Is it safe to travel yet?

If travel tops your list of things to start doing safely again, there’s good news: the CDC says fully vaccinated people can resume the activities they did prior to the pandemic, including traveling both domestically and internationally. But before you hop on a plane or train to your next destination, you still need to take certain precautions to keep yourself and others safe -- especially if you aren’t vaccinated yet. 

Domestic travel recommendations for fully vaccinated people:

Traveling domestically is now considered low-risk for fully vaccinated people who still follow safety precautions, like wearing a mask and washing your hands. (Remember, you are considered fully vaccinated about two weeks after your final dose in a two-dose series, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine.) However, the CDC recommends taking these steps to protect others while you travel:

• Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth. It is still a requirement on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation

• Follow all local and state recommendations and requirements for mask wearing and social distancing

Note that you may not be fully protected if you have a condition or weakened immune system and should speak with your healthcare provider before traveling. 

To prepare for your trip, check local health department sites before you travel to see if there are any rises in COVID-19 cases. Some places, like Hawaii may require you to get tested before you arrive. Testing can take a few days to get results so be sure to plan ahead 2-5 days. Rite Aid currently does not meet Hawaii travel requirements for testing. Visit the CDC website to learn more about other destinations.

After your trip, it’s important that you self-monitor for any potential COVID-19 symptoms and get tested if you have any symptoms. You should follow all state and local recommendations or requirements for post-travel, which you can find by visiting the Center for Disease Control’s Travel Planner Website. You aren’t required to get tested or self-quarantine if you are fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 within the past three months. 

International travel recommendations for fully vaccinated people:

Fully vaccinated people should follow the same precautions for international travel as domestic travel, including wearing a mask and monitoring themselves for any COVID-19 symptoms during and after their trip. However, international travel poses a bigger risk, including the chance of exposure to different COVID-19 disease variants that may exist in other countries.

Here are the recommendations to keep yourself and others safe during international travel:

• Check your destination’s COVID-19 guidelines, which may vary from country to country. You can visit the CDC’s Travel Recommendations by Destination Website to search for your destination and any rules or regulations you may need to follow. Make sure you follow all of your airline and destination’s requirements for travel, testing and quarantine, which may differ from the U.S. You may be denied entry to your destination if you fail to follow regulations and be required to return to the United States. 

• Before arriving in the United States, all air passengers (including U.S. citizens and fully vaccinated people) 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 to the United States. 

After an international trip, travelers should take more precautions than they would after a domestic trip, which include:

• Getting a COVID-19 test 3-5 days after their return

• Self-monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms and isolating and getting tested if symptoms present

Domestic travel recommendations for people who are not vaccinated:

Getting vaccinated is the only way to provide yourself with a relatively high level of protection during travel, and the CDC recommends delaying travel both domestically and internationally until full vaccination. However, if you must travel, they recommend taking the following precautions:

• Get tested 1-3 days before your trip

• Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth, avoid crowds, and stay at least six feet away from anyone not traveling with you

• Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer

• After you travel, get tested within 3-5 days after your return and stay home and self-quarantine for 7 days. If you don’t get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel. 

• Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms, get tested if necessary, and follow all state and local regulations. 

International travel recommendations for people who are not vaccinated: 

International travelers should follow all of the same recommendations as domestic travelers but should also be aware of the following:

• Before arriving in the United States, all air passengers (including U.S. citizens and fully vaccinated people) 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 to the United States. 

Millions of people are getting back on planes, trains and buses with confidence again because of the COVID-19 vaccine. If you’re fully vaccinated and taking the right precautions, you can travel with relative safety, especially within the United States. If you’re planning a trip but aren’t vaccinated yet, schedule your COVID-19 vaccine at Rite Aid today. Consider planning your vaccination at Rite Aid first.  

To schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment or to learn more, visit our COVID-19 vaccine page.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel-during-covid19.html