In a March 5 memorandum to UNMC and Nebraska Medicine faculty, providers, staff and students, Jim Linder, M.D., Nebraska Medicine CEO, and Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., UNMC Chancellor, shared information for members of the medical center community who had recently traveled to China, South Korea, Iran, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Thailand.
The memo read:
This is an update to our guidance for UNMC and Nebraska Medicine staff (faculty, providers, staff and students) who traveled abroad in places affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
The CDC recommends avoiding nonessential travel to China, Iran, Italy and South Korea.
For staff returning from China, Iran, Italy and South Korea: you must home quarantine for 14 days and register with the local public health department. Contact information for all county health departments in Nebraska is available here. Iowa county health department contact information is available here. If you do not develop symptoms during your 14-day quarantine and you are ready to return to work or class, you must receive authorization by contacting Nebraska Medicine Employee Health (402.552.3563) if you are an employee or the UNMC Student Health Clinic if you are a student (402.559.5158).
For staff returning from Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand:
- Register with the Public Health Department.
- If you are not showing symptoms, you may return to campus and resume normal activities, unless you had direct contact with someone with COVID-19 or worked in a healthcare facility. See #4 below.
- If you develop symptoms (e.g. fever or respiratory symptoms):
- Promptly remove yourself from campus and/or stay home
- Inform NM Employee Health
- Inform the Public Health Department through the website or as instructed
- We will coordinate with the Public Heath Department to have staff evaluated and tested. This practice is also congruent with NE HHS guidance.
- For staff who had higher risk while abroad – including contact with a known case of COVID-19 or working in a health care facility while abroad, you are required to institute the 14 day home quarantine, contact the public health department and contact NM Employee Health.
- Students experiencing symptoms should contact the Student Health Clinic (402.559.5158).
- When ready to return to work or class:
- If you are a staff member, you must receive authorization by contacting Nebraska Medicine Employee Health (402.552.3563) and then contact your manager to return to your work area
- If you are a student, you must receive authorization to return to class by contacting UNMC Student Health Clinic (402.559.5158)
UNMC and Nebraska Medicine are working closely with federal agencies and the public health service to protect our community. We will continue to update you with the latest information on this evolving situation. Thank you for your understanding and for helping to protect the health of our learning and caring community.