Georgetown University Policy and Recommendations Regarding Travel to or From Areas Experiencing Infectious Disease Outbreaks
Updated: June 9, 2026
Development of Georgetown’s Policy and Recommendations
Georgetown officials actively monitor information and recommendations related to various emerging infectious diseases (such as measles, Ebola, or COVID-19) from DC, national and international public health agencies. Georgetown University is committed to protecting the health and safety of all members of the Georgetown community, including students, faculty, staff, guests and other visitors, and to ensuring that accurate information and advice are readily available.
Working groups meet regularly when infectious disease alerts are released to make recommendations and to address programmatic needs and practical considerations. Participants include pertinent representatives from a variety of programs and offices that work with members of our community who travel internationally.
Policies and recommendations may change as an emerging infectious disease outbreak evolves. Georgetown will continue to develop and coordinate strategies, monitor daily bulletins from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and promote compliance with best practices regarding travel, quarantine and clinical care.
Travel Advisories and Alerts
The CDC will, from time to time, issue Travel Health Notices at three levels: Level 1 (Practice Usual Precautions); Level 2 (Practice Enhanced Precautions); and Level 3 (Avoid Nonessential Travel). Since international situations and travel recommendations continuously evolve, anyone considering international travel should consult the CDC and WHO websites regarding current travel notices.
University Travel to Areas with CDC Warning Level 3
Consistent with CDC travel warning advice, Georgetown University will typically issue a temporary moratorium on all university-sponsored and university-related travel for students, faculty and staff to areas under a CDC Warning Level 3. This means that university funds cannot be used to support trips to these areas, nor will the university facilitate or otherwise endorse travel to these areas. If an individual believes there is a compelling university-related reason for travel to those areas, they must contact the appropriate campus officer regarding an exception to the policy:
Main Campus Faculty/Staff/Students: Office of the Provost
Medical Center Faculty/Staff/Students: Executive Vice President for Health Sciences
Law Center Faculty/Staff/Students: Executive Vice President, Law Center Affairs
University Services Staff: Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
The moratorium will typically remain in effect as long as the CDC maintains the Level 3 Travel Warning. If new travel warnings are issued by the CDC, the moratorium may extend to those areas as well.
University Travel to Areas with CDC Alert Level 2
If an Alert Level 2 is issued by the CDC, travelers to those areas should consult the CDC Travel Page and consult with the Student Health Center or their healthcare provider to learn about appropriate precautions to safeguard health. Similarly, faculty and staff should consult with their medical provider. These recommendations may include avoidance of settings where the infectious disease of concern is most likely to be transmitted. The CDC recommends that health be closely monitored while in affected areas and for varying lengths of time following departure from those areas. It is essential that travelers who develop fever or other symptoms of the illness of concern seek prompt medical attention. Medical evaluation and isolation requirements may be required and may be disruptive, so community members should give careful consideration to whether travel is necessary while an Alert Level 2 is in effect.
University Discretion
Health and safety conditions can change rapidly in many parts of the world. As such, the university, in its sole discretion, may deny or withdraw authorization for university-related or sponsored international travel at any time.
Additionally, countries or regions that, at the discretion of the International Travel Review Committee, pose increased risk to Georgetown University travelers due to current conditions, alerts, or notifications (e.g., active state of emergency) will be considered elevated risk and may be subject to additional review and authorization under the university’s International Travel Policy, in order to promote safety and mitigate risk.
The university is not able to ensure full cost and/or academic credit recovery to those affected by a withdrawal of travel authorization or evacuation.
Non-University/Personal Travel
Georgetown University strongly urges all members of the community to avoid nonessential personal travel to areas with a CDC Alert Level 2 or Warning Level 3. If there are compelling personal reasons for such travel, the university urges students to consult the Student Health Center at (202) 687-4500 prior to departure. Faculty and staff should contact their medical provider. . Travel to and from these areas may be very complicated. Airline schedules and airports themselves may experience unanticipated disruptions.
Airlines are taking many precautions to reduce the risk of exposure for passengers, but air travel continues to involve risk. Travelers may be subject to health screenings before boarding planes to leave for the U.S. Departing travelers with any related symptoms may be detained and isolated. Travelers arriving in the U.S. are advised to seek health care immediately if they develop a fever or other symptoms of the illness of concern following travel to these areas. Medical providers are instructed to isolate and monitor such individuals. It is important that potential travelers understand these public health protocols when considering travel to these areas (even to areas that are under more limited recommendations), since minor illnesses developing during or subsequent to travel may involve disruptive and inconvenient isolation.
In order to protect the health of the Georgetown community, all Georgetown affiliates must alert the Office of Public Health at publichealth@georgetown.edu. Students returning from these areas should call the Student Health Center, and faculty and staff returning from these areas should call their medical provider immediately upon their return to campus and before resuming work or study or entering Georgetown facilities.
People Traveling to Georgetown
Georgetown urges individuals to seriously consider their plans to travel to the university from areas of the world subject to a CDC Level 3 Travel Health Notice. Individuals should not travel if they are ill, have recently been ill or have been exposed to someone suspected of being ill with an infectious disease.
Prevention measures in these areas and in the U.S. may be appropriately stringent and may make travel difficult. Airline schedules and airports themselves may experience unanticipated disruptions. Travelers may be subject to health screenings before boarding planes to leave for the U.S. Departing travelers with any symptoms may be detained and isolated for a period of time. Airlines are taking many precautions to reduce the risk of exposure for passengers, but airplane travel continues to involve risk. After arrival in the U.S., travelers may be given information explaining the symptoms of the illness of concern. Although isolation may be required only for those who have symptoms, minor illnesses developing subsequent to travel may be indistinguishable from the emerging infection of concern. Travelers are encouraged to spend the typical incubation period in a less exposed setting (such as a private home with friends or family) before entering the campus community. This guidance is subject to change based on public health conditions.