Testing dropped for domestic travelers vaccinated against COVID-19
Mask wearing, social distancing encouraged; international travel discouraged
Travelers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can travel domestically without first getting tested unless their destination requires it, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced.
The CDC considers people “fully vaccinated” two weeks after their second dose, if getting the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, or two weeks after their single dose of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine.
Those who have not been fully vaccinated must still get tested one to three days before their trip; after a trip, they must get tested within three to five days of returning and self-quarantine at home for seven days afterward (or self-quarantine for 10 days if not getting tested).
International travel is still discouraged, even for those who are fully vaccinated, because “even fully vaccinated travelers are at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading new COVID-19 variants.” However, fully vaccinated individuals who must travel internationally do not need to get tested before leaving the United States unless the destination requires it. Everyone, vaccinated or not, must have a negative COVID-19 test result within three days of boarding an international flight to the United States, or documents verifying recovering from COVID-19 in the previous three months. After returning to the United States, everyone should still get tested three to five days after arrival. However, fully vaccinated travelers do not need to self-quarantine unless experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
Mask wearing continues to be required on public transportation.
