Some guidance when traveling
After over a year of hibernation, many of us will be hesitantly thinking of our travel plans that were put on hold, while many are already traveling. Some are traveling with-in the country and others are venturing abroad.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends not to travel internationally until you are fully vaccinated. Have you been fully vaccinated? You are when you meet these requirements:
•Two weeks after your second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Morena vaccines.
•Two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Please note that if you have medical condition or are taking a certain medication that weakens your body immune system, you may not be fully protected even if you are fully vaccinated. Talk to your healthcare provider, especially if you are planning to travel. You may need to continue to practice all the precautionary measures.
According to the current CDC guidelines, people who are fully vaccinated can travel safely within the United States. It is advised to delay travel until you are fully vaccinated. Do not travel if you were exposed to COVID-19 or tested positive for COVID-19, or if you have symptoms of illness. Additionally, do not travel with someone who is sick.
Wearing nose and face covering is still required on planes, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within or out of the country. Masks are also required in transportation hubs such as bus/ train stations and airports. Follow all state and local recommendations and requirements, including mask-wearing and social distancing. After you travel, self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms. And if you develop symptoms, isolate yourself and get tested.
If you must travel domestically, and you are not fully vaccinated, the CDC recommends COVID-19 testing one to three days before your trip. While traveling, mask requirement is the same, and six-foot distancing from anyone who is not traveling with you is advised. Avoid crowds and wash or sanitize your hands often. After you travel:
•Get tested three to five days of arrival.
• Self-quarantine for a full seven days, even if your COVID-19 test is positive.
•If you don’t get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.
• Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not.
•Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms while on isolation. Get tested if you develop symptoms.
The pandemic situation, including the spread of new variants and positivity rates, differ from country to country. Be sure to find out the conditions at the destination you are traveling into, before you buy your tickets. Understand and follow all airline and destination requirements related to travel, mask, testing, or quarantine procedures.
Upon return to the US, all air passengers, including US citizens and those who are fully vaccinated, are required to have a negative COVID-19 test result no more than three days before travel or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past three months before boarding a flight back to the US. You will be required to get tested three to five days after travel and to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms. If you are not fully vaccinated, you will also be required to get tested one to three days before traveling out of the US and self-quarantine after travel for seven days with a negative test, or 10 days without test, just the same as the domestic travel requirements.