Covid-19 Travel and Quarantine Policy

Covid-19 Travel and Quarantine Policy

I. PURPOSE:  The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues around the world and within the United States.  Many countries continue to show an increasing number of COVID-19 infections and new outbreaks, including countries that have originally brought their original outbreaks under control.  Variants of the disease have further affected the spread.  The United States continues to experience an accelerating pandemic and most states outside of New England are experiencing worsening outbreaks or uncontrolled community transmission. A Level 3 Global Pandemic Travel Health Notice is still in place by the CDC, which recommends against any non-essential travel to global destinations.

The CDC has also issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice recommending that travelers defer all cruise travel worldwide.  Therefore, any travel internationally or domestically increases your chances of getting infected and spreading COVID-19; staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from getting sick.

Because travel increases a person’s chance of getting COVID-19 through close contact with others or contaminated public surfaces, anybody traveling should continue to avoid large gatherings and public areas, keep a distance of at least 6 feet from others, wear a cloth face covering when in public areas, and frequently sanitize their hands.

II.  SPECIFIC TOWN OF FREMONT TRAVEL and QUARANTINE GUIDELINES:  The Town of Fremont until further notice will not authorize any non-essential international and out-of-state domestic business travel (e.g., conferences, meetings).  The Town strongly discourages personal international and domestic travel outside of the New England states.  The Town strongly discourages personal travel on cruise ships.

If you choose to travel, the Town of Fremont encourages:  Avoiding being in crowds and large congregate groups

Maintaining social distancing – staying 6 feet apart

Wearing a face mask when in a public setting

Following state and local recommendations regarding COVID -19 protocol

Any employee, volunteer or official choosing to travel internationally (including Canada), on a cruise ship, or domestically outside of Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, or Rhode Island for more than 24 hours, before they return to work, volunteer position or official duties SHALL:

Provide evidence to their Supervisor and Town Administrator that they completed a COVID-19 vaccination process at least 14 days before their travel, or

Show evidence that they had a positive COVID-19 test within the last 90 days and that 14 days passed since their positive test, or

Provide evidence of a negative COVID – 19 test results that occurred since their return from travel, or

Quarantine for 10 days after travel before returning to their Town of Fremont duties.

If emergency paid sick leave is declined or exhausted, employees will be unpaid during quarantine unless they choose to use appropriate, available paid leave during this quarantine period.  (Emergency sick leave provisions ended 12/31/2020).

Employees, volunteers or officials who are quarantining under this policy should refrain from any travel that may subject them to an additional 10-day quarantine period.  In the event of such additional travel, the employee, volunteer, official’s quarantine will be appropriately extended.

III.  AMENDMENTS:  This policy will be reviewed when NH DHHS publishes a revised COVID-related travel guidance or by December 31, 2021, whichever is earlier.  This Policy may, from time to time, be amended by a majority vote of the Select Board at a regularly scheduled Board meeting. 

IV.  EFFECTIVE DATE:  This policy will be effective upon approval by the Select Board and will apply to all employees, both full and part-time.  This shall also apply to Town Officials and volunteers working or volunteering for the Town.

Effective:  20 August 2020

Adopted:  Board of Selectmen 08/20/2020            Gene Cordes, Chair            Neal Janvrin                Roger Barham

Reviewed and Readopted:  Board of Selectmen 01/14/2021            Gene Cordes, Chair                 Neal Janvrin                 Roger Barham

Reviewed, Amended and Readopted as Read:  Select Board 04/08/2021     Gene Cordes, Chair                 Neal Janvrin                 Roger Barham

Reviewed, Amended and Readopted:  Select Board 04/15/2021     Gene Cordes, Chair                 Neal Janvrin                 Roger Barham