(CNN) – The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is not recommending the Covid-19 test requirement before domestic air travel, the CDC told CNN.
“At the moment, the CDC is not recommending the mandatory starting point test for domestic travel,” according to a CDC statement sent to CNN on Friday night. “As part of our close monitoring of the pandemic, in particular the continued spread of variants, we will continue to review public health options to contain and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the travel space.”
The CDC added that it does not recommend that people travel at this time.
“If someone needs to travel, they should have a viral test 1 to 3 days before the trip,” said the agency. “After the trip, taking the viral test 3-5 days after the trip and staying at home and being quarantined for 7 days, even if the test results are negative, is a public health measure recommended to reduce the risk.”
The guidance came after transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg said in an interview with Axios on HBO on Sunday that the Department of Transportation and the CDC were considering requiring a negative Covid-19 test for all passengers on domestic flights.
The White House met with airline executives on Friday amid industry turmoil over the possibility of testing domestic travelers for the coronavirus, sources told CNN.
Airlines have suffered financially from the pandemic and are concerned about new travel restrictions that could cause further difficulties.