Covid-19 The complete Travel safety Guide.
Holidays are meant to enjoy with friends and family. Traveling to meet our family or friends and traveling with our family or friends to meet our relatives in other destinations become critical during this pandemic again because of the new concern variant of coronavirus.
With more people traveling again, you may be wondering what’s safe. It primarily depends on whether or not you have received the COVID-19 vaccine. Here’s what you should know if you’re planning a trip inside the United States or abroad.
If you are fully vaccinated:
Traveling within the United States is risk-free. “Fully vaccinated” implies you have received the maximum amount of protection from your COVID-19 vaccine.
Top health experts advise choosing a vaccination created with mRNA (such as those made by Pfizer and Moderna) over the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is made differently.
If you can’t or don’t want to obtain an mRNA vaccine, get the J&J vaccine. According to experts, receiving any COVID-19 vaccine is far safer than going unprotected.
If you are fully vaccinated but have a weaker immune system due to a medical condition or medication, consult your doctor about what travel precautions you should continue to take.
Before traveling, check the COVID-19 situation at your destination. Travel restrictions may be imposed by state, local, or territorial governments. Make certain that you understand and adhere to any state, local, and territorial travel limitations.
Everyone must still wear a mask whether traveling by plane, bus, train, or other modes of public transportation. You’ll also need to disguise yourself in airports and other transportation hubs.
The CDC, TSA, and the US Department of Transportation all demand masks because even if you’re completely vaccinated, there’s a minuscule possibility you’ll catch the virus, become sick from it, or transfer it to others.
If you are not/fully vaccinated:
Traveling within the United States is dangerous if you haven’t received the COVID-19 vaccine or if you don’t have full protection.
You are not considered “completely vaccinated” until you have completed the following steps:
Two weeks after receiving your second dose of a two-dose vaccine, such as Pfizer or Moderna,
Johnson & Johnson recommends two weeks after a single-dose vaccination.
People who have not been vaccinated are more prone to contract COVID-19 and spread it. That’s why the CDC advises deferring travel until you’re fully vaccinated.
You should not travel if you:
- Feeling Sick
- You recently had a COVID-19 test and are awaiting the findings.
- You recently received a positive test result.
- If you think you’ve been in the presence of someone infected with COVID-19.
If you must travel before being completely vaccinated, take the following precautions to protect yourself and others around you:
- Get a COVID-19 test one to three days before your trip.
- Wear a mask when traveling by airline, bus, train, or other modes of public transportation.
- Wear a mask in airports, train stations, and other transportation hubs.
- Keep at least 6 feet between you and anyone else who isn’t traveling with you.
- Wash your hands frequently or use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
Also, find out ahead of time if the location you’ll be visiting has quarantine requirements for when you arrive. To learn more, contact your state or territory or local health department.
You may need to undergo a COVID-19 test within 3 to 5 days of returning from your trip or self-quarantine at home. If your test results are positive or you begin to have symptoms, contact your doctor and stay at home to avoid spreading the coronavirus to others.
Whether you get a COVID-19 test or not, keep at least 14 days away from persons who are at high risk of becoming extremely ill from COVID-19.
Get a Booster Dose if you are Eligible:
COVID-19 vaccine protection against infection or mild illness decreases over time, according to studies, and additional injections can assist.
The CDC recommends that anybody in the United States who is 18 or older and has received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccinations, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, obtain a booster shot. Sixteen and seventeen-year-olds who had their first two Pfizer doses are also eligible for the Pfizer booster.
Timing is also crucial. Booster shots should be administered at least 6 months after the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, and at least 2 months after the Johnson & Johnson vaccination.
How You Travel?
Traveling and being around people who do not live in your household increase your chance of developing and spreading COVID-19 – even if you are fully vaccinated. However, as schools, offices, businesses, and other venues reopen, the CDC has published some suggestions for various modes of transportation.
Following the CDC’s recommendations can help you safeguard yourself and the people around you as you go about your regular activities or plan holidays.
Travel by own/rented Vehicle:
Only those who are necessary should travel in a car. You don’t need to wear masks if everyone in the car has been vaccinated. If not, keep a 6 foot (approximately two arm lengths) distance between you and wear masks. It’s also a good idea to enhance airflow by rolling down the windows or switching to non-recirculating mode on your air conditioner.
Wipe off the door handles, steering wheel, and dashboard with a sanitizer containing 60% alcohol before using a rental automobile. When you get to your destination, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.
By Public transportation:
Wear a mask over your nose and mouth if traveling by bus or train. Try to:
- Follow the social distancing requirements of staying 6 feet apart from other riders.
- To keep your distance, skip a few rows of seats.
- Travel during off-peak hours.
- Avoid touching too many surfaces.
- Avoid huddling in groups with fellow riders at transportation hubs or stations.
By Ridesharing, taxis, and carpooling :
Take the following precautions if you use rideshare applications or share rides with someone you don’t know or who is not a member of your household:
- Wear a mask.
- Avoid rides if the driver and other passengers are not wearing masks.
- When feasible, keep at least two arm lengths between yourself and other riders.
- Sit diagonally across from the driver, rather than straight behind them.
- Request the driver to improve ventilation.
- Try not to touch water bottles, magazines, or other goods used by other cyclists.
- If feasible, use touchless payment.
- Carry hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol to disinfect your hands before and after each journey.
Bicycling, walking, or utilizing a wheelchair:
When you’re out and about walking, biking, or using mobility aids like a wheelchair, keep a safe distance from persons who aren’t members of your household.
Furthermore, you should:
- Avoid crowds and confined spaces.
- If someone is approaching or passing you, attempt to stay at least 6 feet away, as far to your right as possible, or cross the street.
- Carry a clean mask with you in case you need to be around others.
- As far as possible, avoid touching common surfaces.
Travel by Cruise ships:
The CDC advises against using cruise ships or river trips in the United States and abroad. This is because sharing limited space with persons who are not members of your household increases your risks of contracting and spreading COVID-19.
The Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO) has been provisionally extended by CDC till January 15, 2022, with minor changes. The CSO, as amended, solely applies to foreign-flagged cruise ships operating or intending to operate in US waters.
Cruise ships flying the flag of the United States that were previously covered by the CSO may continue to join voluntarily. Passenger operations on cruise ships have finally resumed. The redesigned CSO is in line with contemporary public health concerns and other variables onboard cruise ships.
However, if you do decide to go on a cruise, keep the following things in mind when you return:
- Get a COVID-19 test 3 to 5 days after you return, regardless of your vaccination status.
- Isolate yourself if you test positive.
- For 14 days, keep an eye out for COVID-19 signs. Get tested if you see any symptoms.
- The CDC says you don’t need to quarantine after a cruise if you’re completely vaccinated.
Even if you test negative for COVID-19, stay at home and self-quarantine for at least 7 days if you haven’t been vaccinated. If you do not want to get tested, you should stay at home for 10 days. For around 14 days, avoid being around other people.
You do not need to be tested before or after a cruise if you have had COVID-19 and recovered within the last three months. You should only be examined if you have COVID-19 symptoms. You also do not have to self-quarantine when you return.
Check with your state and local health officials for rules before embarking on a cruise. Look into the CDC standards for your destination as well.
Carry a mask with you no matter what method of transportation you use in case you end up in a congested area. As far as possible, avoid touching common surfaces. Before and after traveling, use hand sanitizer, and when you arrive, wash your hands with soap and water.
If you are traveling abroad:
You’ll need to undertake some preparation work whether you’re completely vaccinated or not. To begin, find out if the country you’re visiting has any entrance criteria or restrictions.
You must comply with all of its conditions or you will be sent home. Inquire with your airline about their COVID-19 testing and paperwork requirements.
You should also check to see if COVID-19 is spreading in the country you intend to visit. To determine the current degree of risk, consult the CDC’s “COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination.”.
Enroll yourself in STEP:
The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service that allows U.S. citizens and nationalities who are traveling or living abroad to register their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
The Embassy will provide you with crucial information regarding the safety conditions in your destination country, allowing you to make educated decisions about your travel plans.
Assist the US Embassy in contacting you in the event of a natural disaster, civil upheaval, or a family emergency.
In an emergency, make it easier for relatives and friends to contact you.
If you haven’t been fully vaccinated, schedule a COVID-19 test 1 to 3 days before your trip. You don’t need to get tested if you’re completely vaccinated unless the place you’re traveling to demands it.
Flying back to the United States is another story. Everyone, including fully vaccinated individuals, must have a negative COVID-19 test result no more than one day before travel and be able to produce that result to airline personnel before boarding their trip.
Alternatively, they must be able to demonstrate that they have had the virus and recovered within the last three months. Because COVID-19 variants are still spreading around the world, protections for returning passengers are in place.
If you intend to take a COVID-19 test and show the results to the airline, it must be a viral test that determines whether or not you are infected. Accepted viral testing falls into two categories: “antigen tests” and “nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT).” (A PCR test is the most prevalent type of NAAT.)
The viral test you utilize must be approved by the national health agency in the country where the test is administered to detect SARS-CoV-2.
A quick test that satisfies those criteria is acceptable. You can get one from a pharmacy or a health clinic.
A self-test (also known as an at-home test) is accepted if and only if the following conditions are met:
- It’s a SARS-CoV-2 viral test (antigen or NAAT test) approved by the FDA or the national health authorities of the country you’ve visited.
- A telehealth service linked with the test maker provides real-time monitoring through the Internet as part of the testing procedure. Some FDA-approved self-tests include telemedicine services that may require a doctor’s prescription.
The telehealth service must authenticate your identity, observe you taking the test, and confirm the results. It must also provide you with a paper or digital report that includes the following information:
- What kind of test did you take (antigen or NAAT)
- The name of the company that supplied the test results
- The date on which you acquired your test sample.
- Information that identifies you (your full name along with your birthdate or passport number)
- Your test result
- Airlines and other aircraft staff must be able to verify the results of your test and validate your identity. You must also be able to demonstrate your results to US officials at the port of entry if they request them.
The country to which you’ve traveled may refuse to recognize the results of a self-test that hasn’t been authorized or registered there. So, if you’re considering carrying a self-test permitted in the United States, check with the authorities in your destination to see if they’ll accept it before you travel.
Have a Safety travel…
