On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released updated information on domestic travel recommendations for people who are fully vaccinated.
According to the CDC, people are considered to be fully vaccinated “2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.”
The updated information stated that, “Fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get and spread COVID-19.” The CDC confirmed its recommendation that “People who are fully vaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine can travel safely within the United States” and that full-vaccinated travelers do not need to get a test or self-quarantine if they are fully vaccinated “or have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 3 months.” It added that people should still follow all of the other recommendations for travel.
While fully-vaccinated people travel, the CDC stated:
- Wear a mask over your nose and mouth. Masks are required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
- Avoid crowds and stay at least 6 feet/2 meters (about 2 arm lengths) from anyone who is not traveling with you.
- Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol).
The CDC continues to recommend that those who are not fully vaccinated should delay their travel “because travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19.” However, if people “must travel” who are not fully vaccinated, the CDC includes recommendations for those travelers, as well.
If people must travel who are not fully vaccinated, the CDC recommends that they get tested “with a viral test 1-3 days” before their trip, wear a mask during travel, avoid crowds, stay at least 6 feet from anyone who is not traveling in their party, and wash their hands regularly.
After traveling, those who are not fully vaccinated are recommended to get tested “with a viral test 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel.” The CDC states that even if someone’s test is negative, he or she should still stay home and self-quarantine for the full 7 days. If someone’s test is positive, he or she is recommended to isolate in order to protect other people.
The CDC information continued:
- If you don’t get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.
- Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not.
- Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
- Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements.
According to data from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), travel numbers have been on the rise for the past few months with some declines, as well. TSA checkpoint travel numbers on April 1, 2021 were 1,562,239 people, which is still down from 2019 when April 1st saw 2,411,500 people at TSA checkpoints. However, on April 1, 2020, when the pandemic was beginning to seriously affect the United States, TSA travel numbers were tallied at a mere 124,021 people.
The CDC recommends that all travelers check quarantine guidelines, as well as specific information for certain states and regions whose travel requirements may differ.