What to know about guidelines on vaccinated travel
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance for fully vaccinated Americans on Friday, saying that traveling both domestically and internationally was low risk.
The long-awaited recommendations were issued by federal health officials after a series of studies found that vaccines administered in the United States were robustly effective in preventing infections in reallife conditions.
Still, the CDC is not recommending travel at this time because of the rising number of coronavirus cases, both at home and abroad.
One is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, or two weeks after receiving the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna shots.
If you decide to travel, you might still have some questions. Here are the answers.
Will I still need to wear a mask and socially distance while traveling?
Yes. Under federal law, masks must be worn at airports, onboard domestic U.S. flights and in all transport hubs. The CDC says that as long as coronavirus measures are taken, including mask wearing, fully vaccinated Americans can travel domestically without having to take a test or quarantine, although the agency warns that some states and territories may keep their local travel restrictions and recommendations in place.
For those wishing to travel internationally, a coronavirus test will not be required before departure from the United States unless mandated by the government of their destination. Vaccinated travelers will, however, need to show a negative COVID-19 viral test before returning to the United States and are advised to take a test three to five days after their return but will not need to selfquarantine.
Can I go abroad?
Yes, but only to countries that will have you. Most of Europe is still off-limits to U.S. citizens, although some countries such as Iceland are allowing in vaccinated visitors from the United States and elsewhere. Other places, like Turkey, Croatia and Montenegro, have been welcoming Americans with negative test results, while Greece plans to open up to fully vaccinated tourists and other foreigners with a negative test in May.
Many Caribbean nations have reopened to American tourists, but each has its own coronavirus protocols and entry requirements.
What about domestic travel? Is it free and clear to cross state borders?
Domestic travel has been complicated this past year, with the states and territories instituting their own travel restrictions and recommendations throughout
the pandemic (and frequently updating them).
If you are fully vaccinated, the CDC says, you can travel freely within the United States and you do not need to get tested, or self-quarantine, before or after traveling. But some states and local governments may choose to keep travel restrictions in place,
including testing, quarantine and stay-at-home orders.
Before you travel across state lines, check the rules at your destination and whether the state is waiving testing and quarantines for vaccinated people.
How are they going to check that I’m fully vaccinated?
Right now, the best way to prove that you have been vaccinated is to show your vaccine card.
Digital vaccine and health certificates showing that people have been vaccinated or tested are in various stages of development around the world and are expected, eventually, to be widely used to speed up travel.
The subject of “vaccine passports” is one of the most hotly debated topics within the travel industry, with questions over the equity of their use and concerns over health and data privacy.
On Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida issued an executive order that will ban local governments and state businesses from requiring proof of vaccination for services.
Last month, the European Union endorsed its own vaccine certificate, but individual European countries are still expected to set their own rules for travel requirements this summer.