Texas Tech University

Travel Guidance

Countries at Risk

The CDC has established a geographic risk-stratification criteria for the purpose of issuing travel health notices for countries with COVID-19 transmission and guiding public health management decisions for people with potential travel-related exposures to COVID-19. A number of factors inform the geographic risk stratification, including size, geographic distribution and epidemiology of the outbreak. View a risk assessment map .


Read health notices on the CDC and U.S. State Department.

Protocol for Arriving Travelers

To continue to protect the health of our campus, effective immediately all students, faculty, staff, and visitors returning from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Level 3 travel advisory locations (including airport layovers) for coronavirus (COVID-19) will be required to self-isolate for 14 days before returning to campus. This applies to both university-sponsored and personal travel.

International Travel Guidance

As we carefully track the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Levels 1, 2 and 3 risk assessment for COVID-19, we are now implementing guidelines consistent with direction from The Texas Tech University System. Our regular updates can be found on this page.

The following countries have been designated as CDC Level 1, 2, and 3 as it pertains to the coronavirus:
CDC Level 1 (Practice Usual Precautions): Hong Kong
CDC Level 2 (Practice Enhanced Precautions): Japan
CDC Level 3 (Avoid Nonessential Travel): China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea

How to Self-Isolate

If you are not experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 and are asked to self-isolate after returning from a country listed on the CDC's COVID-19 travel advisories page as Level 2 or Level 3, you should stay off campus and remain home.


Do not go to campus including work, classes, events or other social gatherings until 14 days after leaving the Level 3 country in question. Likewise, avoid public places and gatherings in the community.


Please review the precautions advised by the CDC for travelers from countries with widespread sustained (ongoing) transmission arriving in the United States.


Please follow these guidelines for self-isolation:

  • Report any symptoms of COVID-19 immediately to your medical provider – preferably by calling to get advice and instructions.
  • Stay in your room or apartment. Do not go to work, classes, athletic events, or other social or religious gatherings until 14 days after your return to the United States from the country in question.
  • Limit contact as much as possible. This also means limiting close contact with others including persons living in your residence.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water, or use alcohol-based hand rubs after coughing or sneezing or throwing a used tissue in the garbage.
  • Avoid sharing household items. Do not share drinking glasses, towels, eating utensils, bedding, or any other items until you are no longer asked to self-isolate.
  • Keep your surroundings clean. While the virus is not spread very well from contact with soiled household surfaces, try to clean surfaces that you share with others, such as door knobs, telephones, and bathroom surfaces (or any other object that you sneeze or cough on), with a standard household disinfectant wipe.
  • Wash your hands after cleaning the area.
  • Monitor yourself for symptoms at least daily including measuring your temperature. Any symptoms of COVID-19 should be reported to your physician.
  • Cover coughs and sneezes with your upper sleeve or a tissue. Never cough in the direction of someone else.

Returning from an Affected Area

If you have traveled from or through any country that is designated as a Level 3 by CDC for COVID-19 within the last 14 days, you are required to report that travel to the Office of International Affairs. You will also be required to self-isolate upon returning from those countries for 14 days before returning to campus (See See How to Self-Isolate). You should continue to be vigilant about monitoring yourself for fever and lower respiratory symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath. However, not all affected individuals will exhibit all symptoms, and if you have any symptoms at all, call a healthcare provider or Student Health Services if you are a student at 806.743.2848.

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