General travel guidance, study abroad, students arriving from international locations, visiting scholars, pre-travel/event testing
Guidance for travel is continually changing. Be sure to review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of State requirements and recommendations for before and after travel. Travelers are encouraged to be up-to-date (which includes booster doses to those eligible) on COVID-19 vaccinations prior to any travel and may be required for certain destinations or for returning to the U.S. if traveling internationally.
Some regions have travel restrictions that may include a quarantine or isolation period, COVID-19 testing, and/or vaccination requirement, which may impact an individual’s work or academics. Review the regulations governing travel to and from your destination. Be prepared to follow all state and local recommendations and requirements, including mask wearing and social distancing. Current information about locations throughout the world are provided by the CDC and the U.S. Department of State.
All travelers (university-related and/or personal) and those leaders approving travel should closely review and follow the below guidelines based on recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Domestic Travel:
International Travel:
Study abroad and student university-related international travel
Students who request to travel internationally and faculty who accompany them must submit a travel request through the Student International Travel, Risk Assessment and Safety (SITRAS) Committee.
New students arriving to campus from international locations
Review the Student Health Services website for international student information regarding Covid-19 and travel, how to access and upload records to the patient portal, vaccination requirements, tuberculosis screening/testing requirements, and health insurance information.
Visiting Scholars
Visiting scholars are defined as any short- or long-term research scholar such as post-doc research fellows, research associates and student interns. Visiting scholars and their faculty/department sponsor(s) should review the CDC requirements for travel to and within the United States. See the Student Health Services section for visiting scholars for campus guidelines for those arriving from an international destination, insurance information and area health resources.
Student COVID-19 testing for travel or events
- If you are a current student needing testing for travel or an event, you will need to research the specific Covid-19 testing requirements for your destination and for your return to the U.S., if travelling internationally. Covid-19 vaccination is strongly encouraged, especially prior to any travel and may be required for certain destinations or for returning to the U.S. Travelers are encouraged to be up-to-date (which includes booster doses to those eligible) on COVID-19 vaccinations prior to any travel and may be required for certain destinations or events.
- Some international destinations may require specifically PCR/NAAT Covid-19 testing with results usually within 72 hours of travel. You need to review with your destination and the airline on your specific needs and plan accordingly. Some destinations or events will accept rapid antigen testing which can be scheduled at Student Health with results in 15 minutes.
- Student Health Services works with the Phelps Health and Quest labs for PCR testing with results typically within 48 hours. You will need to call and make an appointment at Student Health for this testing. Insurance information is submitted to the lab with the testing, but there is no guarantee that insurance will cover testing for travel.
- Student Health Services is not open on Saturdays, Sundays, or campus holidays/closures, so if your travel plans require your testing to be done during those times, you will need to make other arrangements.
- Walgreens and CVS offer COVID-19 PCR/NAAT/Rapid Antigen testing by appointment. There could be charges incurred for this testing. Locate a COVID-19 testing site in the U.S. here.
- Phelps Health Immediate Care located at 603 S. Bishop Avenue (573-364-4411) and Rolla Family Clinic located at 416 S. Bishop Avenue (573-426-5900) also offer PCR/NAAT testing, but may include an office visit charge as well. You may call them to discuss their fees and services.
- There are rapid PCR/NAAT testing sites near the St Louis and Chicago airports. Appointments are usually required, and their websites review costs and scheduling.
St Louis: https://www.arcpointlabs.com/st-louis-west/request-anappointment/
St. Louis: https://www.passporthealthusa.com/locations/mo/st.-louis/150/
Chicago: https://www.passporthealthusa.com/locations/il/chicago/covid-19-testing-in-chicago/
Additional resources
Updated August 2022