The New Travel Essential

Before catching your flight, there's one last thing to check off the list. Test and travel confidently with Labcorp’s trusted COVID-19 PCR tests.

test for travel covid

Preferred Pre-Travel Test

Fast results, tests for your family.

Testing Before You Travel

Pixel by Labcorp customers get their COVID-19 PCR test results quickly, allowing them to travel safely.

test for travel covid

Request a test kit online or purchase at a store

Request a test kit online or purchase at a store near you.

Most kits purchased online arrive within 2 days.

Collect your sample at home

Collect your sample at home using a short, painless nasal swab.

Ship back same-day for faster turnaround time.

Ship your sample back to our lab

Most kits arrive within 2 days.

Access your results online

On average, results are received in 1-2 days from when samples arrive at the lab.

Where to Purchase Pixel by Labcorp COVID-19 Kits

Available at over 6,000 Walgreens stores nationwide. Kits are located in the pharmacy. Check in-store availability at  walgreens.com .

Available at select CVS stores in Alabama, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Kits are located in the pharmacy. Check in-store available at  CVS.com .

On-demand Delivery

Available to be delivered by DoorDash® and Instacart® through Walgreens. Check availability at  walgreens.com .

Know the Travel Guidelines for Your Destination Before You Go

*Rules for COVID-19 testing and quarantining can vary greatly among U.S. states. Some destinations may not accept test results from self-collected samples; please check with your destination to confirm. Visit the CDC’s  Travel Planner  to be routed to the relevant health department in order to understand what’s required before traveling to that destination. Labcorp OnDemand services are only available in the US. If you are traveling internationally, you’re unable to ship kits from international locations.

The CDC has different travel guidelines for vaccinated and unvaccinated people—and recommends delaying travel until you’re fully vaccinated. Click  here  for the latest information on domestic travel and  here  for the latest on international travel. The agency’s website notes that even fully vaccinated people are at risk of getting and spreading new COVID-19 variants when traveling.

Labcorp is a leader in the fight against COVID-19

At Labcorp, we’re on a mission to improve health and improve lives. Our network of CAP-accredited and CLIA-certified laboratories has performed over 38 million COVID-19 molecular (PCR) tests, and their effectiveness has been proven for the U.K., South African and Brazilian variants. With the first FDA authorized at-home kit, we are continuing to be a global leader in the fight against COVID-19. Learn how Labcorp is developing new ways to help fight the crisis.

test for travel covid

Can I purchase a kit for travel?

The Labcorp OnDemand® COVID-19 PCR Test Home Collection Kit is a RT-PCR test that is designed to determine active infection of SARS-CoV-2. Many destinations require negative PCR results within a specific timeframe. We recommend that you reach out to your destination’s government for their specific requirements and timelines before making your purchase. Some destinations may not accept test results from self-collected samples.

How many kits can I purchase at once?

You can purchase up to 5 kits at one time by adjusting the quantity in your cart. Each kit is shipped individually and should be returned in the packaging included in each kit.

Can kids take the Labcorp OnDemand COVID-19 test?

The test is authorized for ages 2 and older.  All people aged 18 years or older can collect their own sample.  Children between the ages for 14-17 can collect their own sample under adult supervision. Children 2-13 can use this test when samples are collected by an adult.  

Can I ship a kit internationally?

Labcorp OnDemand® services are only available in the US.  Unfortunately, we're unable to ship kits internationally.  

How long does it take to get COVID-19 test results back?

Currently the average time to deliver results is 1-2 days from when your sample is received at the lab.  Our labs process samples seven days a week.  

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What is COVID-19?

Who can get covid-19, can i travel if i recently had covid-19, what can travelers do to prevent covid-19, more information.

CDC Respiratory Virus Guidance has been updated. The content of this page will be updated soon.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. The virus spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets and small particles produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. The virus spreads easily in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor settings.

People with COVID-19 have reported a wide range of symptoms   – ranging from no or mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2–14 days after exposure to the virus. Possible symptoms include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, new loss of taste and smell, sore throat, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Anyone can get COVID-19. However, some people are more likely than others to get very sick if they get COVID-19. These include people who are older, are  immunocompromised , or have certain  disabilities , or have  underlying health conditions .  Vaccination, past infection, and timely access to testing and treatment can help protect you from getting very sick from COVID-19.

Yes, you can travel once you have ended isolation . Check CDC guidance for additional precautions, including testing and wearing a mask around others. If you recently had COVID-19 and are recommended to wear a mask, do not travel on public transportation such as airplanes, buses, and trains if you are unable to wear a mask whenever around others.

Get  up to date  with your COVID-19 vaccines before you travel and take steps to protect yourself and others . Consider wearing a mask in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor areas, including on public transportation and in transportation hubs. Take additional precautions if you were recently exposed to a person with COVID-19. Don’t travel while sick.

If you have a  weakened immune system  or  are at increased risk for severe disease talk to a healthcare professional before you decide to travel.  If you travel, take multiple prevention steps to provide additional layers of protection from COVID-19, even if you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines. These include improving ventilation and spending more time outdoors, avoiding sick people, getting tested for COVID-19 if you develop symptoms, staying home if you have or think you have COVID-19, and seeking treatment if you have COVID-19.

Consider getting travel insurance in case you need medical care abroad .

Consider getting a COVID-19 test if you:

  • Develop COVID-19 symptoms before, during, or after travel.
  • Will be traveling to visit someone who is at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.
  • Were in a situation with a greater risk of exposure during travel (e.g., in an indoor, crowded space like an airport terminal while not wearing a mask).

If you traveled and feel sick, particularly if you have a fever, talk to a healthcare professional, and tell them about your recent travel.

  • Masking During Travel

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COVID-19 international travel advisories

If you plan to visit the U.S., you do not need to be tested or vaccinated for COVID-19. U.S. citizens going abroad, check with the Department of State for travel advisories.

COVID-19 testing and vaccine rules for entering the U.S.

  • As of May 12, 2023, noncitizen nonimmigrant visitors to the U.S.  arriving by air  or  arriving by land or sea  no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 
  • As of June 12, 2022,  people entering the U.S. no longer need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test . 

U.S. citizens traveling to a country outside the U.S.

Find country-specific COVID-19 travel rules from the Department of State.

See the  CDC's COVID-19 guidance for safer international travel.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

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Where to get a COVID-19 test for travel

Going on a trip? Don't forget your COVID-19 test.

test for travel covid

As more and more people get their vaccinations , the desire to travel grows stronger , fueled largely by the declining cases of COVID-19. The world is starting to feel a little bit safer. 

If you're preparing to cure your cabin fever, don't forget that you need proof of a negative COVID-19 test to travel to many destinations -- and to get back into the US, if you plan on traveling abroad . 

Though COVID-19 tests aren't in short supply anymore, some places still won't test you if you don't have symptoms or known exposure. That said, there are plenty of locations you can get tested for COVID-19 before traveling, as detailed below.

Community testing centers

Chances are, there's a park or parking lot near you reserved for drive-through COVID-19 testing. Some community testing sites are managed by state or local governments, others are managed through private companies and others may be a partnership between the two.

Color , for example, is a medical testing company that has several community testing sites across California.

To find community testing sites near you, check your local department of health website. If you can't find a testing site that way, a quick Google search of "COVID-19 testing near me" or "COVID-19 testing in [city]" should do the trick. 

You may have to pay for a test at a community testing center, because tests are generally reserved for people who have symptoms (and recreational travel is still not encouraged). However, some testing sites may offer free tests even if you don't have symptoms. 

Drive-thru COVID-19 test in Washington, DC

A drive-through test might be the most convenient option.

Urgent care

Most urgent care centers offer both PCR and rapid antigen COVID-19 tests. You can check the website of local urgent care centers or call to find out if testing is available. Most cities have multiple urgent care centers, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding a test this way. Again, whether or not you pay depends on each urgent care center's particular policy. 

Doctor's offices and clinics

Your primary care provider may be willing to test you for COVID-19 if you don't have symptoms, although your insurance may not cover the test or the cost of the office visit for this purpose. It can't hurt to ask. 

Passport Health , a travel medicine and immunization agency with clinics across the US, offers COVID-19 testing specifically for travel. The agency has locations in 33 states .

gettyimages-1218148186

Your primary care provider may offer you a COVID-19 test for travel.

Most large pharmacy chains offer COVID-19 testing for travel, but you'll probably have to pay out of pocket. Walgreens, CVS and Rite Aid all have COVID-19 tests available for travel. The exact cost you incur may vary, but out-of-pocket costs for COVID-19 tests generally hover between $100 and $150.

Kroger and Walmart pharmacies also offer COVID-19 testing in some states, and the same rule applies: The test is free if you have symptoms, but you have to pay for travel, recreation or simply peace of mind. 

If you go to a local pharmacy (not a chain), give the location a call to see if they offer COVID-19 testing for travel. There's a good chance they will have tests available, but it might cost more to get one from an independent business versus a large corporation. 

Medical labs

Cut out the middleman and head straight for a medical laboratory for your COVID-19 test. Quest Diagnostics, the lab where many tests go for processing anyway, offers drive-through COVID-19 testing . The lab requires you to pay for the test if you aren't showing symptoms. 

Curative is a new medical lab that was founded in January 2020 to develop a new type of sepsis test. The company quickly pivoted to making COVID-19 tests that March, and it now offers COVID-19 testing at more than 10,000 locations throughout the US. Curative processes all of its tests at its labs in San Dimas, California; Pflugerville, Texas; and Washington, DC.

covid-coronavirus-lab-testing-vaccine-vaccinations-0581

Some travel destinations offer COVID-19 tests for guests. Call your destination to see if they offer return testing -- that is, the test you need to get back into the US. Keep in mind you still need to arrange your own test to get to your destination.  

Many airports offer travel COVID-19 tests for passengers. Whether or not it'll cost you depends on a number of factors, including what entity, exactly, is providing the test; whether or not they bill health insurance; and whether people showing symptoms are prioritized. 

To find out if the airport you're flying out of offers COVID-19 testing, search the airport's official website. You may also have some luck checking the website of your preferred airline. Delta has a handy tool where you can find a list of airport testing locations based on the country you're traveling from. United has information specific to certain cities and countries. 

Just keep in mind that some airports might not offer rapid tests, which means you shouldn't wait until the day of your flight to get your test. Not only could you miss your flight due to a long line, but if you can't get rapid results, you may not be able to board at all.

gettyimages-1217604557

You may be able to find a COVID-19 test at the airport, but don't bank on getting your results immediately before your flight.

If you have some time to spare, consider buying an at-home COVID-19 collection kit instead of venturing out for a test. 

There are more than 10 at-home COVID-19 tests available for people without symptoms or known exposure, including those from Everlywell, LetsGetChecked and Picture from Fulgent Genetics. 

You can even order one on Amazon or call your local drugstore to see if they're stocking the new over-the-counter COVID-19 test from Ellume . 

From the time you order one of these tests, it'll take five to seven days to get your results, so this option is best for people who plan ahead. 

At home with a health care professional

Ready , a new urgent care telehealth platform backed by GV, Google's investment arm, offers in-home rapid COVID-19 testing. Book your appointment online and a qualified health professional will show up at your door to administer the test. You can also mail-order a test and take it while a health care worker supervises via a video call.  

BeeperMD offers a similar service, but only in Florida at this time. 

img-9956

At-home kits are a good option for people who have time to spare before their trip.

When to get your COVID-19 test for travel 

Time -- or more accurately, timing -- is of the essence when it comes to getting a COVID-19 test for travel. The exact guidelines you need to follow will vary based on where you're going, where you're coming from and whether or not you're visiting multiple locations. 

In general, it's a good idea to take your COVID-19 test so that you receive results within three days of travel. This means you can take a rapid antigen test 24 to 72 hours before traveling or you can take a PCR test four to six days before travel. PCR tests usually take 24 to 72 hours to process.

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Ask a Travel Nerd: What COVID Test Is Required for Travel?

Carissa Rawson

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Note: Certain regulations mentioned below, including the CDC's requirement of a negative COVID-19 test to enter the U.S., have changed since publication. Check the CDC's news page for the most up-to-date information.

So you’re looking to get back into traveling — but things have changed since the last time you hopped on a plane. From new testing requirements to quarantine concerns, the experience of travel is different from what it once was. It can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.

Let’s take a look at what COVID tests are required for travel and where you can get them.

The different types of COVID tests

Not all COVID-19 tests are the same. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, there are two major types of COVID tests: diagnostic tests and antibody tests.

Diagnostic tests can show if you have an active COVID-19 infection. These tests can be further broken down into molecular and antigen tests, both of which detect an active COVID-19 infection.

Antibody tests look for the presence of antibodies against the coronavirus in your immune system. Since it can take days or even weeks for antibodies to develop, antibody tests aren’t good at testing for active COVID infections.

Plenty of countries require a negative diagnostic COVID test for travel from outside their borders, including the U.S. and many countries within the European Union.

» Learn more: The majority of Americans plan to travel this year, according to recent NerdWallet study

Where can I get a COVID test for travel?

Whether you need a COVID test to get where you’re going depends on your destination . Thankfully for travelers based in the U.S., there are many COVID testing centers located around the country.

Where to get a COVID test for international travel

As already mentioned, different countries may or may not require a COVID test. Before scheduling your testing, check the regulations for your intended destination.

Once you’ve found the travel requirements for that locale, make an appointment for your test. It’s simple to find COVID test locations online; the easiest method is by doing a search on your local pharmacy's website. You may also want to go through your health insurance if that’s an option.

Be aware that each country has a validity period for accepting COVID tests. Israel, for example, requires that a test be taken within 72 hours of departure.

Restrictions vary by country, but some will allow you to enter without a COVID test if you’re fully vaccinated.

Where to get a COVID test for travel to the U.S.

If you’re already overseas and want to return home, you also need to take a COVID test. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, beginning Dec. 6, 2021, you need to have a test completed no more than one day prior to your air travel back to the U.S. if you're vaccinated. Unvaccinated travelers must complete a test within one day of their flight. If you’ve recently been infected with COVID-19, you can also opt to show proof of recovery.

This requirement is for all air passengers at least 2 years of age.

The U.S. will accept several different COVID tests for reentry, and many countries have COVID testing readily available. You can check U.S. embassy websites to see if a given country has tests available for U.S. citizens. It's also a good idea to check directly with the hotel you're staying at. It may have on-site COVID testing available or a list of local providers.

Alternatively, you can take advantage of a virtually proctored at-home COVID test (one that's done over a video call with a health professional) in order to satisfy U.S. requirements. Just confirm beforehand that a lab report is provided and the test is FDA-approved. These tests are highly convenient; you can purchase them before traveling and bring them with you. There are a few different at-home testing options available, including some in a multipack if you’re traveling with family.

» Learn more: Hotels now offering COVID tests ahead of return trips to the U.S.

If you need a COVID test to travel

Travel in the COVID-19 era isn’t quite as straightforward as it used to be. However, preparing now can save you a headache down the line. Do your research, figure out your destination’s requirements and schedule your COVID test to make your travel as simple as possible.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee:   Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards:  Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card  

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card

1.5%-6.5% Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

$300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

test for travel covid

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We Reviewed the CDC-Approved COVID Home Tests for International Travel—Here’s What to Know

We road tested the binaxnow, ellume covid-19, cue, and detect home tests to see how they actually fare while traveling..

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We Reviewed the CDC-Approved COVID Home Tests for International Travel—Here’s What to Know

The new must-have accessory for international travel? A COVID self-test kit.

Courtesy of Ellume

When the CDC issued new guidance regarding its COVID testing requirement for international travel , effective December 6, 2021, many U.S. travelers who were already abroad had to scramble to do a COVID test within a calendar day of coming home. The new rules shorten the testing period from three days to one and apply to all travelers—vaccinated or not—ages two and up.

Per the CDC: “At this time all air passengers, 2 years or older, traveling to the U.S., regardless of vaccination or antibody status, are required to provide a negative COVID-19 viral test result or documentation of recovery unless exempted.”

That means all travelers entering the U.S. must provide proof of a negative COVID test (PCR, antigen, or approved home tests or self-tests) taken within one day before travel.

Some countries, like Iceland and Denmark, make it very easy and affordable (in some cases, free!) to get a same-day test result, but that’s not the standard around the globe.

Until it is, bringing a set of COVID-19 home or self-tests offers the promise of less hassle. And as of January 15, 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration is requiring insurance companies and group health plans to cover the cost of at-home COVID-19 tests, which means they will be eligible for reimbursement through your private health coverage if you have it.

There are some potential hiccups that travelers should be aware of before they buy and pack these tests (see below for our full reviews).

To meet the CDC requirements, the tests can be self-administered as long as they meet these criteria:

  • The test must be a SARS-CoV-2 viral test (nucleic acid amplification test [NAAT] or antigen test) with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
  • The testing must include a telehealth video call during which someone authorized by the manufacturer supervises the testing procedure in real time. (Note that some FDA-authorized self-tests that include a telehealth service may require a prescription, according to the CDC.)
  • The telehealth provider must issue a report confirming the patient’s identity, the name of the laboratory or healthcare entity, the type of test, and the specimen collection date.
  • Airlines and U.S. officials at ports of entry must be able to review and confirm your identity and paper or digital documents with your test results.

For those who would prefer to get tested in the destination, numerous airlines as well as international hotels, including in Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Caribbean, have introduced testing options and resources to help Americans fulfill the CDC testing requirement abroad.

Rather pack a self-test? The CDC cautions that some countries may have rules or restrictions in place regarding the importation of COVID-19 test kits that are not authorized or registered there. “Travelers who are considering bringing a U.S.-authorized test with them for use outside of the United States should contact authorities at their destination for information before they travel,” the CDC advises.

At-home COVID tests approved for international travel

So, what are the options for test kits for those who would like to try bringing one along? We tested the following COVID-19 test kits that meet the CDC requirements and offer the self-test option, produce results without a laboratory, and include a telehealth service.

The BinaxNOW Antigen home kit is sold as a six-pack for $150, which comes out to $25 for each kit.

The BinaxNOW Antigen home kit is sold as a six-pack for $150, which comes out to $25 for each kit.

Courtesy of Abbott

BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Home Test

Buy now: $150 for a pack of six, eMed.com

The BinaxNOW COVID-19 home test is one of the few tests on the market with FDA emergency use authorization that does not require the user to ship a sample to a lab. It’s a rapid antigen self-test designed to detect both asymptomatic and symptomatic COVID-19. It can be used for children as young as 4 when the sample is collected by an adult—those 15 and older can collect their own sample.

BinaxNOW was developed by Abbott, a health and medical diagnostics company. A trained telehealth professional guides users through the at-home self-test during a video call via eMed.com, which will also deliver their COVID-19 test results to their email. The standard kit comes with one nasal swab—the technique for sample collection is less invasive than the very deep nasal swab sample collection we’ve all heard horror stories about (if not endured ourselves).

“It was super easy,” says Bryan Kinkade, AFAR’s publisher, who used the BinaxNOW home tests for himself and his family for a trip to Costa Rica in spring 2021. His one piece of advice is to make sure to have “a solid Wi-Fi connection” so that you can download the app and conduct the telehealth video call. “They walk you through the entire process,” he says, remarking that the test is very similar to a pregnancy test—after 15 minutes or so the results pop up on the reader. “The healthcare provider comes back on camera to verify the results that you hold up to the camera, and then you can instantly see [your] results in the app.”

After getting his results, he uploaded them directly into the United Airlines app to check in for the flight back to the United States. “I repeated the process with my wife and son, and 45 minutes after we started, my son was walking back to the beach for an afternoon surf. We were down there with some friends who were stressed out all week hoping that the local clinic would be open, that there wouldn’t be a line or any issues getting results back quickly.”

When purchased with scheduled video observation from Azova, the Ellume COVID-19 home test kits cost $50 each.

When purchased with scheduled video observation from Azova, the Ellume COVID-19 home test kits cost $50 each.

Ellume COVID-19 Home Test with Azova

Voluntary Recall Notice: On October 1, 2021, Ellume issued a voluntary recall of specific lots of its Ellume COVID-19 Home Test, due to an “increased chance” that tests may provide an incorrect positive result (also known as a false positive). In a safety communication on October 5, 2021 , the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed this issue was “due to a recently identified manufacturing issue” and that “negative results do not appear to be affected by the manufacturing issue.” To see if your Ellume COVID-19 Home Test is included in the product recall, compare the lot number on the test carton to the lot numbers on Ellume’s website . If you have unused tests from an affected lot, you can request a product replacement via ellumecovidtest.com/return.

Buy now: Due to supply constraints, Ellume COVID-19 Home tests are currently only available at your local pharmacy. Book a video observation via azova.com

Though BinaxNOW has received a bit more attention, Australia-based digital diagnostics company Ellume was actually the first to market with a COVID-19 home test, and it partnered with Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines to give passengers easy access to home antigen tests. (One 15-minute test with a video observation by Azova, an online healthcare provider, will give results for both asymptomatic and symptomatic cases, for ages two and up.) How were they so speedy? Dr. Sean Parsons, Ellume’s CEO and founder, had been working on getting a home flu test to market since 2010 and was able to pivot—the buzzword of 2020—quickly to get approval on a COVID test. “The FDA knew all about our technology, from the work we’d been doing [on the flu test],” Parsons told AFAR. “We feel as if we’re on the cusp—we’re just about there. As a company, we’re already looking to combine our flu assets with our COVID assets to make a combined COVID-flu test, which is the natural progression. It’s coming!”

Until then, international travelers can pack one test kit for every family member over the age of two and—as long as the Wi-Fi is decent and a video-call appointment is scheduled a week out—they can take the Ellume test anywhere in the world. The kit has an easy-to-use smartphone app that asks you to register the bio basics of the patient (name, age, address), then it serves up a mandatory how-to video you can’t fast-forward through (a bit annoying on the fourth go, but understandably necessary). After the step-by-step walkthrough, you swab each nostril, dip the swab in fluid, and put the fluid reader near your phone for 15 minutes. Buzzer goes off, and you have your results, which are also emailed to you.

A friendly reminder that for all antigen tests, false positives are possible. (My two-year-old got one and prompted a fair bit of panic and a follow-up PCR test at a nearby clinic.) “A false positive is really frustrating and worrying and anxiety provoking; a false negative is genuinely dangerous. That’s the tradeoff,” says Parsons. “So we said we’ll chase the positives pretty hard. As a result, we had the best clinical performance of all the rapid tests out on the market. We think that’s still very important for when you go traveling. If you take our test and it’s negative, you can be pretty darn sure that you’re negative.” —Laura Dannen Redman

Cue COVID-19 Test for Home or OTC Use

Buy now: $90 per month for a Cue+ Complete membership

On March 5, 2021, Cue Health received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA to sell its lab-quality molecular COVID test over the counter. It’s a nucleic acid amplification test that returns rapid results—the whole process takes less than 20 minutes—but PCR-level accuracy. Think of this as a home COVID-test investment for frequent travel, in-person meetings, or business travel; companies like Google and the NBA have sent Cue packages home to employees, and U.S. schools have been using them to test grades K–12.

At a minimum, you would have to buy the Cue Reader—a small box about the size of a stack of Post-It notes—and a pack of 3 or 10 individual-use nasal swab tests. You plug in the reader to charge, and while you do that, download the Cue Health app (available on iOS and Android). When the app is fully installed, you follow it step by step: Insert a cartridge to “warm up” in the reader, do a self-nasal swab, and then insert the swab into the cartridge. About 20 minutes later, the results come up on your phone—you can also print them off.

Results are incredibly reliable—according to Cue, an independent study by Mayo Clinic, Cue’s COVID-19 test matched central lab results with 97.8 percent accuracy—but they’ll cost ya: The Cue Reader on its own is $249; a pack of three swab tests is $225. To access the CDC-compliant supervised testing for international travel, you have to sign up for a Cue+ Complete membership ($90 per month), which also includes 20 tests per year; a discounted Cue Reader ($149); 20 percent off additional COVID-19 tests, plus free same-day delivery in select markets; 24/7 access to board-certified doctors; e-prescriptions and prescription renewals; and physician-ordered lab tests.

Though the price is high, these have been the best tests I’ve used in the past six months, including on my children (ages two and four). I have yet to use them abroad but plan to and will report back on the ease of the telehealth appointment. —L.D.R.

Detect Covid-19 Test

Buy now: $75 for starter kit (1 test and 1 hub), $49 for each additional test, and $20 for a video observation session voucher to certify results for travel, detect.com

On December 15, 2021, Detect, Inc. launched its at-home molecular COVID tests authorized by FDA EUA for over-the-counter home use by people ages two and up. While Detect takes longer (about an hour) than many other at-home tests I’ve used, it delivers results with PCR-level accuracy while still being faster than waiting 24 hours to days for results from a lab.

Like Cue, this testing system also requires the purchase of a small device—the Detect Hub—to process the results from a single-use nasal swab. To start, you must download the Detect App (available on iOS and Android) and follow the simple step-by-step video instructions. After you plug in the computer-mouse-size Hub, you can swab your nose then swirl the swab in a liquid-filled test tube. You then place the test tube in the Hub to process for 55 minutes. Once that time has elapsed, you add a separate dropper of liquid into the test reader and push the test tube into the reader, which will give you results within 10 minutes. If you see a single line near the “2” on the reader, your results are negative for COVID-19. If you see two lines or a single line near the “1” on the reader, your results are positive.

In terms of accuracy, Detect tests are comparable to results from PCR tests. According to FDA-reviewed clinical studies, Detect’s Covid-19 tests came back with 97.3 percent accuracy. (Just slightly under Cue’s 97.9 percent accuracy.)

When you compare price points, Detect is a more affordable alternative to Cue. The Detect Hub on its own is $39, and individual tests are $49 each (limited to three tests per order). For $75, you can also purchase a Detect Covid-19 Starter Kit, which includes one hub and one test (a savings of $13 compared to purchasing separately). If items are sold out, check back often. A limited quantity of the Detect Covid-19 tests will be made available at 12 p.m. EST on weekdays via detect.com .

In order to make your results CDC-compliant for international travel, you must also purchase a $20 voucher for a video observation session that comes with a CDC-certified report. While the video session voucher codes are sent to your email after purchase, the hub and tests are sent for free via standard shipping (expedited shipping is also available at cost). Since I haven’t traveled abroad with these yet, I haven’t had the opportunity to try out the video observation session but will report back once I do. —Lyndsey Matthews

Correction (May 11, 2021): The original version of this article mentioned that the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self Test, available for $24 at Walgreens, satisfies the CDC’s requirement for international arrivals. That test does not meet the CDC’s requirements and is intended for personal use. The BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Home Test, available on eMed.com and mentioned above, does meet the CDC’s requirements for international arrivals.

This article was originally published on May 10, 2021; it was updated throughout 2021, and again on January 14, 2022, with new information.

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  • COVID-19 travel advice

Considering travel during the pandemic? Take precautions to protect yourself from COVID-19.

A coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine can prevent you from getting COVID-19 or from becoming seriously ill due to COVID-19 . But even if you're vaccinated, it's still a good idea to take precautions to protect yourself and others while traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you've had all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses, including boosters, you're less likely to become seriously ill or spread COVID-19 . You can then travel more safely within the U.S. and internationally. But international travel can still increase your risk of getting new COVID-19 variants.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you should avoid travel until you've had all recommended COVID-19 vaccine and booster doses.

Before you travel

As you think about making travel plans, consider these questions:

  • Have you been vaccinated against COVID-19 ? If you haven't, get vaccinated. If the vaccine requires two doses, wait two weeks after getting your second vaccine dose to travel. If the vaccine requires one dose, wait two weeks after getting the vaccine to travel. It takes time for your body to build protection after any vaccination.
  • Have you had any booster doses? Having all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses, including boosters, increases your protection from serious illness.
  • Are you at increased risk for severe illness? Anyone can get COVID-19 . But older adults and people of any age with certain medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 .
  • Do you live with someone who's at increased risk for severe illness? If you get infected while traveling, you can spread the COVID-19 virus to the people you live with when you return, even if you don't have symptoms.
  • Does your home or destination have requirements or restrictions for travelers? Even if you've had all recommended vaccine doses, you must follow local, state and federal testing and travel rules.

Check local requirements, restrictions and situations

Some state, local and territorial governments have requirements, such as requiring people to wear masks, get tested, be vaccinated or stay isolated for a period of time after arrival. Before you go, check for requirements at your destination and anywhere you might stop along the way.

Keep in mind these can change often and quickly depending on local conditions. It's also important to understand that the COVID-19 situation, such as the level of spread and presence of variants, varies in each country. Check back for updates as your trip gets closer.

Travel and testing

For vaccinated people.

If you have been fully vaccinated, the CDC states that you don't need to get tested before or after your trip within the U.S. or stay home (quarantine) after you return.

If you're planning to travel internationally outside the U.S., the CDC states you don't need to get tested before your trip unless it's required at your destination. Before arriving to the U.S., you need a negative test within the last day before your arrival or a record of recovery from COVID-19 in the last three months.

After you arrive in the U.S., the CDC recommends getting tested with a viral test 3 to 5 days after your trip. If you're traveling to the U.S. and you aren't a citizen, you need to be fully vaccinated and have proof of vaccination.

You don't need to quarantine when you arrive in the U.S. But check for any symptoms. Stay at home if you develop symptoms.

For unvaccinated people

Testing before and after travel can lower the risk of spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 . If you haven't been vaccinated, the CDC recommends getting a viral test within three days before your trip. Delay travel if you're waiting for test results. Keep a copy of your results with you when you travel.

Repeat the test 3 to 5 days after your trip. Stay home for five days after travel.

If at any point you test positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 , stay home. Stay at home and away from others if you develop symptoms. Follow public health recommendations.

Stay safe when you travel

In the U.S., you must wear a face mask on planes, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation. The mask must fit snugly and cover both your mouth and nose.

Follow these steps to protect yourself and others when you travel:

  • Get vaccinated.
  • Keep distance between yourself and others (within about 6 feet, or 2 meters) when you're in indoor public spaces if you're not fully vaccinated. This is especially important if you have a higher risk of serious illness.
  • Avoid contact with anyone who is sick or has symptoms.
  • Avoid crowds and indoor places that have poor air flow (ventilation).
  • Don't touch frequently touched surfaces, such as handrails, elevator buttons and kiosks. If you must touch these surfaces, use hand sanitizer or wash your hands afterward.
  • Wear a face mask in indoor public spaces. The CDC recommends wearing the most protective mask possible that you'll wear regularly and that fits. If you are in an area with a high number of new COVID-19 cases, wear a mask in indoor public places and outdoors in crowded areas or when you're in close contact with people who aren't vaccinated.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  • Cover coughs and sneezes.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • If soap and water aren't available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub your hands together until they feel dry.
  • Don't eat or drink on public transportation. That way you can keep your mask on the whole time.

Because of the high air flow and air filter efficiency on airplanes, most viruses such as the COVID-19 virus don't spread easily on flights. Wearing masks on planes has likely helped lower the risk of getting the COVID-19 virus on flights too.

However, air travel involves spending time in security lines and airport terminals, which can bring you in close contact with other people. Getting vaccinated and wearing a mask when traveling can help protect you from COVID-19 while traveling.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has increased cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces and equipment, including bins, at screening checkpoints. TSA has also made changes to the screening process:

  • Travelers must wear masks during screening. However, TSA employees may ask travelers to adjust masks for identification purposes.
  • Travelers should keep a distance of 6 feet apart from other travelers when possible.
  • Instead of handing boarding passes to TSA officers, travelers should place passes (paper or electronic) directly on the scanner and then hold them up for inspection.
  • Each traveler may have one container of hand sanitizer up to 12 ounces (about 350 milliliters) in a carry-on bag. These containers will need to be taken out for screening.
  • Personal items such as keys, wallets and phones should be placed in carry-on bags instead of bins. This reduces the handling of these items during screening.
  • Food items should be carried in a plastic bag and placed in a bin for screening. Separating food from carry-on bags lessens the likelihood that screeners will need to open bags for inspection.

Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds directly before and after going through screening.

Public transportation

If you travel by bus or train and you aren't vaccinated, be aware that sitting or standing within 6 feet (2 meters) of others for a long period can put you at higher risk of getting or spreading COVID-19 . Follow the precautions described above for protecting yourself during travel.

Even if you fly, you may need transportation once you arrive at your destination. You can search car rental options and their cleaning policies on the internet. If you plan to stay at a hotel, check into shuttle service availability.

If you'll be using public transportation and you aren't vaccinated, continue physical distancing and wearing a mask after reaching your destination.

Hotels and other lodging

The hotel industry knows that travelers are concerned about COVID-19 and safety. Check any major hotel's website for information about how it's protecting guests and staff. Some best practices include:

  • Enhanced cleaning procedures
  • Physical distancing recommendations indoors for people who aren't vaccinated
  • Mask-wearing and regular hand-washing by staff
  • Mask-wearing indoors for guests in public places in areas that have high cases of COVID-19
  • Vaccine recommendations for staff
  • Isolation and testing guidelines for staff who've been exposed to COVID-19
  • Contactless payment
  • Set of rules in case a guest becomes ill, such as closing the room for cleaning and disinfecting
  • Indoor air quality measures, such as regular system and air filter maintenance, and suggestions to add air cleaners that can filter viruses and bacteria from the air

Vacation rentals, too, are enhancing their cleaning procedures. They're committed to following public health guidelines, such as using masks and gloves when cleaning, and building in a waiting period between guests.

Make a packing list

When it's time to pack for your trip, grab any medications you may need on your trip and these essential safe-travel supplies:

  • Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol)
  • Disinfectant wipes (at least 70% alcohol)
  • Thermometer

Considerations for people at increased risk

Anyone can get very ill from the virus that causes COVID-19 . But older adults and people of any age with certain medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness. This may include people with cancer, serious heart problems and a weakened immune system. Getting the recommended COVID-19 vaccine and booster doses can help lower your risk of being severely ill from COVID-19 .

Travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19 . If you're unvaccinated, staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 . If you must travel and aren't vaccinated, talk with your health care provider and ask about any additional precautions you may need to take.

Remember safety first

Even the most detailed and organized plans may need to be set aside when someone gets ill. Stay home if you or any of your travel companions:

  • Have signs or symptoms, are sick or think you have COVID-19
  • Are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test
  • Have been diagnosed with COVID-19
  • Have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 in the past five days and you're not up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines

If you've had close contact with someone with COVID-19 , get tested after at least five days. Wait to travel until you have a negative test. Wear a mask if you travel up to 10 days after you've had close contact with someone with COVID-19 .

  • How to protect yourself and others. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
  • Domestic travel during COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
  • Requirement for face masks on public transportation conveyances and at transportation hubs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/face-masks-public-transportation.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
  • International travel. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel/index.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
  • U.S citizens, U.S. nationals, U.S. lawful permanent residents, and immigrants: Travel to and from the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel-during-covid19.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
  • Non-US. citizen, non-U.S. immigrants: Air travel to the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/noncitizens-US-air-travel.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
  • People with certain medical conditions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
  • Stay up to date with your vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
  • Pack smart. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/pack-smart. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
  • Travel: Frequently asked questions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/faqs.html. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) information. Transportation Security Administration. https://www.tsa.gov/coronavirus. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
  • WHO advice for international traffic in relation to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/articles-detail/who-advice-for-international-traffic-in-relation-to-the-sars-cov-2-omicron-variant. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
  • VRHP/VRMA Cleaning guidelines for COVID-19. Vacation Rental Management Association. https://www.vrma.org/page/vrhp/vrma-cleaning-guidelines-for-covid-19. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
  • Safe stay. American Hotel & Lodging Association. https://www.ahla.com/safestay. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
  • Khatib AN, et al. COVID-19 transmission and the safety of air travel during the pandemic: A scoping review. Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases. 2021; doi:10.1097/QCO.0000000000000771.

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U.S. travel resources

  • Check CDC recommendations for travel within the U.S.
  • Review testing requirements for travel to the U.S.
  • Look up restrictions at your destination .
  • Review airport security measures .

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What to Know About COVID-19 Testing for Travel

They can offer peace of mind, but most aren't accepted for return to the u.s..

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With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  requirement that all travelers coming to the United States provide official proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within one day of their flight, travelers are understandably nervous — and a bit confused — about the whole process.

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Here are some answers to common questions about COVID-19 testing for travel.

What is the hotel testing process like?  Many hotels have the return COVID-19 testing process set up seamlessly. For example, on my recent trip to Riviera Nayarit, Mexico, the Dreams Bahía Mita Surf & Spa Resort gave me COVID-19 testing forms upon check-in, with a testing appointment scheduled the day before my checkout ($35 per test, free for Club Level guests). At my appointment time, masked guests were waiting with their passports in a hallway outside a conference room converted into a testing center. Inside, a nurse from a contracted health provider administered Abbott’s rapid antigen test with a nose swab. I waited semi-nervously to receive the text message about 15 minutes later, which indicated that my test was negative. (If the test comes back positive, the resort offers free quarantine lodging for up to 14 days.) The hotel provided an official form certifying the results (I took a photo of the page for backup). At the Puerto Vallarta airport, I provided my test results form when I checked in and was good to return home.

What are the U.S. testing rules for international travel?

For reentry to the U.S., the CDC requires all air passengers age 2 years and older (including U.S. citizens and fully vaccinated passengers) to provide either documentation of a negative test taken within one day of their flight or documentation of recent recovery from  COVID-19 , along with a letter from a health professional certifying that the person is cleared to travel. The test must be an authorized viral antigen or nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT).

Note that non-U.S. citizens need to show proof of vaccination prior to their flights to the U.S.  

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How and where can you get tested before your return to the U.S.?

Many international hotels are now offering approved and sometimes free COVID-19 tests for their guests that are almost becoming a standard part of the checkout process (see details of one example in sidebar). Local clinics and some airports offer CDC- and airline-approved tests as well, although costs, availability and timing vary widely — from free to sometimes well over $100 for a test.

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The CDC has started distributing free tests at three international airports around the U.S. (at Minneapolis-St. Paul, Miami and Chicago O'Hare), and has announced plans to expand the giveaways to other airports soon.

Many U.S. embassies, including in Britain, provide lists of approved local testing providers. Airlines also provide information about testing requirements and airport testing options.

Aside from finding an approved test to take (using local guidance from your airline, hotel and/or embassy), the most important step is to manage the timing of your test. If you plan to take a test at the airport, be sure to allow plenty of time for both the test and receiving the results, as wait times can be unpredictable — some travelers are facing long lines during the holiday travel season — and note that the test station may be far from your departure gate.

Can you test yourself?

While rapid off-the-shelf “at-home” (self-administered) antigen tests can provide an initial screening and peace of mind for travelers, they won’t meet the CDC requirements for reentry. ( See our story for more on home testing .)

For a home test to meet CDC reentry requirements, it must be a SARS-CoV-2 viral test (nucleic acid amplification test or antigen test) authorized by the FDA or the government of the country where you are. The test must also have an approved telehealth component that provides real-time supervision — so you’ll need a good Wi-Fi connection to consult with a medical professional from the test manufacturer who will confirm your identity, watch you administer the test and confirm the results.

And the test must be able to produce approved documentation to share with airline and customs officials. The CDC-approved travel reentry tests available online include Abbott’s BinaxNOW Ag Card Home Test ($70 for a two-pack), which will give you results within 15 minutes. The Qured Video Supervised Rapid Test ($45) is similar, with two tests included: The first is done under video supervision; the second, taken without supervision 24-36 hours later, is meant to confirm the result.

For frequent travelers, Cue Health has introduced its own testing device with a membership service. It's $474 for a device plus three tests, or a monthly service beginning at $50. To return to the U.S. after international travel, you'd need the Cue+ Complete membership, which is $90 per month.

What if you just want peace of mind that you don't have COVID-19 before traveling to visit family and friends within the U.S.?

In that case, you can use over-the-counter tests from drugstores. But there have been severe shortages for these quick-and-easy tests, which offer results in less than 15 minutes, as  omicron’s spread has led to a surge in demand .

While many countries have over-the-counter tests available for purchase once you get there, it might be a good idea to bring a few test kits with you (if you can find any). They can provide peace of mind if you are exhibiting symptoms, and save you time searching pharmacies for test kits (or a potentially expensive trip to a clinic at your destination). Again, these over-the-counter tests will not be enough to gain approval for return to the U.S., unless they have the certified telehealth component included.

What happens if you fail your return COVID-19 test?

Regulations for travelers receiving a positive test vary widely by country. Even if you're asymptomatic, you will typically be required to quarantine — either at a government-mandated location or one of your choosing — for at least a week, with a negative test required to exit quarantine. A few countries take care of the cost of quarantine food and lodging, many others do not, and costs can quickly accumulate.

This is the time when you should consider purchasing travel insurance — and choose COVID-19-specific options on your policy. Read the fine print carefully. Given the recent rapid spread of the omicron variant, it certainly would be wise to look into relevant travel insurance options for any international trip. 

A few more tips

· Stay on top of CDC guidance.  Before traveling, be sure to confirm the latest requirements on the  CDC website , and with your airline. You don’t want to be denied access to your return flight with an unapproved test or missing paperwork.

· Check your destination’s testing requirements.  Other countries’ testing and vaccination rules vary widely, but many require visitors to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test within three days (some within 24 hours) of travel with approved PCR or antigen tests.  

Editor's note: This article was originally published on December 21, 2021. It's been updated to reflect new information.

​ Bill Fink is an award-winning travel writer who has covered cultural travel for Lonely Planet, Frommer's, the  San Francisco Chronicle  and many other outlets.

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What to Know About Testing and Vaccine Requirements for Travel

Do you need to be vaccinated or have a negative Covid-19 test for your next trip? Check this guide before traveling domestically or abroad.

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test for travel covid

By Concepción de León

As vaccinations ramp up and regulations loosen for people in the United States, many are planning travel for summer and beyond, with experts predicting that July 4 will be the biggest travel weekend since the beginning of the pandemic.

But with regulations shifting, people might have questions about testing or vaccination requirements for their trips. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently eased travel recommendations to more than 100 countries. On June 18, the European Union added the United States to its “safe list” of countries , meaning that both vaccinated and unvaccinated American travelers should now be able to visit the 27 member countries, but these member states are allowed to set their own requirements and restrictions for travelers.

In the United States, the C.D.C. has advised that vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks in most places and released new travel guidelines that said domestic travel is safe for them. But travelers must take note of local advice and regulations, as these can vary state by state.

Here’s everything you need to consider about testing and vaccinations before you travel within the U.S. or internationally.

Are there testing and vaccination requirements for domestic travel?

For most places, no. You do not need to be vaccinated for any domestic travel. Hawaii is the only state that requires a negative test for travel.

In Hawaii, the test must be administered within 72 hours of arrival and the results uploaded to its Safe Travel platform to avoid a mandatory quarantine when entering the state.

Alternatively in Hawaii, you can also provide proof that you’ve recovered from Covid-19 in the past 90 days, including both a positive test result and a letter from a doctor clearing you to travel.

The state’s governor, David Ige, said this month that people who received their vaccination in the state of Hawaii may bypass testing and quarantine requirements starting on June 15, and that anyone vaccinated in the U.S. will be able to enter Hawaii without testing once the state has reached a 60 percent vaccination rate.

If you are unvaccinated, you should continue to adhere to social distancing and mask-wearing protocols while traveling domestically, the C.D.C. said . You can use the C.D.C.’s Travel Planner to check guidelines by state.

What are the testing and vaccination rules for international travel?

While testing and vaccination requirements vary by destination country, everyone arriving in the U.S. — even vaccinated Americans — must present a negative test result upon entry .

Many nations are still closed to American travelers. Those that are open may require a negative test, proof of vaccination or evidence of recovery (or a combination of these) to enter.

The United Kingdom , for instance, requires that American travelers, regardless of vaccination status, provide proof of a negative test taken within 72 hours of departure, quarantine upon arrival and take two additional tests during their stay. Children under 11 are exempt from these requirements, as are some other people depending on their reason for travel.

Some European countries have been allowing in Americans who are vaccinated or who can show a negative test. Americans are on the European Union’s “safe list” of countries, but while the bloc aims to take a coordinated approach to travel this summer, member states will be allowed to set their own requirements for travelers from individual countries, which could include testing and vaccination.

The E.U. “safe list” also applies to Europe’s border-free Schengen Zone, which includes non-E.U. countries such as Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Lichtenstein.

Canada is still closed to Americans , with few exceptions, and will remain so until at least early July, said Patty Hajdu, the country’s minister of health, in a news conference in June.

The U.S.-Mexico land border is closed for nonessential travel until at least June 21, but air travel is allowed and the country does not require a negative test for entry. Because of its high risk level, the C.D.C. recommends that travelers be fully vaccinated before traveling to Mexico.

Consult the C.D.C.’s inventory of international travel health notices for more information on regulations by country.

“Travelers should always check with their airline and the embassy of the country they are visiting to ensure they have the proper documentation required to enter the country,” said Perry Flint, a spokesman for The International Air Transport Association, a global airline industry group.

What test should I take, and where and when?

To enter the U.S., travelers must show a negative result to a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) — PCR is a type of NAAT test — or an antigen test, also known as a rapid test, taken in the three days before departure, according to the C.D.C .

Some airports offer on-site testing, such as Heathrow Airport in England, or Rome’s Fiumicino International Airport in Italy.

Josh Alexander, a New York-based luxury travel agent for Protravel International, said that many international hotels, including most Four Seasons hotels and resorts , are offering on-site rapid tests for free or at a nominal cost.

Testing at local clinics is also available in many places, though you should check availability at your destination ahead of time and book if you can. It may also come at a high cost. Mr. Alexander said that PCR tests abroad can range from $50 to $150.

The C.D.C. said that it allows for a three-day time frame rather than 72 hours to allow flexibility in the time of day the test can be taken. For instance, if you are flying out on a Friday, the test may be taken at any time on Tuesday.

But, when it comes to international destinations, Mr. Alexander recommends erring on the side of caution when timing your test by calculating it based on time of arrival at your destination.

“Rules are constantly changing,” he said, “so we’re just trying to always tell people they should always be as conservative as possible to eliminate any gray area.”

What are the requirements for minors?

The C.D.C. testing recommendations apply to all children 2 years and older, which means your toddler also needs to deliver a negative Covid-19 test to enter the U.S. from abroad. When traveling, children should wear masks, practice social distancing and wash hands often, the C.D.C. said .

“If the kids are age 12 and older, get ’em vaccinated,” said William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University, in an email.

If you’re traveling to a country within the European Union that is open to travelers from the U.S., children who cannot be vaccinated should have a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival at your destination, and additional testing may be required upon arrival.

Travelers should check with their airline or destination country website for relevant requirements.

What if I want to go on a cruise?

Rules vary from one cruise line to another, with some planning to require that all passengers and crew be vaccinated, and others adopting a hybrid model.

But recent laws passed in Florida and Texas banning businesses from requiring proof of vaccination to use their services may complicate this plan.

Celebrity Cruises, set to be the first U.S. cruise ship to restart operations on June 26 from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said it’s optimistic that a resolution would be reached in time . It is requiring that guests 16 years and older be vaccinated, while children will be tested at the terminal.

Carnival Cruises said on Monday that its first ship would set sail from the Port of Galveston, in Texas, on July 3 and would be available only for vaccinated passengers. Norwegian, which will begin to operate cruises from Miami in August, said it will require the same through October 31 and has threatened to skip Florida ports if the state does not allow cruise lines an exemption from the law banning vaccine requirements.

Christine Duffy, the president of Carnival Cruise Line, said in a statement on June 7 that “the current CDC requirements for cruising with a guest base that is unvaccinated will make it very difficult to deliver the experience our guests expect, especially given the large number of families with younger children who sail with us.”

“As a result, our alternative is to operate our ships from the U.S. during the month of July with vaccinated guests,” she said.

But even if you are vaccinated, you must also consider the requirements of the country where the cruise is disembarking. The Caribbean island of St. Maarten, for instance, where Celebrity Cruises started sailing on June 5, requires a negative test in addition to proof of vaccination.

What documents should I bring with me if I travel?

This will also depend on where you’re going, but a good rule of thumb is to carry your physical vaccine card, if you have it, and proof of a negative test, if it is required.

Mr. Alexander, the travel agent, recommends people bring the original documents. While a number of digital health certificates — which show vaccine status and test results — are in the works, he said, they are not yet widely accepted. You should check, also, that your document is in the correct language. The United Kingdom , for instance, requires that test results be in English, Spanish or French.

CommonPass , from the Geneva-based nonprofit the Commons Project Foundation, and the I.A.T.A. Travel Pass are two apps providing digital access to vaccine and testing records for travel. The European Union will be releasing its own digital Covid certificate for E.U. citizens by July 1, though it is unclear whether Americans will be able to use it.

You should check with your airline to see if the app you want to use will be accepted at your destination. Both the CommonPass and I.A.T.A. websites list destinations and airline partners accepting the digital health certificates.

Mr. Alexander added that some countries, such as Croatia, may also require proof of a return flight or confirmation of your hotel booking or other accommodation, though this is rare. In South Africa, which has implemented a curfew, travelers may need to show their flight ticket to law enforcement officers to show they are allowed to be in transit.

But these shifting regulations should not dissuade people from traveling, Mr. Alexander said.

“If you’re vaccinated and you’re following safe precautions, you can still have a great experience,” he said.

Concepción de León is a travel reporter based in New York. More about Concepción de León

Your guide to at-home COVID-19 tests for international travel

Caroline Tanner

Editor's Note

Since December 2021, the U.S. has required all incoming air travelers over the age of 2 to submit a negative COVID-19 test taken one day prior to scheduled departure .

This looming requirement has discouraged some Americans from traveling abroad , for fear that they will test positive and be unable to return. If you do decide to travel internationally, the most convenient way to ensure you receive results within the 24-hour period ahead of travel is to take an at-home COVID-19 test administered remotely.

There are several major at-home tests accepted for use by inbound passengers, including Abbott's BinaxNow COVID-19 Home Test, Ellume's COVID-19 Home Test and Qured's video-supervised rapid antigen test; there are some other acceptable tests for which travelers must purchase add-on virtual service.

You can take a test anywhere in the world, as long as you can access the internet to have your test proctored. We'll break down all you need to know about using each type of test.

For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter .

Abbott BinaxNow COVID-19 home test

test for travel covid

Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention first approved the use of at-home COVID-19 tests for entry into the U.S. one year ago, many travelers have used the BinaxNow test for international travel.

These tests are available for purchase through two sellers, including eMed, which sells a pack of six testing kits for $150 plus $21 for standard FedEx overnight shipping . Next-day business delivery is available for orders processed by 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

You can also purchase the same test through Optum, which charges $70 for two tests or $100 for three tests . Optum also sells a single test for $50, but it's currently out of stock online.

When ordering through Optum, you have the option to pay $5.99 for standard shipping within four to seven business days, or you can pay $9.99 for expedited shipping within two to four business days.

Both options include the testing kit itself as well as a supervised visit with an eMed certified guide to help you administer the test before verifying test results through a third party.

Read more: The CDC says it's safe to cruise -- but don't ditch those COVID-19 tests just yet

After taking the test, you'll receive an emailed report from an eMed lab containing your test results. You'll then present this to an airline representative either on a printed sheet of paper or on your phone.

Although anyone age 2 and older can use these tests, test takers age 14 and younger must be accompanied by an adult during the test.

To use this test, first set yourself up somewhere with a strong Wi-Fi connection. Next, visit eMed.com/app/start-testing , and click on "I want to start testing" to begin a virtual visit; during the visit, a guide will walk you through the testing process and show you how to collect a sample.

Be sure to download Abbott's Navica app, where testing results will be available in as little as 15 minutes.

There are a few things to note regarding the BinaxNow at-home tests. First, although all Abbott tests have been extended for use for a full year , the expiration dates printed on the tests that were distributed prior to the test's shelf-life extension may not be accurate. Be sure to look out for a note in your test kits detailing how to calculate the correct expiration date.

Abbott also makes a BinaxNow COVID-19 self-test you can find at pharmacies nationwide including Walgreens and CVS, but these tests are not suitable for travel.

BinaxNow tests must be kept at or below room temperature, so keep that in mind if you're traveling somewhere hot.

Read more about how to use the BinaxNow test in our guide here .

Related: Warning: Your at-home COVID-19 test expiration date might not be accurate

Ellume COVID-19 home test

test for travel covid

A second option for travel is Ellume's COVID-19 home test, which you can find on the Target, Walmart and Kroger websites, among other places.

After you purchase the test, you must pay $20 for a video observation through Azova to take the proctored test — similar to the BinaxNow process.

If a family is testing together, you can all join the call at once, but each person testing must make their own appointment.

At the time of your scheduled video call, you'll be connected to a proctor who will guide you through the testing process. Results will be available in 15 minutes or less via text and email. You can also get results directly through the Azova app in the form of a QR code, Credential ID or PDF.

In 2021 , Ellume voluntarily recalled more than 2 million tests, citing "higher-than-acceptable false-positive test results" that incorrectly indicated a user was positive for the coronavirus. Despite the recall, the company assured users that the incidence was "limited."

Even so, be sure to double-check any Ellume test before purchasing to ensure it was not part of the recalled batch.

You can read our guide to using Ellume tests here .

Related: 8 more at-home COVID-19 tests are available from the government, but they can't be used for travel

Qured video-supervised rapid test

Another option for travelers returning from abroad is Qured's video-supervised rapid antigen test , which provides test results within two hours.

You can buy one Qured test online for $35 , after which you should receive an email with a link to activate your kit and schedule your supervised video consultation.

If you select free shipping, you can expect to receive the test within two to five business days. Tests are shipped the next day when ordered before 11 a.m. Monday through Friday. You can also pay $14 to receive the test within two to three business days.

Related: Results in 15 minutes: What to know about the at-home COVID-19 test approved for travel

Other options

test for travel covid

While the iHealth rapid tests from the U.S. government don't meet the requirements for use for travel on their own, you can purchase supplemental telehealth proctoring service through iHealth for $24.99 ; the addition of the proctoring service makes the test eligible for use.

A number of other at-home tests can be used for travel when proctored virtually through Azova, including:

  • The Flowflex SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test : Test kit and video observation services cost $89. You can also purchase directly from CVS for $9.99 and get it administered virtually through Azova for $20 .
  • The On/Go COVID-19 At-Home Antigen Self-Test : Test kit and video observation services cost $55.
  • The Azova At-Home RT-PCR Test : Test kit and video observation services costs $114.99 for a nasal swab test or $118.99 for a saliva test.
  • The Lucira Check It COVID-19 Test Kit with Video Observation : Test kit and video observation services cost $89.

Azova offers stand-alone proctoring services for the above tests for $20.

Additionally, you could buy the InteliSwab COVID-19 Rapid Test at either Walgreens for $24 or Walmart for $20. The same goes for the Quidel QuickVue At-Home OTC COVID-19 Test , which is also available at a number of retailers, including Amazon, for $24. Both of these tests can be proctored through Azova.

Bottom line

test for travel covid

Be sure to order your test kit well before you depart the U.S. to allow for shipping and delays affecting availability.

You'll need to bring it with you on your trip, so be sure to make room for it in your suitcase and try to carry it on if possible, in case your checked luggage gets lost.

Make sure to double-check any expiration dates and age requirements that might affect the validity of each test.

Several airlines have also partnered with testing providers to provide at-home tests at discounted rates. For example, American Airlines flyers can use promo code AATRAVEL10 when purchasing Qured tests.

Some airlines, including AA and Alaska Airlines , have also begun using third-party apps, such as VeriFly , that allow travelers to upload their negative test results ahead of travel. Other carriers, such as United Airlines , will ask you to upload the test through the airline's own app during the check-in process.

As of late May, the Biden administration has not wavered on its decision to require all incoming passengers to the U.S. to submit a negative predeparture test to enter.

Related: How to save money on pricey rapid COVID-19 PCR tests

Additional reporting by Vikkie Walker.

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Should you still travel if you have Covid?

With rules relaxed, it can be hard to know what to do if you test positive before a trip. Does catching the virus still spell the end for your plans?

Compulsory PCR tests, face   masks, vaccination certificates   — at the height of the pandemic, travel meant navigating reams   of red tape and checking a   long list of requirements before you’d even set foot on a plane. Now the rules have been relaxed, travellers are largely responsible for making their own decisions should they test positive. From   the legal requirements to the moral debate, here’s what you need to know.

What’s the official advice?  

In the UK, there’s no legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive for the virus, and current NHS advice for adults is to ‘try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days’. So travelling with Covid is permitted — but you have to accept that you risk passing the virus to others.  

Which countries still impose restrictions?  

Europe has scrapped all Covid entry rules, but it’s worth noting that some countries in the rest of the world still don’t let you travel freely. Tourist destinations such as the Philippines, Bolivia and China still have entry requirements in place; for example, the latter insists that visitors take a lateral flow/rapid antigen test at least 48 hours before boarding a flight, among other restrictions. While many operators, including airlines, have removed the requirement to wear a mask while travelling, some countries including China insist on it in some circumstances.

To avoid unnecessary surprises on arrival, consult the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s (FCDO) travel advice pages for each country that you’re planning to visit or travel through. Take note of the entry requirements section, which will show whether the destination currently has any Covid-specific rules or restrictions in place.

Should I still cancel my trip if I test positive?  

Now that travellers are largely no longer legally obliged to take a test or disclose the result, it’s important to make an informed decision. No one wants to miss out on a planned trip, but virologist Stephen Griffin encourages people to “prioritise the most vulnerable people in our society”. According to the Office for National Statistics, the risk of death involving Covid remains significantly greater for the immunocompromised — on your next flight, for example, you could be sitting next to someone who’s more vulnerable because they’ve just finished chemotherapy. The guilt of potentially infecting other travellers could be enough to cast a shadow over any getaway.  

How easy is it to change your travel plans?  

Often, it’s not very easy at all. Most operators have scrapped cancellation policies introduced during the pandemic, and are well within their rights to tell you to take the trip or forfeit your rights if you test positive.Travel writer Lottie Gross recently found herself wrangling with a campsite for a refund after notifying the owners she’d tested positive and being asked by them to stay away. “I don’t entirely regret my decision to inform the campsite of my Covid infection,” she says, “but it was a little frustrating to be told I couldn’t go and that I also couldn’t have a refund.”  

If this happens, there may still be options open to you. “You could claim on your travel insurance if your policy covers it and you’re able to provide evidence of your positive test,” says Confused.com’s lifestyle insurance expert Matthew Harwood. “This will vary depending on the provider and their specific terms and conditions, so always double-check what you’ll be covered for before buying a policy.”

It’s also worth checking the small print in your travel booking, as your terms and conditions could legally compel you to divulge test results to your tour operator, accommodation provider or airline.  

What precautions should I take if I still want to travel?  

If you test positive ahead of a trip and want to minimise the risk of spreading the infection, Professor Griffin advises taking “every precaution to reduce interactions with other people”. He says: “Stay outside (on a ferry deck, for example) or in well-ventilated spaces if possible, and wear a well-fitted, filtering respirator mask, ideally an FFP3, unless distanced from others.”

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I Just Tested Positive for COVID. Should I Get on the Plane Anyway?

This is an ethical dilemma many of us are now facing: Is it OK to fly when I’ve got COVID? Outside’s travel expert weighs in.

A tired couple at the airport in Buenos Aires, Argentina

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I’m about to go on spring break, and if I test positive for COVID before flying home, I can’t afford to isolate for five days in a place or miss extra work. It seems like everyone is coughing and sneezing on planes these days, and folks are opting to fly anyway. As much as I want to be a conscientious traveler, why should I pay another thousand bucks to stay in a hotel and quarantine for five days when nobody else appears to be doing that? —Weary of the Pandemic

You’re right. Most Americans are tired of dealing with pandemic rules and regulations—including the government. On January 30, President Biden announced that, as of May 11, the administration would officially shift away from treating COVID as a national public-health crisis and instead begin to manage it more like the flu or other seasonal respiratory disease. But does that mean we should be flying if we’re infected?

If you travel, even infrequently, and haven’t yet grappled with this question, chances are you will. I found myself in the throes of such a predicament right before the holidays. I was on assignment in Antarctica on a 100-passenger cruise ship, and although cruises were considered a hotbed for the coronavirus in the early days of the pandemic, almost two years later, any fear of catching the virus had faded from my mind. I should have known better and read the obvious signs: namely, being welcomed aboard by masked staff.

In hindsight, I probably should have taken a COVID test before flying home to New Jersey for Christmas to see my virus-phobic mom and immune-compromised aunt. But I’d been vaccinated, did not feel sick, and assumed that if anyone on the ship had gotten sick, we would have been alerted.

On the ten-hour leg of my flight from Buenos Aires to Houston, I sat next to a lovely elderly couple from the cruise, both of whom were vigilant about keeping on their N95 masks. Two days after I returned, I received an email from a passenger I’d befriended, who reported that at least a dozen people on the cruise had come down with COVID—including the couple I sat next to on the plane.

“Yes, I felt like an asshole,” a friend of mine who recently flew home when she thought she might have COVID admits. “Yes, I worried that I could’ve infected someone with a weak immune system. But people are coughing and sniffling on planes and in airports all the time.”

Thankfully, I tested negative, but the incident made me realize how easily I could have unknowingly gotten my family sick, perhaps with serious consequences. It also made me consider what the travel repercussions of testing positive might have been: missing Christmas with my family and having to quarantine alone in Ushuaia, Argentina, for at least five days (as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

When I mentioned the situation to a friend, she admitted she’d recently taken a flight to Oahu, even though she knew she had COVID. “It’s so unethical, but I honestly was adamant about this trip,” she confided. “I needed a vacation, and I felt totally fine. I wore a mask, obviously.”

With Relaxed COVID Requirements, Many Sick Travelers Have Opted to Fly

We all have our reasons for traveling while sick. For better or for worse, sidestepping COVID guidelines has become much easier for travelers. For more than a year, providing timely proof of a negative COVID test ahead of your flight was a pricey, stressful hassle. So, as a road warrior, I was relieved when the CDC dropped this mandate for domestic travel last June. (Regulations for international travel have largely followed suit, with very few nations still requiring testing or proof of vaccination for inbound passengers; a full list of country-specific entry requirements can be found here .)

Quarantining while traveling has also been a costly and inconvenient part of the pandemic, as anyone who has been required to do it can attest. Now given the choice of traveling with COVID or hunkering down and isolating, which could cost thousands of dollars in hotel fees, room-service meals, missed work, and child care, many choose to fly infected with the coronavirus. And there are no rules stopping them from boarding a plane.

Last August, Ellen (not her real name) started to feel a tickle in her throat on the final day of her weeklong trip to Kauai. “I thought, Oh shit, I cannot get COVID right now,” she recalls. Her first vacation since pandemic travel restrictions had relaxed was, it turns out, anything but relaxing: The town of Hanalei felt super crowded. Restaurants averaged two-hour waits for dinner. And everything, from her Airbnb to meals, was expensive.

In this transitional period of the pandemic, many people are already treating COVID like the flu or a cold, says Henry Wu, director of the Emory TravelWell Center in Atlanta.

“By the last day of the trip, I started feeling run-down, and I really wanted to get home,” she says. “I didn’t want to be isolated in a last-minute, overpriced hotel room for five more days on the island and deal with flight-change costs. Not to mention my partner and I were due back at work.”

Ellen decided not to test before her flight back to the mainland, rationalizing that germs were everywhere and other passengers on her flight likely had COVID, too. She took extra precautions to assuage her guilt, double-masking with N95’s and sanitizing her hands more frequently than she normally would. But by the time she got home from the red-eye flight, she had a fever and sore throat, and when she finally took a COVID test, it was positive. Her partner, who had been around her unmasked at the height of contagion, never got sick.

“Yes, I felt like an asshole,” she admits. “Yes, I worried that I could’ve infected someone with a weak immune system. But people are coughing and sniffling on planes and in airports all the time.”

Amid the height of cold and flu season, it can seem like everyone traveling has a sniffle and the majority of people aren’t letting any illness—a common cold, COVID, or RSV among the top three this year and difficult to discern, based on symptoms—cancel big plans. In mid-January, Jamie DeLancey flew from Denver to San Francisco to watch the 49ers play in the NFL’s wild-card championship game, with what he assumed was a bad cold. He’d come down with COVID before and this felt different, so he did not test, noting that he hasn’t found such tests to be reliable. While he wore a mask on his flights, he didn’t wear one at the game.

In this transitional period of the pandemic, many people are already treating it like the flu or a cold, says Henry Wu, director of the Emory TravelWell Center in Atlanta. “In a way, that’s a logical rationale if you’re vaccinated and unlikely to get sick,” he says. “But that’s not the reality for some people who are elderly or immune-compromised. In many ways, things haven’t changed. If you’re sick and in contact with them, you could put them in the hospital.”

The CDC continues to advise avoiding travel if you are sick with or have tested positive for COVID, and isolating for at least five days after your positive test if you’re either asymptomatic or your symptoms first appear; following these guidelines, you should test again on day six and then wear a high-quality mask, such as an N95, when outdoors between days six and ten if you are around others, including on a plane. Whether the masses of travelers adhere to these is another thing altogether, as we’ve all seen play out on airlines.

How to Avoid Frustration, Fees, and Questionable Choices if You Get COVID Before or During a Trip

When Ross Holbrook flew from Denver to San José del Cabo, Mexico, with his wife and two young daughters last May, he watched his seatmate chug a bottle of DayQuil cold medicine. Holbrook was vaccinated and wearing a mask, but on day three of their family vacation, he tested positive for COVID; by day eight, his wife and one of the girls were also positive. Their Airbnb had a pool, so they made the best of things, but due to the mandatory quarantine rules in effect at the time, the family estimates they spent nearly $3,000 extending their car and Airbnb rentals. “We did consider driving home,” he says, but that idea was abandoned as impractical.

Five extra days in a destination like Mexico or Hawaii can cost a small fortune, not to mention difficult to find a room at the height of spring break or summer travel. What if you can’t afford to isolate and stay extra days in a place if you get COVID? Should you put off travel completely? Not necessarily, but you should have a COVID game plan that protects others, says Richard Martinello, the medical director of infection prevention at Yale New Haven Health in Connecticut.

“We all have busy lives, but as part of society, we have responsibilities not to put others in harm’s way, like not driving drunk,” he says. “Putting yourself in prolonged close contact with fellow travelers when you are knowingly sick, whether with COVID or any other contagious virus, is irresponsible. You never know who you’re sitting next to on a plane. If they’re immune-compromised, even a cold could push them over the edge to serious illness.”

Martinello acknowledges that the average traveler can’t afford to miss five additional days from work and home, so if you must travel sick, he suggests driving rather than flying or another form of public transportation. That said, if a partner or friend will be driving with you, they should be aware that you’re sick, he says, so they are consenting and can test and isolate appropriately.

Stuck somewhere like Hawaii, where flying home is the only option? Take every precaution to limit contagion spread. Wear an N95 mask. Paper surgical masks are the next best option, and homemade cloth masks even have some value in preventing the spread of germs, he says. You can also request to be moved next to an empty seat.

Check Your Airline’s COVID Policies

Several airlines, including Delta and United, continue to waive change fees for travelers looking to rebook due to COVID. Hawaiian Airlines will allow a one-time ticket change (with the difference in fares charged) for the same circumstances. Purchasing travel insurance for a flight also covers most COVID cancellations and rebookings.

Such thoughtful policies have prompted some travelers to make the morally conscious decision when illness sets in. Carmino DeMecurio was one of those people. He was booked to fly from New York City to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for a business trip on January 19, but tested positive for COVID on January 16. He canceled the entire trip and said Delta immediately issued him an e-credit for a future flight. He was able to call in remotely for his meeting. “It wasn’t ideal to be the only person on a screen, but out of respect for others, it seemed like the right decision,” he says.

Consider Getting Travel Insurance

While airlines can be accommodating, quarantine lodging accommodations can be the real zinger for travelers. According to a spokesperson for the American Hotel and Lodging Association, it’s up to individual hotels to decide whether to offer a discounted rate if a guest must extend a stay due to quarantine. If you’ve splurged on a big trip, or you’re traveling far from home, trip insurance might be a smart investment. Allianz Travel Insurance recently added an Epidemic Coverage Endorsement to some of its plans. Under this new policy, if you have proof—a PCR test or a physician’s note—that you’ve tested positive for COVID during a trip, you can be reimbursed for unused, prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs, as well as additional accommodation and transportation costs incurred, depending on which situation applies.

Allianz’s OneTrip Basic policy, for example, offers up to $10,000 in trip cancellation and trip-interruption benefits per insured person, while the OneTrip Prime , the company’s most comprehensive policy, covers up to $100,000 in trip cancellation and up to $150,000 in trip-interruption benefits, with the option to tack on what’s called a Cancel Anytime upgrade, an option that reimburses travelers for up to 80 percent of prepaid, nonrefundable expenses for a trip that must be canceled for almost any reason not already covered by the policy.

According to an Allianz spokesperson, travelers can typically expect to pay 5 to 6 percent of the cost of their vacation for a standard travel-insurance policy. Actual prices will fluctuate based on a traveler’s age, state of residence, primary destination, length of stay, and total cost of their trip. For example, a 34-year-old from California traveling to Africa for a $9,700 three-week safari would pay $443 for a policy.

So should you travel with COVID if you come down with it on your upcoming spring-break trip? That depends on how prepared you are with a contingency plan, an adequate insurance policy, and the risk you’re willing to take when it comes to your personal health and the health of others, as you can still be hospitalized and even die from the virus. Not least is the ethical consideration of it all. Martinello advises travelers to follow the simple golden rule of “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” And if you don’t trust your fellow air passengers—which, as this article reflects, are generally as eager to get away or get home as you are—do everyone a favor and wear a mask.

Any number of concerns are on our radar as we plan our next trip, from serious issues like how destinations are working to mitigate tourists’ environmental impact to inconveniences like months-long passport wait times. In this column, our travel expert Jen Murphy will be addressing your questions about how to navigate the world. Check out her previous  column, on how to avoid bed bugs during your next hotel stay, here . 

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Understanding the CDC’s Updated COVID Isolation Guidance

The updated recommendations align guidance for COVID infection with that for other common respiratory viruses.

Aliza Rosen

For the first time since 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its COVID isolation guidance.

Specifically, it has shifted the recommendation that someone who tests positive for COVID isolate for five days to a timeline based on the progression of the person’s symptoms. The update is part of a larger strategy to provide one set of recommendations for most common respiratory illnesses , including COVID, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

In this Q&A, virologist Andy Pekosz , PhD, a professor in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology , explains the CDC’s new isolation guidance, the reasons for the update, and why the prevention and treatment strategies we’ve all become accustomed to still play an important part in reducing respiratory virus transmission.

What are the updated recommendations for someone who comes down with a respiratory infection?

The updated guidance from the CDC is to “stay home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick) if you have respiratory virus symptoms that aren't better explained by another cause.” You can resume normal activities once your symptoms are improving and you’ve been fever-free—without the aid of fever-reducing medications—for at least 24 hours.

For the five days after you resume your normal activities, you should take extra precautions, like wearing a well-fitting mask and maintaining distance from others, gathering outdoors or in well-ventilated areas, cleaning hands and high-touch surfaces often, and testing when possible before gathering with others. If symptoms or fever return, you should start back at square one: staying home and away from others until you’ve been improving and fever-free for at least 24 hours.

What should you do if you’re at higher risk of severe illness?

If you’re at higher risk of severe illness—generally, this is older adults and young children, pregnant people, people with disabilities, and people with compromised immune systems—seek testing and contact your physician. If you test positive for COVID or flu, there are antiviral medications that can be taken within a few days of symptom onset and are extremely effective in reducing the likelihood that your symptoms become severe or that you need to be hospitalized.

How does this differ from previous guidance?

Before this, the CDC recommended that people who test positive for COVID should isolate away from others for five days and wear a well-fitting mask around others for the following five days. This was different from the general guidance for other common respiratory viruses, like flu and RSV.

Now there is no one-size-fits-all duration for how long to isolate; rather, you can resume regular activities—ideally still using other prevention strategies, like masking and distancing—based on when your symptoms have improved and your fever has gone away. 

This marks a significant change in guidance for people who test positive for COVID. Why has the guidance changed?

The CDC has simplified its recommendations for how long to stay home and isolate after testing positive or experiencing symptoms to be consistent across COVID-19, influenza, and RSV infections. This way, anyone who develops symptoms can follow the same isolation guidance, irrespective of what respiratory virus they’re infected with.

It’s important to note, though, that this guidance on how long to isolate is just one part of a larger strategy for combating respiratory viruses that includes:

  • Being up to date on recommended vaccines.
  • Practicing good hygiene regarding hand-washing, sneezing, and coughing.
  • Being aware of antiviral treatment options for COVID-19 and influenza.
  • Taking steps to improve indoor air quality.

If the guidance is the same for all respiratory viruses, is it still important to test to know what someone is sick with?

Yes, testing is still needed in order to get a prescription for antivirals to treat COVID-19 or influenza. Those antivirals have been shown to reduce disease severity in several different groups, so if you are in a high risk group, be sure to test early and contact your physician so you can get the antiviral prescriptions as soon as possible.

Testing can also play an important role in preventing transmission, particularly if you were recently around someone who has since become sick, or if you plan to spend time with someone who is at higher risk of severe infection.

For COVID in particular, rapid home antigen tests are a great way to determine whether you’re still infectious and able to infect others. Symptom severity can be fairly subjective and a presence or lack of symptoms does not always align with infectiousness , so testing out of isolation for COVID is still good practice if you have access to tests.

Does this new guidance mean that all of these respiratory viruses pose the same risk?

No, COVID-19 is still causing more cases and more severe disease than influenza or RSV. A person’s risk for severe infection will also vary based on a number of factors, including age and health conditions .

The updated guidance acknowledges that we can simplify the recommendations for what to do after becoming infected with a respiratory virus, as part of the larger strategy to address spread.

The CDC also recently recommended that people over age 65 receive an additional dose of this year’s COVID vaccine . What drove that decision?

There are a few reasons behind this new recommendation for older adults . First, most severe COVID infections are occurring in individuals 65 years and older who have not been vaccinated recently. The CDC’s recommendation notes that more than half of COVID hospitalizations between October 2023 and December 2023 occurred in adults over 65.

Second, we know immunity after vaccination wanes over a few months, so an additional dose will provide renewed protection through the spring. New COVID variants like JN.1 that are circulating now have some mutations that improve their ability to evade vaccine-induced immunity, but the antibodies made through vaccination still recognize them. It’s not a perfect match, but a second dose of this year’s vaccine will provide protection against current variants to an age group at increased risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death.

When should people over 65 get this additional dose of the current COVID vaccine?

The recommendation from the CDC is for people 65 and older who have already received one dose of the 2023-24 COVID vaccine to get a second shot at least four months after their most recent dose .

For people in that age group who haven’t had the 2023-24 vaccine, there’s no need to wait. They can get their shot now to be protected through the spring.

Will there be an updated COVID-19 vaccine for these newer variants?

We can likely expect to see a new COVID-19 vaccine available this fall, just like we see new, updated influenza vaccines each fall. This spring—typically around May—a decision will be made on which variants the updated vaccine will be designed around, and like we saw in 2023, the new vaccine will be available in the fall as we head into the typical respiratory virus season.

Aliza Rosen is a digital content strategist in the Office of External Affairs at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

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M arch 8 is your last day to order free rapid COVID-19 tests , as the U.S. government prepares to suspend its at-home test program. Households in the U.S. can receive at least four rapid antigen tests, free of charge, simply by entering a name and address.

The federal government has been shipping free tests since early 2022. The program was suspended for a few months in 2023 , after the U.S. government stopped considering COVID-19 a public-health emergency , but was reinstated this past fall, as new variants began to spread and cause upticks in infections and hospitalizations. Now, the free testing initiative is again coming to an end.

Today is the last day the U.S. Postal Service will accept orders, here . Households that have not ordered any tests since the program was reinstated in September 2023 can place two orders of four tests each, while those that have ordered more recently can get one set of four tests.

Rapid tests will also remain for sale in retail stores, and may be available for free through certain community organizations, after March 8.

The end of the government's free testing program is the latest in a string of public-health decisions that signal officials are moving on from COVID-19. On March 1, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ended its long-standing recommendation that people isolate themselves from others for at least five days when they have COVID-19. Instead, the agency now recommends that people stay home until they’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours and their other symptoms are improving—an approach that brings COVID-19 guidance in line with that of the flu and other common respiratory diseases.

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NBC Chicago

What to do if you test positive? Here are the new CDC COVID guidelines for 2024

The change marks the first time the U.S. agency has loosened its COVID isolation recommendations in three years.

By NBC Chicago Staff and Associated Press • Published March 1, 2024 • Updated on March 1, 2024 at 4:44 pm

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its COVID guidelines for 2024, removing the five-day isolation recommendation as the agency said it aims to mirror guidance for other respiratory infections. So what do you need to do if you test positive for COVID?

test for travel covid

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test for travel covid

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“Our goal here is to continue to protect those at risk for severe illness while also reassuring folks that these recommendation are simple, clear, easy to understand, and can be followed,” said Dr. Mandy Cohen, the CDC’s director.

Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weekly Chicago Catch-Up newsletter here.

Here's a look at what you should know:

What are the new CDC guidelines?

The changes mean people can return to work or regular activities if their symptoms are mild and improving and it's been a day since they've had a fever, but the CDC still recommends those with symptoms stay home.

"The recommendations suggest returning to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, symptoms are improving overall, and if a fever was present, it has been gone without use of a fever-reducing medication," the guidance states.

Once activities are resumed, the CDC still recommends "additional prevention strategies" for an additional five days, including wearing a mask and keeping distance from others.

There is no change to guidelines for nursing homes and health care facilities, however.

The agency is emphasizing that people should still try to prevent infections in the first place, by getting vaccinated, washing their hands, and taking steps to bring in more outdoor fresh air.

As part of the guidance, CDC suggests:

  • Staying up to date with vaccination   to protect people against serious illness, hospitalization, and death. This includes flu, COVID-19, and RSV if eligible.
  • Practicing good hygiene  by covering coughs and sneezes, washing or sanitizing hands often, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
  • Taking steps for cleaner air , such as bringing in more fresh outside air, purifying indoor air, or gathering outdoors. 

Why are the guidelines changing?

The change comes at a time when COVID-19 is no longer the public health menace it once was. It dropped from being the nation's third leading cause of death early in the pandemic to 10th last year.

Most people have some degree of immunity to the coronavirus from past vaccinations or from infections. And many people are not following the five-day isolation guidance anyway, some experts say.

"While it remains a threat, today it is far less likely to cause severe illness because of widespread immunity and improved tools to prevent and treat the disease," the CDC stated. "Importantly, states and countries that have already adjusted recommended isolation times have not seen increased hospitalizations or deaths related to COVID-19."

COVID-19 is not causing as many hospitalizations and deaths as it did in the first years of the pandemic. The change is an effort to streamline recommendations so they are similar to longstanding recommendations for flu and other respiratory viruses. Many people with a runny nose, cough or other symptoms aren't testing to distinguish whether it's COVID-19, flu, or something else, officials say.

This may not be as stringent, but also emphasizes that all people with respiratory symptoms should stay home while they are sick, said Dr. David Margolius, the head of Cleveland's health department.

There's been no recent change in the science of how long people with COVID-19 are likely contagious, said Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University’s School of Public Health.

“What has changed is how much COVID is harming us as a population,” Nuzzo said.

However, some experts worry that the change may increase the risk of infection for those people who are more vulnerable to developing severe illness.

What does this mean for Illinois?

Illinois' health department has not yet released a statement on the new guidelines, but when reports surfaced last month of potential changes in store, the department said it was still evaluating its guidelines.

State health officials said they were "aware of the CDC’s consideration of new COVID-19 guidelines and are continuing to evaluate our own statewide guidelines."

"As we work with our federal partners to provide the most appropriate recommendations to our residents moving forward, IDPH continues to emphasize the importance of using all preventative tools to protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19," the Illinois Department of Public Health said at the time. "Especially for those with certain underlying conditions, COVID-19 even today poses a more serious risk of severe health outcomes than RSV or flu. The lessons we learned during the pandemic continue to remain valuable for COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases.  This means washing your hands frequently if you have a cough/cold/respiratory symptoms and even considering wearing a mask to prevent the transmission of those germs to others. You should also get tested if you are experiencing symptoms, as it can help you access time sensitive treatments for Flu and Covid-19.  And, let’s not forget vaccinations. Vaccinations continues to remain the most effective tool to protect you from serious illness from these respiratory infections."

What do experts say?

Some experts said the move isn't unexpected, but even some who understand the rationale for the change have concerns.

“My biggest worry in all of this is that employers will take this change in guidance to require employees to come back to work ... before they are ready to, before they feel well enough, and before they are not likely to pose harm to their co-workers,” Nuzzo said.

Others, however, said the guidelines are more "reasonable" for those who do contract a more mild illness.

"I think this is expected because they're trying to give guidelines that are going to be reasonable that people will follow," Dr. Jonathan Pinsky, the director of infection control at Edward Hospital, told NBC Chicago last month. "We already have guidelines for other viruses like influenza about how long people need to stay at home, so they wanted to kind of get in line with those guidelines and give people a reasonable instructions about how to behave."

"My reaction was, 'It's about time,' you know? We're going to have some changes in terms of these quarantines as we get year to year to year into our COVID pandemic because it is becoming, for many people, a more mild illness and it's time we sort of treat it and approach it like other respiratory viruses that we commonly see in the fall- influenza RSV - more typical durations of contagiousness and durations of isolation," said Dr. Mia Taormina, infectious disease chair at Duly Health & Care.

Taormina even added that it could make things safer in some cases.

"I'd rather have folks staying home for a day or two, going back to work or to their usual activities on day three or four if they're feeling better, as opposed to not testing at all because they don't want to be hung up on this mandatory five days away from work away from their activities," she said.

But many still stress that staying home if you're ill and masking will be more important than before.

"It's important to know that once you have COVID or another virus, you can still spread it especially in those first few days. And so it'll still be important to wear a mask to protect other people," Pinsky said. "If you're going leaving your home, especially if it's only after a day or two of infection, you're still going to be infectious. So it's important to wear the mask to protect other people for full 10 days."

"We're not saying that this is any less contagious, that we can go out and about - it's just for people that are having improvement in their symptoms. otherwise healthy hosts, they are less likely to be meaningfully contagious once those fevers are gone and their symptoms are getting better," Taormina said. "So with some mask wearing and picking and choosing your activities, we should be in a better place ... the messaging stays the same. If you're not feeling, well stay home."

What were the previous COVID protocols?

Here are the protocols previously listed by the agency:

Regardless of vaccination status, you should isolate from others when you have COVID-19, the CDC reports.

You should also isolate if you are sick and suspect that you have COVID-19 but do not yet have  test  results. If your results are negative, you can end that isolation.

If you test positive for COVID-19, you should stay home for at least five days and isolate from others in your home. The CDC notes that people are "likely most infectious during these first five days."

When you have COVID-19, isolation is counted in days, as follows:

If you had no symptoms:

  • Day 0 is the day you were tested (not the day you received your positive test result)
  • Day 1 is the first full day following the day you were tested
  • If you develop  symptoms  within 10 days of when you were tested, the clock restarts at day 0 on the day of symptom onset

If you had symptoms:

  • Day 0 of isolation is the day of symptom onset, regardless of when you tested positive
  • Day 1 is the first full day after the day your  symptoms  started

Other guidance for those who test positive:

  • Wear a high-quality mask if you must be around others at home and in public.
  • Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask.
  • Stay home and separate from others as much as possible.
  • Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.
  • Monitor your  symptoms . If you have an  emergency warning sign  (like trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately.

If you had no symptoms, you can end your isolation after day five, but for those who experience symptoms, that line might be different, the CDC notes.

Those who have mild symptoms can end isolation after day five if they are fever-free for 24 hours, without using fever-reducing medication, but those with more moderate or severe illnesses will need to wait until day 10.

Those who have mild symptoms that are not improving should also wait until those symptoms are improving and they are fever-free for 24 hours.

Those with more severe illness may also want to consult with their doctor before ending isolation and could need a viral test to end their isolation period.

Despite ending isolation, those who test positive should continue to avoid people and mask through at least day 11, according to the CDC guidelines.

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Arizona Republic

CDC drops 5-day COVID isolation guidelines. Here's how long you should quarantine in 2024

I ndividuals who test positive for COVID-19 do not need to isolate themselves or stay at home for five days, according to new guidance from the CDC.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on March 1 that the five-day isolation period, which has been in place since 2021, will be lifted. In a 25-page document providing background for the updated respiratory virus guidance, the agency notes, "COVID-19 remains an important public health threat, but it is no longer the emergency that it once was."

The changes come after reports in February 2024 that the policy overhaul was in the works at the CDC.

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The change in guidance follows similar changes made by California and Oregon , which dropped their five-day isolation recommendation in January 2024.

COVID vaccine recommendations

Additionally, at the end of February, the agency recommended that people aged 65 and over should receive a second shot of the updated COVID vaccine this spring. This group of people is categorized as the most at risk of severe illness from the disease.

This recommendation comes after a surge of cases nationwide between October and January. According to data presented during the agency's announcement, seniors accounted for two-thirds of hospitalizations from COVID-19.

Below are some symptoms individuals should look for and the latest CDC isolation guidance for respiratory viruses including COVID-19.

What are the latest CDC COVID quarantine rules?

The CDC has dropped the five-day isolation guidance for people with COVID-19 and replaced it with general guidance for individuals experiencing symptoms of a respiratory virus.

Though this guidance no longer asks individuals to isolate for a period of five days, it still recommends that people stay home and away from others if they experience symptoms like fever, chills, fatigue and headache among others. After 24 hours, individuals can return to their normal activities if they have not had a fever without the help of fever reducers and if the overall symptoms of a respiratory virus have gotten better.

What are Arizona’s isolation guidelines for people with COVID-19?

The Arizona Department of Health Services notes that its recommendation aligns with the CDC's latest guidance. The AZDHS provides a webpage with resources and guidance for the community. On it, the agency links to the CDC's guide on preventing the spread of respiratory viruses.

What are COVID-19 symptoms in 2024?

The CDC published a list of potential symptoms people have reported after being infected with COVID-19. The list, last updated in October 2022, is the most recent information from the agency. 

Symptoms of COVID-19 can appear two to 14 days after an individual has been exposed. The symptoms include:

  • Fever or chills
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Muscle or body aches
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting

Other symptoms that could signal that an individual must seek emergency medical attention include:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • New confusion
  • Inability to wake or stay awake
  • Pale, gray or blue-colored skin, lips or nail beds, depending on skin tone

Have a question you need answered? Reach the reporter at   [email protected] . Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:   @raphaeldelag .

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: CDC drops 5-day COVID isolation guidelines. Here's how long you should quarantine in 2024

The CDC has released new COVID-19 guidelines around isolation—here's what to know

CDC updates and simplifies respiratory virus recommendations

Recommendations are easier to follow and help protect those most at risk

For Immediate Release: Friday, March 1, 2024 Contact: Media Relations (404) 639-3286

CDC released today updated recommendations  for how people can protect themselves and their communities from respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. The new guidance brings a unified approach to addressing risks from a range of common respiratory viral illnesses, such as COVID-19, flu, and RSV, which can cause significant health impacts and strain on hospitals and health care workers. CDC is making updates to the recommendations now because the U.S. is seeing far fewer hospitalizations and deaths associated with COVID-19 and because we have more tools than ever to combat flu, COVID, and RSV.

“Today’s announcement reflects the progress we have made in protecting against severe illness from COVID-19,” said CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen. “However, we still must use the commonsense solutions we know work to protect ourselves and others from serious illness from respiratory viruses—this includes vaccination, treatment, and staying home when we get sick.”

As part of the guidance, CDC provides active recommendations on core prevention steps and strategies:

  • Staying  up to date with vaccination   to protect people against serious illness, hospitalization, and death. This includes flu, COVID-19, and RSV if eligible.
  • Practicing good hygiene by covering coughs and sneezes, washing or sanitizing hands often, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
  • Taking steps for cleaner air , such as bringing in more fresh outside air, purifying indoor air, or gathering outdoors.

When people get sick with a respiratory virus, the updated guidance recommends that they stay home and away from others. For people with COVID-19 and influenza, treatment is available and can lessen symptoms and lower the risk of severe illness. The recommendations suggest returning to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, symptoms are improving overall, and if a fever was present, it has been gone without use of a fever-reducing medication.

Once people resume normal activities, they are encouraged to take additional prevention strategies for the next 5 days to curb disease spread, such as taking more steps for cleaner air, enhancing hygiene practices, wearing a well-fitting mask, keeping a distance from others, and/or getting tested for respiratory viruses. Enhanced precautions are especially important to protect those most at risk for severe illness, including those over 65 and people with weakened immune systems. CDC’s updated guidance reflects how the circumstances around COVID-19 in particular have changed.  While it remains a threat, today it is far less likely to cause severe illness because of widespread immunity and improved tools to prevent and treat the disease.  Importantly, states and countries that have already adjusted recommended isolation times have not seen increased hospitalizations or deaths related to COVID-19.

While every respiratory virus does not act the same, adopting a unified approach to limiting disease spread makes recommendations easier to follow and thus more likely to be adopted and does not rely on individuals to test for illness, a practice that data indicates is uneven.

“The bottom line is that when people follow these actionable recommendations to avoid getting sick, and to protect themselves and others if they do get sick, it will help limit the spread of respiratory viruses, and that will mean fewer people who experience severe illness,” National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases Director Dr. Demetre Daskalakis said. “That includes taking enhanced precautions that can help protect people who are at higher risk for getting seriously ill.”

The updated guidance also includes specific sections with additional considerations for people who are at higher risk of severe illness from respiratory viruses, including people who are immunocompromised, people with disabilities, people who are or were recently pregnant, young children, and older adults. Respiratory viruses remain a public health threat. CDC will continue to focus efforts on ensuring the public has the information and tools to lower their risk or respiratory illness by protecting themselves, families, and communities.

This updated guidance is intended for community settings. There are no changes to respiratory virus guidance for healthcare settings.

### U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC’s world-leading experts protect lives and livelihoods, national security and the U.S. economy by providing timely, commonsense information, and rapidly identifying and responding to diseases, including outbreaks and illnesses. CDC drives science, public health research, and data innovation in communities across the country by investing in local initiatives to protect everyone’s health.

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Covid inquiry: Timeline of the pandemic in Wales

  • Published 27 February
  • Coronavirus

Man wearing Welsh flag facemask

Here is the timeline for Covid-19 as it unfolded in Wales - with 30 key dates.

The first cases of the virus were confirmed in the UK in late January 2020 and events unfolded rapidly. It would be three years before the pandemic was declared over - although Covid is still with us.

We have reached the point when the Covid inquiry is coming to Wales to gather evidence on how the health emergency was handled here.

Here is a look back at some of the key stages of the pandemic.

28 February 2020 First case in Wales confirmed - a test taken in Swansea the day before, by a person returning from northern Italy, where the virus had already taken hold.

15 March First death from Covid in Wales, a 68-year-old Wrexham hospital patient. Two days before, the Wales v Scotland rugby match in Cardiff was postponed and Wales' chief medical officer warned of the need to prepare for a "significant number" of cases in the months to come .

18 March Schools in Wales close, as the Easter holiday is brought forward. They will remain open to children who are vulnerable and children of key workers who cannot be cared for at home.

23 March Prime minister's address with a stay at home message. Non-essential shops and community spaces to close and gatherings of more than two people in public are prohibited.

12 April Peak of the first wave in Wales - 73 deaths in one day. More than 730 people have died of Covid up to this point.

18 April Critical care Covid cases in hospital peak at 164 patients in ICU or on invasive ventilation.

8 May Lockdown in Wales is extended. But people can exercise more than once a day but must stay local. Garden centres can open - with social distancing.

16 May Testing is announced for all care homes, with more than 37,000 residents and staff given a weekly test. It was finally wound down in April 2022.

Covid rules sign in Brecon Beacons

29 May As infections ease, a "stay local" message replaces "stay at home." Wales takes a slower approach than England with First Minister Mark Drakeford saying it is "cautious and careful" - with a five-mile rule imposed for households. The death toll has passed 2,000 and police have issued nearly 1,400 fines for breaching rules.

29 June Schools in Wales to re-open, although some teaching unions criticise the decision.

6 July Travel restrictions lifted and "extended"households allowed, while shops can re-open with social distancing .

27 July Covid restrictions continue to be relaxed. Beauty salons, cinemas and museums can reopen but face masks must be worn on public transport.

Caerphilly cluster and autumn case rates chart

4 September A cluster of cases emerges in Caerphilly, with house parties blamed by one public health official. A local lockdown is imposed, which has an initial impact on infections.

21 September An increase in the Covid alert level by all four UK chief medical officers. An estimated 10,800 people have Covid in Wales, with a jump in infections.

23 October A "firebreak" begins in Wales. People are told to stay at home and pubs, restaurants, hotels and non-essential shops had to shut.

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Covid: Watch how case rates have changed in Wales

9 November The Welsh "firebreak" ends, although after a brief impact it cannot stop cases continuing to rise. There are an estimated 35,300 infections this week. During the firebreak period, there were an average 20 deaths due to Covid each day, more than double the average in the period before.

8 December Covid vaccine roll-out begins in Wales, with care home residents and staff and the over 80s the first to receive it.

16 December As infections continue to soar, higher level restrictions for Wales are to be imposed after Christmas Day . An additional £110m support package for businesses is announced.

17 December Case rate infections reach a second wave peak of 636 per 100,000.

28 December The Office for National Statistics estimates in its own infection survey a winter peak of 173,200 people affected in Wales with Covid.

Covid in Wales: What do the stats tell us?

Wales' restrictions led to less Covid than England

  • Is Covid now just a regular winter bug?

11 January 2021 The worst day for Covid deaths in Wales - 83 - and the peak of second wave. Since the end of the firebreak in November, nearly 2,500 people have died due to Covid.

5 February Return to face-to-face learning in schools announced for three to seven-year olds with most pupils having to learn from home since December.

12 February First vaccination programme milestone achieved, with four main priority groups having been offered a first dose. More than 750,000 have taken up the offer, nearly a quarter of the total population.

25 March "Stay local" restrictions lifted. Some accommodation and libraries can re-open, outdoor children's activities can take place and six people from households can meet outdoors.

3 May Wales moves into alert level 3. Organised outdoor activities for up to 30 people can take place and wedding receptions outdoors for up to 30 guests. The first minister says "sacrifices we have all made are having a positive effect in the battle against coronavirus".

14 May Restrictions ease further as Wales moves into alert level 2 . Weekly infections are now estimated to be in the hundreds, not thousands. Pubs and restaurants can re-open, along with entertainment venues and all accommodation. International travel can resume under a "traffic light" system of countries.

11 October: Covid passes needed to attend large events, nightclubs and other entertainment venues, to prove that they are fully vaccinated or have tested negative. There are an estimated 70,000 people with infections each week - as the Delta variant takes hold - this will rise to 160,000 by the end of the year.

Covid deaths vax chart

9 April 2022 Covid infections peak with estimate of 231,900 in Wales as the Omicron variant is dominant. However, 80% of the population have now been vaccinated, including nearly 69,000 12-to-15-year-olds, who were offered a dose.

5 May 2023 Covid no longer a global health emergency, says the World Health Organization

30 May End of remaining Covid restrictions.

Across the BBC banner

  • INSEPARABLE SISTERS: The seven-year-old conjoined twins who defied all odds
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Related Topics

  • Coronavirus lockdown measures
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More on this story

  • Published 23 February

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COMMENTS

  1. COVID-19 Testing Options for Travel

    The Labcorp OnDemand® COVID-19 PCR Test Home Collection Kit is a RT-PCR test that is designed to determine active infection of SARS-CoV-2. Many destinations require negative PCR results within a specific timeframe. We recommend that you reach out to your destination's government for their specific requirements and timelines before making ...

  2. How to Get a COVID Test for International Travel

    The self test includes a FedEx overnight label that travelers use to send the sample back to the lab, where results are processed within one to two days. LetsGetChecked COVID-19 Pre-Flight Test & Lab Report ($109 per test): A home testing kit that travelers can order in advance.

  3. Traveling soon? Here's where you can quickly get a COVID-19 test

    If you've tried to get a COVID-19 test for travel or for peace of mind recently, you might have run into significant delays. The omicron variant has complicated travel plans and, depending on where in the country you're located, made it difficult — if not impossible — to get a test. Some companies are reporting shortages, and in major cities like New York, blocks-long lines have formed of ...

  4. COVID-19

    Consider getting a COVID-19 test if you: Develop COVID-19 symptoms before, during, or after travel. Will be traveling to visit someone who is at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19. Were in a situation with a greater risk of exposure during travel (e.g., in an indoor, crowded space like an airport terminal while not wearing a mask).

  5. COVID-19 international travel advisories

    COVID-19 testing and vaccine rules for entering the U.S. As of May 12, 2023, noncitizen nonimmigrant visitors to the U.S. arriving by air or arriving by land or sea no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. As of June 12, 2022, people entering the U.S. no longer need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test .

  6. Where to get a COVID-19 test for travel

    Pharmacies. Most large pharmacy chains offer COVID-19 testing for travel, but you'll probably have to pay out of pocket. Walgreens, CVS and Rite Aid all have COVID-19 tests available for travel ...

  7. What COVID Test Is Required for Travel?

    Unvaccinated travelers must complete a test within one day of their flight. If you've recently been infected with COVID-19, you can also opt to show proof of recovery. This requirement is for ...

  8. These At-Home COVID Tests are CDC-Approved for Travel

    When the CDC issued new guidance regarding its COVID testing requirement for international travel, effective December 6, 2021, many U.S. travelers who were already abroad had to scramble to do a COVID test within a calendar day of coming home.The new rules shorten the testing period from three days to one and apply to all travelers—vaccinated or not—ages two and up.

  9. COVID-19 travel advice

    Testing before and after travel can lower the risk of spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. If you haven't been vaccinated, the CDC recommends getting a viral test within three days before your trip. Delay travel if you're waiting for test results. Keep a copy of your results with you when you travel.

  10. Travel and Coronavirus Testing: Your Questions Answered

    [Read our 2021 Travel questions and answers guide on restrictions, vaccination and more.]. If you want to find out if you currently have the coronavirus, you should plan on taking a virus test ...

  11. COVID-19 and Travel: What You Should Know

    If you're traveling without being fully vaccinated, you can take some steps to protect yourself and the people around you: Get a COVID test 1 to 3 days before you leave. Wear a mask on public ...

  12. What to Know About COVID-19 Testing for Travel

    By. Bill Fink, En español. Published January 04, 2022. With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requirement that all travelers coming to the United States provide official proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within one day of their flight, travelers are understandably nervous — and a bit confused — about the whole process.

  13. What to Know About Testing and Vaccine Requirements for Travel

    Alternatively in Hawaii, you can also provide proof that you've recovered from Covid-19 in the past 90 days, including both a positive test result and a letter from a doctor clearing you to travel.

  14. Your guide to at-home COVID-19 tests for international travel

    The Azova At-Home RT-PCR Test: Test kit and video observation services costs $114.99 for a nasal swab test or $118.99 for a saliva test. The Lucira Check It COVID-19 Test Kit with Video Observation: Test kit and video observation services cost $89. Azova offers stand-alone proctoring services for the above tests for $20.

  15. COVID-19 Testing: What You Need to Know

    Positive. Any positive COVID-19 test means the virus was detected and you have or recently had an infection. Isolate and take precautions, including wearing a high-quality mask or respirator, to protect others around you from getting infected. Tell people you had recent contact with that they may have been exposed.

  16. Self-Testing At Home or Anywhere

    What is a Self-Test or At-Home Test? Self-tests for COVID-19 give rapid results and can be taken anywhere.. Self-tests detect current infection and are sometimes also called "home tests," "at-home tests," or "over-the-counter (OTC) tests."; They give you results in 10-15 minutes and are usually antigen tests. These are different from laboratory-based PCR tests or self-collected ...

  17. Should you still travel if you have Covid?

    In the UK, there's no legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive for the virus, and current NHS advice for adults is to 'try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for ...

  18. Overview of Testing for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19

    For example, travel time may limit access to, and use of, testing services for those who have limited access to transportation and who live in areas with fewer public transit services and schedules. ... Testing individuals with signs or symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Positive test results using a viral test (NAAT, ...

  19. COVID-19 Testing & Locations

    Free drive-thru COVID-19 testing is now available at select Walgreens locations. Learn more to see if you should consider scheduling a COVID test. Skip to main content Extra 15% off $35+ sitewide with code MAR15; Extra 20% off $50+ sitewide with code MAR20; Clip your mystery deal! ...

  20. I Just Tested Positive for COVID. Should I Get on the Plane Anyway?

    The CDC continues to advise avoiding travel if you are sick with or have tested positive for COVID, and isolating for at least five days after your positive test if you're either asymptomatic or ...

  21. Understanding the CDC's Updated COVID Isolation Guidance

    Being aware of antiviral treatment options for COVID-19 and influenza. Taking steps to improve indoor air quality. If the guidance is the same for all respiratory viruses, is it still important to test to know what someone is sick with? Yes, testing is still needed in order to get a prescription for antivirals to treat COVID-19 or influenza ...

  22. Today Is Your Last Chance to Order Free COVID-19 Tests

    M arch 8 is your last day to order free rapid COVID-19 tests, as the U.S. government prepares to suspend its at-home test program.Households in the U.S. can receive at least four rapid antigen ...

  23. Free COVID tests through USPS ending 2024: where to get tests online

    Today, March 8, marks the last day that the government is offering free COVID-19 test kits through the United States Postal Service (USPS). Citing slowing rates as the reason for suspending the program, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) says that tests will still be delivered to long-term care facilities, food banks, health centers, and schools.

  24. CDC releases new COVID guidelines for 2024: What to know

    What to do if you test positive? Here are the new CDC COVID guidelines for 2024 The change marks the first time the U.S. agency has loosened its COVID isolation recommendations in three years.

  25. COVID-19 Information

    Last Updated: December 7, 2022. The CDC's Order requiring proof of vaccination for non-U.S. citizen nonimmigrants to travel to the United States is still in effect. For more information see Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers.. Check the CDC website for additional information and Frequently Asked Questions. Entry and Exit Requirements

  26. CDC drops 5-day COVID isolation guidelines. Here's how long you ...

    I ndividuals who test positive for COVID-19 do not need to isolate themselves or stay at home for five days, according to new guidance from the CDC.. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ...

  27. CDC updates and simplifies respiratory virus recommendations

    CDC released today updated recommendations for how people can protect themselves and their communities from respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. The new guidance brings a unified approach to addressing risks from a range of common respiratory viral illnesses, such as COVID-19, flu, and RSV, which can cause significant health impacts and strain on hospitals and health care workers.

  28. Covid inquiry: Timeline of the pandemic in Wales

    International travel can resume under a "traffic light" system of countries. 11 October: Covid passes needed to attend large events, nightclubs and other entertainment venues, to prove that they ...