COVID-19 Health and Safety

COVID-19 has significantly altered and continues to alter the risk landscape all over the world. From the beginning of the pandemic, the U.S. Department of State and World Learning have adapted their approach to monitoring and managing risk to meet the dynamic challenges that have emerged. This approach has meant looking beyond traditional risk indicators and factoring into our risk mitigation protocols new developments such as the vaccine and updated guidance from the scientific and health community.

For the Alumni TIES seminar in Bangkok, the Office of Alumni Affairs and World Learning will continue to monitor the number of COVID-19 cases, percent positivity rate, and vaccination rates. If the Office of Alumni Affairs decides to cancel or postpone the program, World Learning will notify seminar participants as soon as possible.

Fully vaccinated people are less likely to be infected and less likely to spread the virus that causes COVID-19 to others. Seminar participants will be asked to submit proof of their vaccination status to World Learning before World Learning arranges travel. Participants also will need to bring proof of their vaccination status to enter Thailand.

In accordance with the participation guidelines, all participants will be required to wear a mask that securely covers their nose and mouth while taking part in seminar activities (indoor and outdoor). World Learning will provide disposable masks to each participant upon check-in. World Learning staff will also have extra masks in case a participant forgets to bring a mask to an activity or session. For additional mask guidance, please review the CDC mask guidelines at https://bit.ly/GuidanceforMasks.

All participants will be required to socially distance (at least one meter apart from one another) when possible while taking part in indoor seminar activities and outdoor activities. We strongly encourage participants to meet people outside wherever possible.

Participants are asked to monitor their health for any symptoms that could indicate possible contraction of COVID-19 or other illnesses. People with COVID-19 have reported a wide range of symptoms, ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms, which may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus, include the following: Fever or chills, Cough, Shortness of Breath, Difficulty with breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. This list does not include all possible symptoms. For more information on COVID-19 symptoms, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

If a participant tests positive for COVID-19 prior to their arrival for the seminar, they must notify World Learning staff immediately and will be unable to take part in the seminar. If a participant is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms (fever, dry cough, loss of taste and smell, and difficulty breathing) and/or tests positive for COVID-19 on either May 23 or May 27 of their stay in Thailand (testing days), the participant must self-isolate in their hotel room. Depending on the severity of the case, the hotel in consultation with the local hospital may notify World Learning staff that the participant needs to quarantine in the hospital in accordance with the Government of Thailand’s guidelines. World Learning staff will work with the participant to arrange the quarantine at the local hospital. If multiple participants test positive, World Learning and the Office of Alumni Affairs may change the seminar format from in-person to virtual so that participants can quarantine.

For further information, please consult the Indo-Pacific Alumni TIES Acknowledgement of Risk Agreement or Pre-Departure Orientation Manual. World Learning will continue to monitor the pandemic situation and will reassess our procedures should federal regulations change or should Bangkok or Thailand impose stricter requirements.