As the holiday season approaches, being aware of current travel restrictions and recommendations intended to keep families and communities safe is important. As you continue to provide messaging within your communities, we encourage you to include the following messaging:
Federal Travel Requirements
To prevent the spread of COVID-19 on a national level, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued two important orders. First, people must wear a face mask while in transportation or at transportation hubs, such as airports or train stations. Second, anyone traveling by air from a foreign country must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test within three days of the travel date or documented proof of recovery from COVID-19 within three months of the travel date.
CDC Travel Recommendations
In addition to the CDC requirements concerning travel, the CDC has also shared numerous recommendations. First, though being vaccinated and adhering to CDC guidelines reduces one’s risk of contracting COVID-19 while traveling, traveling still increases one’s likelihood of getting and spreading COVID-19.
For those traveling domestically, the CDC recommends waiting until you are fully vaccinated to travel. As many areas have enacted their own travel regulations, travelers should check the health department directories available on the CDC website to find out if there are additional travel restrictions or recommendations where they are going. Because domestic travel does not involve entrance to a foreign country, travelers are not required to get tested for COVID-19 prior to returning from their travels. However, travelers should monitor for COVID-19 symptoms upon their return in the case that they may have contracted COVID-19.
For those considering international travel, the CDC suggests people do not travel unless they are fully vaccinated. International travel increases the risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19, and thus requires a negative COVID-19 test upon a traveler’s return, as mentioned previously.
For more resources and recommendations related to travel, we recommend consulting the following CDC resources:
Recommendations for fully vaccinated people
Recommendations for people who are not fully vaccinated
Safer travel tips for families with unvaccinated children
International travel information
If you have any additional questions regarding current travel recommendations and best practices, please contact the DH team. We will continue to share recommendations related to holiday gatherings and travel as we receive them. Thank you for your tireless efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19.