Former Globe Trekker host Justine Shapiro ponders travel restrictions amid rising coronavirus cases and the future of the travel industry.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has ordered all travelers flying to the United States from abroad to present proof of Covid-19 negative tests before boarding on 26 January. The CDC said that pre-flight tests are needed as Covid-19 cases continue to grow and new and more contagious strains of the virus emerge around the world.
Here’s what you need to know about the new protocols before taking a trip.
Who does it affect?
The order applies to everyone traveling to the USA on international flights, including American citizens. You will need to report negative test results, even if you are flying in a private jet or charter flight. There are exceptions for children under the age of 2, airline crews, federal law enforcement officers and military personnel traveling on duty.
Which countries are covered?
All of them. Passengers must provide proof of negative test when traveling to the US from any country, including Mexico and the Caribbean. Airlines can seek temporary exemptions for certain countries where test supplies are inadequate, but carriers have yet to say which countries can fall into this category.
The universal testing requirement goes into effect on January 26. People arriving from the UK have already been subjected to similar testing requirements that went into effect in December, after the emergence of a new coronavirus strain in that country.
What kind of test will I need and when? What happens if I don’t get my results? Travelers to the United States must take the test a maximum of three days before flying and bring a written or electronic proof of the results. Airlines can accept both PCR and rapid antigen testing. If you do not have the documentation with you, the airlines do not allow boarding, as requested by the CDC.
Airlines are still working out the exact protocols they will use to verify test results. Customers coming from the United Kingdom on United Airlines show test results in the lobby before security, but the details may not be the same for other countries, a spokeswoman for United Airlines Holdings Inc. said.
What if I have been vaccinated?
Even if you have been vaccinated for Covid-19, you will still need to provide proof of a negative test.
What if I recently had Covid-19 and got better?
If you tested positive for Covid-19 in the past three months, but you no longer have symptoms, the CDC does not recommend testing again. If you are in this group and meet the criteria for ending isolation, the CDC says that you can travel as long as you have written permission from a health professional or public health officer. Bring the positive test result and the doctor’s letter to show the airline instead of the negative result.
Does this mean that the US has lifted the ban on most travel from Europe, the United Kingdom and other countries?
Not at this moment. Airlines have been pressuring the government to lift these bans, especially now that testing requirements are taking effect. The government has taken no action in this regard, so people who are not US citizens or permanent residents cannot come to the US from most of Europe, the UK, Brazil, China and Iran. Likewise, many countries do not allow travelers to enter the United States or continue to impose long quarantine requirements upon arrival.
What if I need to change my travel plans now?
Airlines have already eliminated most international change fees and are adding more flexibility for people who need to adjust their plans and arrive in the U.S. before the new test requirements take effect.
American Airlines Group Inc. and Delta Air Lines Inc., for example, will allow people to make new international ticket reservations for the U.S. scheduled through February 9, as long as the new trip begins on or before January 25. This means that you can rebook to fly before the test is required, without paying higher last minute rates.
Do I need to take the test again or quarantine it when I return to the USA?
The CDC recommends that people take a second test three to five days after their trip and stay at home for seven days (or 10 days without a second test). Self-testing is not a substitute for social distance and the use of face masks, CDC officials said.