Important update: Healthcare facilities
CDC has updated select ways to operate healthcare systems effectively in response to COVID-19 vaccination.
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Find the latest information:
Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People
COVID-19 Homepage
Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People
COVID-19 Homepage
UPDATE
Given new evidence on the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant, CDC has updated the guidance for fully vaccinated people. CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. Children should return to full-time in-person learning in the fall with layered prevention strategies in place.
UPDATE
The White House announced that vaccines will be required for international travelers coming into the United States, with an effective date of November 8, 2021. For purposes of entry into the United States, vaccines accepted will include FDA approved or authorized and WHO Emergency Use Listing vaccines. More information is available here.
UPDATE
Travel requirements to enter the United States are changing, starting November 8, 2021. More information is available here.
Domestic Travel During COVID-19
Domestic Travel During COVID-19
Information for People Traveling by Air and Land within the United States and U.S. Territories
On This Page
What You Need to Know
- Protect yourself and others from COVID-19:
- Get up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before you travel.
- Consider getting tested before travel.
- Follow CDC’s recommendations for wearing masks in travel and public transportation settings.
- Get tested after travel if your travel involved situations with greater risk of exposure such as being in crowded places while not wearing a high-quality mask or respirator.
- Check your destination’s COVID-19 Community Level before traveling. State, tribal, local, and territorial governments may have travel restrictions in place.
Before You Travel
Make sure to plan ahead:
- Get up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before you travel.
- Find out when you can get your booster and where to get a vaccine or booster.
- COVID-19 vaccines are effective at protecting people—especially those who are boosted— from getting seriously ill, being hospitalized, and even dying.
- Check the current COVID-19 Community Level at your destination.
- If traveling to an area with high or medium COVID-19 Community Levels, and you are, live with, or are visiting someone who is at higher risk of getting very sick, learn how to protect yourself and them.
- Make sure you understand and follow all state, tribal, local, and territorial travel restrictions, including proper mask wearing, proof of vaccination, or testing requirements.
- For up-to-date information and travel guidance, check the state, tribal, local and territorial health department’s website where you are, along your route, and where you are going.
- If traveling by air, check if your airline requires any testing, vaccination, or other documents.
- Prepare to be flexible during your trip as restrictions and policies may change during your travel.
- If you have a weakened immune system or are at increased risk for severe disease, 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.
- Talk to your healthcare provider about your risk before travel and consider delaying travel to areas with high COVID-19 Community levels. Even if you are up to date, you should know what precautions to take.
View CDC’s full list of individual and community recommendations for each level.
Testing
RECOMMENDED
- Consider getting tested with a viral test as close to the time of departure as possible (no more than 3 days) before travel.
- Make sure you know your test results before travel.
- Don’t travel if your test result is positive.
- Find a COVID-19 testing location near you or use a self-test.
- If you already had COVID-19 within the past 90 days, see specific testing recommendations.
- Make sure you know your test results before travel.
Can I travel if ...?
I am sick with or tested positive for COVID-19 and am recommended to isolate.
I am sick with or tested positive for COVID-19 and am recommended to isolate.
I have ended isolation but still need to continue wearing my mask per CDC’s guidance.
I have ended isolation but still need to continue wearing my mask per CDC’s guidance.
- Do not travel on public transportation such as airplanes, buses, and trains if you will not be able to wear a high-quality mask or respirator when around others indoors for the full duration of your trip.
- If you travel, wear a high-quality mask or respirator the entire time you are around others indoors.
- Traveling by private vehicle (if possible) can lower the chances of spreading COVID-19 to others.
- Do not travel on public transportation such as airplanes, buses, and trains if you will not be able to wear a high-quality mask or respirator when around others indoors for the full duration of your trip.
- If you travel, wear a high-quality mask or respirator the entire time you are around others indoors.
- Traveling by private vehicle (if possible) can lower the chances of spreading COVID-19 to others.
- Follow CDC guidance, including getting tested at least 5 full days after your last exposure.
- Do not travel on public transportation such as airplanes, buses, and trains if you will not be able to wear a high-quality mask or respirator when around others indoors for the full duration of your trip.
- If you travel, wear a high-quality mask or respirator the entire time you are around others indoors.
- Traveling by private vehicle (if possible) can lower the chances of spreading COVID-19 to others.
- Follow CDC guidance, including getting tested at least 5 full days after your last exposure.
- Do not travel on public transportation such as airplanes, buses, and trains if you will not be able to wear a high-quality mask or respirator when around others indoors for the full duration of your trip.
- If you travel, wear a high-quality mask or respirator the entire time you are around others indoors.
- Traveling by private vehicle (if possible) can lower the chances of spreading COVID-19 to others.
RECOMMENDED
- Follow CDC’s recommendations for wearing masks in travel and public transportation settings.
- Follow recommendations for protecting yourself and others.
- Follow all state, tribal, local, and territorial health recommendations and requirements at your destination.
ALL Travelers
RECOMMENDED
- Get tested with a viral test if your travel involved situations with greater risk of exposure such as being in crowded places while not wearing a high-quality mask or respirator.
- Find a COVID-19 testing location near you or use a self-test.
- If you already had COVID-19 within the past 90 days, see specific testing recommendations.
- Monitor yourself for COVID-19 symptoms.
- Follow additional guidance if you know you were exposed to a person with COVID-19.
- Follow all state, tribal, local, and territorial recommendations or requirements after travel.
- If you are going to be around someone who is at higher risk of getting very sick with COVID-19, consider additional precautions.
If Your Test is Positive or You Develop COVID-19 Symptoms
- Isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected. Learn what to do and when it is safe to be around others.
Summary of Recent Changes
Updates as of April 18, 2022
As a result of a court order, effective immediately and as of April 18, 2022, CDC’s January 29, 2021, Order requiring masks on public transportation conveyances and at transportation hubs is no longer in effect. Therefore, CDC will not enforce the Order. CDC continues to recommend that people wear high-quality masks in indoor public transportation settings at this time.
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