The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released new travel and testing recommendations for international air travellers based on the best public health advice available.
CDC now recommends that international air travellers get tested with a viral test 1-3 days before their flight to reduce spread during travel.
Travellers should get tested 3-5 days after travel and stay home for 7 days. If the test is negative, the traveller should stay home for the full 7 days. If a traveller does not get tested, it’s safest to stay home for 14 days. These new recommendations are important steps in controlling the spread of COVID-19.
While testing does not eliminate all risk, when combined with a period of staying home and everyday precautions like wearing masks, social distancing, and handwashing, it can make travel safer by reducing spread during travel.
If Americans choose to travel abroad, they should plan ahead: in addition to getting tested, they should take steps to limit exposures and avoid higher-risk activities for 14 days before traveling. Travellers should delay travel if they are sick with symptoms of COVID-19, have tested positive for COVID-19, have been around a person with COVID-19, or are waiting for the results of a COVID-19 viral test.