As we get close to the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, lots of folks are starting to travel again. For the health and safety of yourself and your community, it’s important to continue practicing COVID safety throughout this transition.
Based on guidelines released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, this is how you can stay COVID-safe before, during, and after traveling. Be sure to check the CDC website for any updates to national COVID policy during your travels.
COVID Safety For Unvaccinated Travelers
Getting Ready To Travel
- COVID testing
If you are unvaccinated and have not been diagnosed with COVID-19 within the past three months, get covid tested with a viral COVID test (a nose swab) 1-3 days before you begin to travel.
If your test comes back positive, make every attempt to adjust your travel plans so that you are able to fully recover before traveling.
- Managing exposure
If you must travel while sick, follow all guidelines meticulously. When coming into contact with the public, be sure to communicate about your health and encourage others to follow COVID safety guidelines meticulously as well.
Regardless of your pre-travel COVID test results, plan ahead to ensure that any public or public-facing entities you encounter while traveling are just as committed to COVID safety as you are.
While Traveling
- Masking
Unvaccinated individuals are required by the CDC to wear a mask over their nose and mouth while traveling on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation.
While not required in open outdoor public areas such as at parks or on sidewalks, masks are still recommended–especially if you suspect that you have been exposed to someone who is sick.
Practicing maximum COVID safety at all times also means that you are always meeting or exceeding legal requirements—as a result, you don’t need to worry about the legal details of your travel area.
- Hygiene and Social Distancing
Avoid crowds and maintain a minimum 6ft distance between yourself and anyone outside of your travel party. Wash your hands frequently using soap and water, or use a hand sanitizer with at least a 60% alcohol content.
- Managing exposure
For the safest travel experience, minimize your exposure by using private transportation whenever possible, such as driving in a private car rather than taking a public bus.
Remember that each encounter with the public increases your exposure risk. Minimize risk by making as few public stops as possible.
If you are driving, use restroom facilities while stopped for gas, so you don’t need to make a second stop later. Bring food from home if you are able to do so, and if not, bundle food stops into your gas and/or restroom stops.
After Travel Is Over
- Preventing Contamination
Whenever you return to a private space, such as your own car or your hotel room, sanitize thoroughly to ensure that no harmful bacteria gets carried into your private space.
- COVID testing
When you have arrived at your permanent destination or returned home, the CDC recommends getting retested in 3 and 5 days AND self-quarantining for 7 full days.
If your post-travel COVID test comes back positive, isolate until you have fully recovered. Even if your post-travel test comes back negative, continue to self-quarantine for the full 7 days.
COVID Safety for Vaccinated Travelers
Getting Ready To Travel
Remember that you are not considered fully vaccinated until two weeks after receiving your single-dose vaccine or two weeks after receiving the second shot of your two-dose vaccine.
Ensure that you are fully vaccinated before you begin to travel. If you will not be fully vaccinated before traveling, follow the guidelines for unvaccinated travelers described above.
While Traveling
If you are fully vaccinated, you may travel normally as you did before the pandemic, practicing standard good hygiene.
- Masking
Vaccinated individuals are still required by the CDC to wear a mask over their nose and mouth while traveling on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation.
In all other circumstances, masks are not required unless specifically stated by private or local policy. For example, if a private business requires that all patrons wear a mask, your vaccination status does not grant you exemption.
After Travel Is Over
When you reach your permanent destination or return home, monitor yourself for symptoms of COVID-19. There is no need to self-quarantine or get a post-travel COVID test unless you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
If you do experience COVID symptoms, immediately isolate and get tested.
Choosing COVID-Safe Partners
Put your mind at ease by verifying that any third parties you choose to interact with while traveling are also putting COVID safety first.
Look for COVID safety notices when choosing a restaurant, store, national park, or hotel to visit. Royal Holiday Vacation Club is a great example of an industry leader in hotel COVID safety policy, with a detailed Safe Guest Program implemented at all locations.
Many facilities offering travel club memberships or similar will also promote COVID-safe partners in your travel area. Take advantage of these resources to form and execute the safest and simplest travel plan you can in this last portion of the pandemic.
