Key TakeawaysAccording to the CDC, unvaccinated travelers are at increased risk for getting and spreading COVID-19, making travel riskier.Traveling internationally and domestically to places with COVID hotspots will put you at greater risk of infection.Experts say that all modes of travel pose their own risk and safety will depend on several factors like whether social distancing is possible and vaccination status.

Key Takeaways

According to the CDC, unvaccinated travelers are at increased risk for getting and spreading COVID-19, making travel riskier.Traveling internationally and domestically to places with COVID hotspots will put you at greater risk of infection.Experts say that all modes of travel pose their own risk and safety will depend on several factors like whether social distancing is possible and vaccination status.

As summer approaches and states begin loosening restrictions, uncertainty still remains about whether traveling is safe, and what type of vacation is the best.

Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued travel guidance, stating that fully vaccinated people could begin to travel domestically and internationally.

Who Can You Safely Travel With This Summer?

According toMatthew Weissenbach, DrPH, CPH, CIC, FAPIC, senior director of clinical affairs for clinical surveillance and compliance at Wolters Kluwer Health, the safety of travel will depend on a variety of factors such as:

Safest Mode of Transportation

The safety of transportation will depend largely on whether an individual is vaccinated, Sri Banerjee, PhD, MD, MPH, epidemiologist and faculty member at the Walden University School of Public Health, tells Verywell.

When Can I Use Public Transportation Again After Being Fully Vaccinated?

While a fully vaccinated person can still transmit the virus to others, transmission rates are lower compared to unvaccinated individuals. The CDC states that fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get and spread COVID-19.

According to the CDC, fully vaccinated travelers do not need to:Get tested if traveling domesticallyGet tested before leaving the U.S.Self-quarantine in the United States following international travel

According to the CDC, fully vaccinated travelers do not need to:

International Travel Is Still Risky

While domestic and international travel each has their own risks, international travel is more dangerous. “In general, international travel will pose greater risks than domestic travel due to the greater mixing of global travelers, more person-to-person interactions, and the number of stopovers,” Weissenbach explains.

Over Half of Americans Are In Favor of Vaccine Passports

In addition, risk comes into focus when vaccination status is factored in. “Every international travel destination is likely going to be on a different timeline than the U.S. for vaccine rollout and status of COVID-19 infection transmission in each community will vary quite a bit,” Weissenbach says.

What This Means For YouIf you are planning to travel domestically, check the state’s COVID-related restrictions and entry requirementshere. If you are traveling internationally, visittravel.state.govfor country travel advisories and the latest information on travel safety.

What This Means For You

If you are planning to travel domestically, check the state’s COVID-related restrictions and entry requirementshere. If you are traveling internationally, visittravel.state.govfor country travel advisories and the latest information on travel safety.

How to Stay Healthy While You Travel

This summer, you should avoid destinations that are COVID hot spots. Banerjee stresses the importance of checking the daily confirmed cases before planning your travel. “For instance, there are still hot spots domestically, especially in specific areas in New Mexico and Minnesota,” Banerjee says. “Internationally, countries like India and Nepal are experiencing drastic surges, and travel is therefore restricted.”

Traveling This Summer? Here’s What’s Safe and What You Should Avoid

Prior to travel, Banerjee recommends taking the following steps:

“The number one thing all people can do to keep safe and travel with very little worry this summer is to get fully vaccinated,” Weissenbach says.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC issues updated guidance on travel for fully vaccinated people.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Interim public health recommendations for fully vaccinated people.

2 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC issues updated guidance on travel for fully vaccinated people.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Interim public health recommendations for fully vaccinated people.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC issues updated guidance on travel for fully vaccinated people.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Interim public health recommendations for fully vaccinated people.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC issues updated guidance on travel for fully vaccinated people.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Interim public health recommendations for fully vaccinated people.

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