected State, a prospective employee should plan to arrive in Connecticut with sufficient time to observe the required period of quarantine. An employee who will be telecommuting should discuss these circumstances with the employee’s manager prior to arriving in Connecticut.

16. What happens if I do not complete the necessary UConn or UConn Health travel forms?

An employee who does not fill out the required travel forms, who makes misrepresentations on such forms or who fails to abide by any required quarantine may be subject to disciplinary action.

17. What happens if I do not complete the State of Connecticut travel forms upon returning to Connecticut or I do not observe the quarantine?

The Governor’s Executive Order 7III provides that individuals may be subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,000.00.

18. Do I have to fill out both the UConn/UConn Health travel form and the form required by the Governor’s Executive Order?

Yes.

19. Am I required to complete the travel form when I travel to a state that is not currently on the list of “Affected States”?

No.

Note that classified employees are governed by guidance issued by the Department of Administrative Services.

View FAQ document.

Effective today, August 4, the state of Rhode Island was added to the list of Affected States for which a 14-day quarantine is required. The quarantine period applies to travel commencing on or after August 4, 2020.

Please note that all UConn and UConn Health employees residing in Rhode Island are exempt from the quarantine requirement when they are reporting to work in Connecticut per the Executive Order.

As a reminder, on July 21, Governor Lamont issued Executive Order No. 7III instituting a mandatory quarantine for all travelers arriving in or returning to Connecticut from states with high prevalence of COVID-19 (“Affected States”). This Order went into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 24, 2020.

Governor Lamont’s Executive Order updated and clarified earlier guidance issued on June 24. The list of Affected States requiring quarantine will be updated weekly by the state’s Department of Public Health.

Questions on domestic travel may continue to be sent to hr-employeeresource@uchc.edu or hr@uconn.edu.

Dear UConn Health Employees,

On July 21, Governor Lamont issued Executive Order No. 7III instituting a mandatory quarantine for all travelers arriving in or returning to Connecticut from states with high prevalence of COVID-19 (“Affected States”). This Order went into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 24, 2020.

This communication updates and clarifies earlier guidance issued on July 23 regarding Governor Lamont’s Executive Order. The list of Affected States locations requiring quarantine will be updated weekly by the state’s Department of Public Health.

It is important for employees planning a vacation that involves out-of-state travel to be aware of the state’s list of Affected States locations at all times and the requirement to quarantine for up to fourteen (14) days upon their return. Most importantly, employees need to be aware of the expectations and the impact to them as a result of the decision to travel to an Affected State.

UConn and UConn Health strongly discourages employees from any non-essential out-of-state travel to Affected States at this time. While we recognize that some instance of travel to Affected States cannot be avoided, all employees and managers need to be aware of the following travel requirements. It is the obligation of employees who are thinking about traveling out of state to know if a state is an Affected State in accordance with Executive Order 7III. Requirements for any employee traveling out of state to an Affected State:

• Employees are required to fill out a form (which can be found on the Human Resources website) and notify their manager if they are planning to or have traveled to one of the identified Affected States.
• If employees are able to perform the functions of their job from home, employees will be permitted to telecommute for the recommended period of quarantine following return from an Affected State.
• Employees who travel to an Affected State for personal (as opposed to business) reasons, are unable to telecommute and are mandated by Executive Order 7III to quarantine for a period of time beyond the period of their pre-approved leave.
• Employees who were traveling at the time the Executive Order was issued on July 21 and who had not returned to Connecticut prior to July 24 must notify via email or telephone their manager upon their return to Connecticut.  If the employee has not yet had paid COVID leave or did not utilize all 14 days and cannot telecommute, such employee will be granted paid COVID leave for all or a portion of the required period of quarantine. If an employee does not have any COVID leave an employee may utilize vacation, personal leave or compensatory time to cover all or a portion of the quarantine.
• Employees who were traveling from one of the Affected States that was not listed as an Affected State at the time the employee began their travel must notify via email or telephone their manager upon their return to Connecticut. If the employee has not yet had paid COVID leave or did not utilize all 14 days and cannot telecommute, such employee will be granted paid COVID leave for all or a portion of the required period of quarantine. If an employee does not have any COVID leave an employee may utilize vacation, personal leave or compensatory time to cover all or a portion of the quarantine.
• Employees who travel to an Affected State for personal (as opposed to business) reasons and is beginning such travel on or after July 24 and who are unable to telecommute and are mandated by Executive Order 7III to quarantine for a period of time beyond the period of their pre-approved leave will be required to utilize any available vacation time to cover the period of their quarantine. If an employee does not have sufficient vacation time to cover the period of quarantine the employee will be placed on unpaid leave for the balance of the quarantine period. If an employee has no available vacation time to cover the period of quarantine, the employee will be placed on unpaid leave for the required period of quarantine. Any unpaid leave shall not be considered unauthorized leave.
• Please note that, at this time, the state’s mandatory quarantine does not apply if an individual has spent less than twenty-four (24) hours in one or more Affected State(s) prior to arriving in Connecticut.

• The Governor’s Executive Order states that an individual may have a negative COVID-19 test in the 72 hour period prior to arriving in Connecticut as a substitute for quarantine only if an individual is “unable to quarantine.” This exception is available to out-of-state travelers since, if an individual resides in Connecticut they are capable of quarantining for the required period.
• An employee’s out of state travel to an Affected State that is approved, related to their work in Connecticut and such travel is on official business will be required to adhere to the same standards applicable to those unable to quarantine as noted above.
• Employees in classified positions will continue to follow guidance issued by the Department of Administrative Services.

For more detailed information please see the accompanying Frequently Asked Questions.

Upon return to Connecticut, employees must provide appropriate documentation (e.g., boarding passes, car rental receipts, hotel invoices, etc.) to support need for leave upon return from travel. The failure to report travel from an Affected State could result in disciplinary action and a civil penalty for failure to comply with the Executive Order 7III requirements.

Questions on domestic travel may be sent to hr-employeeresource@uchc.edu.

Thank you,

Human Resources

Please note that FAQs relating to a host of other human resources questions, and FAQs for non-clinical employees may be found here. Please feel free to reach out to Human Resources with any questions you may have at HR-EmployeeResource@uchc.edu

Q.1 I am a clinical staff person and I am experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, what should I do?

A.1 If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms (fever, dry cough, body aches, loss of smell or taste, headache) you should immediately call the COVID-19 Call Center at 860-679-3199 and contact your manager. The staff at the call center can order and schedule a COVID-19 test for you at UConn Health. If you are experiencing symptoms, you should not report to work unless cleared by Employee Health to do so or until at least 1 week has passed since the onset of symptoms, symptoms have improved and you have been free of fever without any fever-reducing medications for at least 72 hours. Prior to reporting back to work, you should notify (1) the COVID-19 Call Center at 860-679-3199 for clearance, (2) your manager and (3) human resources through email at HR-EmployeeResources@uchc.edu.

Q.2 I have tested positive for COVID-19, what should I do?

A.2 If you have received a positive test result, either through the COVID-19 Call Center process or through your personal physician and/or testing from another institution, you should immediately notify the COVID-19 Call Center at 860-679-3199. You should notify your manager and Human Resources through email at HR-EmployeeResources@uchc.edu. You should follow the instructions of the COVID-19 Call Center and not return to work until at least 1 week has passed since the onset of symptoms, overall symptoms have improved and you have been free of fever without any fever-reducing medications for at least 72 hours. 

Q.3 What should I do if I have been exposed to someone who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19? Does it matter if this exposure was outside of work, with a co-worker, or with a patient?

A.3 Each of the scenarios noted above is addressed below in order:

a) If you have been exposed outside of work to a COVID-19 symptomatic or positive individual, you should call the COVID-19 Call Center at 860-679-3199. You may be instructed, depending on the date of last known contact or length and circumstances of the contact, to self-isolate and self-monitor for a recommended period of time up to 14 calendar days from the date of exposure. If you were determined to be at low risk, you may be instructed to self-monitor and can report to work as normal. If you are recommended to be quarantined/self-isolate you should contact Human Resources at HR-EmployeeResource@uchc.edu. If during this period you develop new symptoms, you should notify the COVID-19 Call Center at 860-679-3199 or your personal physician.

b) If you have been exposed to a co-worker who is positive for COVID-19, you will be contacted by the COVID-19 Call Center or your manager who will conduct a tracer and risk assessment as to whether you were a prolonged, close contact to such individual and may be required to be excluded from the workplace for a period of up to 14 calendar days for quarantine/self-isolation. If the symptomatic co-worker is discovered to not have COVID-19, you will be notified to return to work immediately. You will be instructed to contact the COVID-19 Call Center and your manager at the end of the recommended isolation period and prior to your return to work. If during this period you develop new symptoms, you should contact your personal physician and notify the COVID-19 Call Center at 860-679-3199.

If you were not a prolonged close contact and are considered to be an individual who is at low risk for exposure, you may be eligible to continue working. A close contact is defined as an individual who has been within 6 feet for a pro-longed period of time, i.e., for longer than 15 minutes, or someone who has had direct contact with the infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case, for example being coughed on while not wearing any PPE. Close contact does not include a brief or passing interaction with an individual.

As with all potential exposures, the time period of quarantine/self-isolation is from the date of exposure to COVID-19. If you have been cleared to return to work you should also contact Human Resources at HR-EmployeeResources@uchc.edu.

c) If you have been exposed to a patient who is positive for COVID-19 and you were in close contact with the patient or the patient’s secretions and you were not wearing a mask or other PPE, you will be notified by the COVID-19 Call Center, other medical staff or your manager that you have been exposed. Depending on the exposure you may be required to be excluded from the work place for a period of up to 14 calendar days for quarantine/self-isolation from the date of exposure. You will be instructed to contact the COVID-19 Call Center and your manager at the end of the recommended isolation period and prior to your return to work.

If you have any concern about a potential exposure to an individual with COVID-19, please contact the COVID-19 Call Center at 860-679-3199 to discuss the nature of the exposure. As with all potential exposures the time period of quarantine/self-isolation is from the date of exposure to COVID-19. If you have been cleared to return to work you should also contact Human Resources at HR-EmployeeResources@uchc.edu.

Q.4 Will I receive pay if I have been quarantined/self-isolated, have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been diagnosed with COVID-19?

A.4 If you meet the above criteria with regard to exposure to, suspected or diagnosed COVID-19 positive you will be eligible for up to 14 calendar days (typically 10 work days) of administrative leave that will not come out of your leave benefits, i.e., sick, vacation or personal leave. If you are sick beyond the period noted above you will have to utilize your accrued leave benefits.

Any other illness will require the use of your leave benefits in accordance with normal process and procedures. If you are asking for administrative leave for COVID-19 symptoms you must provide documentation of that fact and may only be provided administrative leave if testing is not available to you through the COVID-19 Call Center process.

Q.5 As a frontline clinical staff person am I limited to a single 14-day administrative leave if I have been exposed, quarantined and returned to work only to be notified I have again been exposed?

A.5 If UConn Health has excluded you from work for the safety of you, your co-workers and/or patients, you can be placed on paid administrative leave for quarantine/self-isolation or monitoring on more than one occasion.

Q.6 What do I do if I am in contact with someone who has been in contact with someone who has tested positive or is confirmed positive for COVID-19?

A.6 Close contacts of someone who has been in contact with someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 (i.e., "contacts of contacts") do not warrant quarantine or any special management.

Further, it should be noted that the now mandatory policy of UConn Health to mask all employees while working should result in the need for fewer circumstances where quarantine/self-isolation are warranted.

Q.7 I am a manager and I have been told that I have an employee who has been told to be out of work for quarantine/self-isolation, what are my responsibilities?

A.7 If your employee or Employee Health has contacted you because an employee has been recommended to be out for a period of time, you need to ensure that the following has been done (1) confirm with the employee (if that employee is notifying you directly) that the COVID-19 Call Center has been contacted, and (2) that Human Resources has been notified through email at HR-EmployeeResources@uchc.edu.

Q.8 I am experiencing child care issues and want to know what I can do?

A.8 Employees should first turn to trusted friends and family for assistance during this period of time to seek childcare help. Also we are directing individuals to call 211 and in particular the dedicated healthcare employee childcare line at 860-756-0864. We also recommend you contact UConn Health’s own Childcare Center. We have been working with the State’s Office of Early Childhood to increase the capacity at our Childcare Center and can work with employees to accommodate the need during this time.

If you are non-clinical staff and/or telecommuting you should review the questions and responses to the FAQ provided on the Human Resources website where these topics are specifically addressed.

The following information may be helpful to you as you contact the COVID-19 Call Center in understanding and addressing issues:

Close Contact: (1) Being within approximately 6 feet of an individual who is COVID-19 positive for a prolonged period of time; examples include living with, working in close proximity with, caring for or visiting; OR (2) direct contact with the infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case, for example being coughed on while not wearing any PPE.

Self-monitoring: Taking your temperature 2x per day and remaining alert for respiratory symptoms, body aches or a loss of a sense of smell or taste. If experiencing these symptoms, call the COVID-19 Call Center at 860-679-3199.

Active Monitoring: Regular communication with public health authority, occupational health or infection control, and the potentially exposed healthcare provider to assess the presence of fever or respiratory symptoms. If you have been exposed without the proper precautions or without wearing PPE, this should occur at least 1x per day.