1.27.21: Information for international undergraduate students

A message sent to international undergraduate students.

Dear Students,

Whether you are already here on campus or will be arriving shortly, we wanted to take a moment to review Lehigh’s pre-arrival and arrival requirements for spring 2021.

All students arriving in Bethlehem are required to quarantine for 10 days immediately upon arrival, and to participate in the two consecutive rounds of Lehigh arrival testing and subsequent surveillance testing. The 10-day quarantine is a Lehigh requirement. A negative pre-arrival test does not eliminate the quarantine requirement.

During this quarantine, you should only leave your residence hall to pick up meals from dining or to complete arrival testing. “Fresh-air breaks” or exercise outside alone or with another person where social distancing is observed (smaller groups of 2-3 total are preferable if walking with a “buddy” for safety) is allowed while wearing a mask. During quarantine:

  • Do not leave your residence otherwise except for emergency or health-related reasons, such as filling a prescription or seeking medical care.
  • Do not walk to the dining hall in groups.
  • Avoid gathering in groups in common spaces or eating with other people.
  • Do not share water bottles, cups or utensils.
  • Remember to wear a face covering, even within your suite or apartment.

The goal of quarantining in the beginning of the semester is to minimize the risk of interactions where the spread of the virus is possible, particularly after travel and before full arrival testing is completed. Around 40% of COVID cases are asymptomatic which means we must take extra precaution to keep everyone safe. We realize this may be a challenge, but we appreciate your help in keeping our campus and Bethlehem community safe. We all must work together to have a successful spring semester. We want to help you get through this time so you are able to join the Lehigh community as soon as possible.

Important Notice:

As of January 26, the CDC will require all air passengers arriving to the U.S. from a foreign country to get tested no more than three days before their flight departs and to provide proof of the negative result or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 to the airline before boarding the flight. This required pre-travel test meets Lehigh’s requirements for pre-arrival testing.

On January 25, 2021, President Biden signed a proclamation continuing the suspension of entry of certain travelers from the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Brazil, China, and Iran, and expanding restrictions to include travelers from South Africa. However, students traveling from the Schengen Area, the UK, and Ireland with a valid F-1 visa are automatically considered for a national interest exception to travel.

For undergraduate students living on campus:

Please refer to the university’s detailed information found here.

For undergraduate students living off campus:

Please refer to the university’s detailed information found here.

If you have further questions regarding quarantine, please sign into your Lehigh patient portal where you can submit questions for the Health and Wellness Center staff to answer. If you are not feeling well, please email or call the Health Center at inluhc@lehigh.edu or 610-758-3870.


Regards,

Cheryl Matherly

Vice President/Vice Provost for International Affairs

Caroline Neal

Intercultural Programs Coordinator