Jordan Covid Protocols

The situation and the policies outlined here are subject to change, so please return to this page for updates as we approach the start of the semester. Students will be given detailed information and instructions in their correspondence with Middlebury prior to departure and upon arrival in Jordan.

Current Situation in Jordan

  • CDC Level: 3
  • Department of State Advisory Level: 2
  • Entry Restrictions: A negative Covid test before the flight is no longer required. Quarantine conditions may change between now and your arrival date.
  • This page was last updated on April 21, 2022.

For up-to-date information, please see the U.S. Embassy site, the Visit Jordan site, or the Ministry of Health COVID portal.

Program Changes

  • There will be smaller class sizes;
  • The student lounge will be arranged to allow for social distancing;
  • Out-of-country travel is allowed but may be restricted during the semester, though students must assume all associated risks, including that of not being able to rejoin the program;

Program-Specific Protocols

Arrival

  • Home quarantine is only required for individuals who test positive for COVID-19 at the airport. Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 at the airport on arrival will be subject to the Government of Jordan regulations for quarantine, which includes 5-10 days of home isolation.
  • All students must fill out the form here before going to the airport. After completing the form, save the QR code you receive at the end, you will be asked to show it at the departure counter.
  • Be prepared to present your GeoBlue insurance card to customs officials in Amman;
  • PCR test upon arrival at the airport (28JOD/$42USD) may be required, or show a certificate documenting full course vaccination received in one of these countries, which must be shown to the airline in paper or electronic form.

Housing

Students will have a private room in a homestay, and both parties will be expected to abide by the Jordanian government laws and regulations in regard to COVID-19 as well as utilize best practices to stay safe.

  • Keeping a safe distance of 1m between you and your house members is recommended;
  • Under normal circumstances, you are not expected to wear a mask inside your homestay, nor is your host. But you are free to do so if you wish to for any reason;
  • No physical contact allowed;
  • When aware, your host will inform you when guests are expected. You should always get your host’s permission before bringing in guests;
  • It is between you and your host to agree on a cleaning regimen, for your own room/bathroom and other shared spaces;
  • Use common sense at all times and do not hesitate to talk with your host if anything is making you uncomfortable, or reach out to on-site staff for help;
  • Both you and your host family members are expected to immediately inform the other and the program if you develop COVID-19 symptoms or learn that you’ve been in contact with an infected individual.

Middlebury Center Space

  • The program center will be reconfigured to comply with health and safety protocols. In the classroom space, 1 meter safe distance will be maintained between students.
  • Classrooms and common areas will be regularly cleaned and ventilated.
  • Wearing masks will be required the entire time on campus, but not in Middlebury private spaces (teachers’ or Administration offices, or the student lounge).

Public Spaces

  • Regulations/policies change frequently, so students must stay up-to-date with information provided by the program.
  • Individuals violating social distancing, mask wearing, and curfew regulations are subject to fines (20-50 JD) and, for some repeated violations, imprisonment. 
  • There is no curfew or mobility restrictions at the moment in Jordan;
  • Wearing masks and maintaining a social distance is required in all public places;
  • Restaurants, cafes, and public transport are operating at full capacity. Gyms are open for vaccinated individuals only;
  • Public transportation, government institutions, industrial, tourist, and recreational facilities are all fully operational nationwide.

In-Country Travel

  • Students will continue to travel within Amman and Jordan. There are no restrictions on in-country travel.
  • International travel may be restricted depending on the pandemic situation during the semester.

Frequently Asked Questions

A

The Jordanian Ministry of Health contacts every person who tests positive in the Kingdom. A dedicated team (called التقصي الوبائي) will ask for the individual’s recent contacts and will follow-up with them to get tested because if they were identified as contacts.

The program also encourages students to keep a daily journal of their contacts to make identification easier in case of an infection.

A

Courses can transition to remote instruction if the program is suspended during the semester. Students would return to their remote coursework after a brief period to allow for return travel.

A

Community engagement activities are available but in less variety than usual. They include volunteering with a local organization and language partnerships and will be in person unless the situation changes. Internships are only available for students in their second semester and will need to be agreed upon with the program director. In each case, abiding by COVID-19 regulations needs to be guaranteed.

A

Students are encouraged to budget for multiple COVID tests, should the need arise.  Currently a single test costs 40 USD and that is not likely to increase. Transportation costs might also be higher for some students if they choose to not use public transportation for extra safety.

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Currently, individuals who test positive quarantine at home unless medical care is required. Others living in the same house will also be asked to quarantine as well. 

The quarantine period is 10 days after a positive test if the individual is asymptomatic, and at least 13 days if symptoms are light and the individual did not show symptoms during the last three days. No confirmation testing will be required. 

The program administration will make sure to provide the students with possibilities to continue with their academic work. Depending on the student’s condition, this might include attending classes online or recording the class; students will also receive additional tutoring, if necessary. Deadlines and exam dates will be adjusted accordingly.

A

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should:

  1. Stay/go home;
  2. Inform a program administrator and your family;
  3. Consult a local physician or GeoBlue TeleMD online physicians to get their opinion on whether you should get tested or not, or get tested  anyway. (If you bypass seeing a physician you will not be entitled to a GeoBlue reimbursement for your test expenses);
  4. While waiting for your test results, please adhere to the following:
  • Stay home and away from others: Keep to your room and contact your host mom via calling/WhatsApp if you need anything brought to your room. If you need some fresh air, put your mask on and use your house garden (if present) or balcony. Do not get in contact with other people and if you absolutely need to, keep a distance of 6 feet minimum.
  • If and when you leave your room, borrow an alcohol spray from your house and use on any items you touch, such as door handles, light switches, and chair arms. 
  • Monitor your phone for the test result which you’ll receive via SMS.
  • Inform Nadia, Kerstin and your host family of the results as soon as possible via WhatsApp, no matter what time it is.
  • While you wait for your COVID-19 test result, think about everyone you have been around recently. This will be important information to give healthcare workers if your test is positive.

If you were in contact with someone who had COVID-19 you will have to: (we will follow the CDC recommended guidelines for vaccinated individuals, unless instructed otherwise by local authorities)

  • Inform a program admin and your family
  • No symptoms: No quarantine needed, get tested 3-5 days after exposure, even if you still don’t have symptoms. Wear a mask indoors and in public for 14 days following exposure or until the test result is negative
  • Have/developed symptoms: See section immediately above

Unless medical care is required, and provided someone in the homestay can care for the student, he/she shall isolate at home. If medical care is needed the student will be transferred to a hospital. For other medical care needs doctors/labs can be called in to the homestay.

A

No. By law, in Jordan, all students and faculty in higher education are required to be either vaccinated or undergo weekly PCR tests. Most host families are vaccinated. But we can’t guarantee that a student won’t come in contact with unvaccinated individuals on campus, and some host family members (especially children) may not be vaccinated.