Vaccinated? Then travel, says US agency

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has officially cleared Americans who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 for travel — but warned that they should continue to follow precautions such as social distancing, mask wearing and hand washing while they’re away.

The agency updated its guidelines earlier this month, stating that “fully vaccinated people can resume domestic travel and do not need to get tested before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel”.

Those who have had the jab will also no longer have to get tested before leaving the US, unless it is required by the destination country, and they won’t need to quarantine on their return.

Such travellers “are less likely to get and spread” Covid-19, the CDC said, and “can now travel at low risk to themselves”.

International arrivals in the US, however, vaccinated or not, must still produce a negative Covid-19 test done three to five days before their return, and be tested again three to five days after.

CDC director Rochelle Walensky said: “Vaccines can help us return to the things we love about life, so we encourage every American to get vaccinated as soon as they have the opportunity.”

This week, 169-million doses so far had been administered across the country.