CDC Now Advises COVID Testing for All Domestic Travel

This week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an updated guideline for domestic travelers: Get tested before your trip.

With rising cases and hospitalizations in the U.S., the agency now recommends that travelers test for COVID-19—either with a PCR or antigen test—close to their departure time, no more than three days prior to travel, regardless of their vaccination status. Previously, testing was only advised for those who were unvaccinated.

So, what prompted this update?

“COVID-19 vaccines effectively prevent severe illness and death. However, as vaccines aren’t 100 percent effective against infection, some individuals who are fully vaccinated can still contract COVID-19. Those up to date with their vaccinations might feel fine and show no symptoms, yet still be capable of spreading the virus,” a CDC representative stated in a message to Dinogo.

The CDC defines travelers as up to date on their COVID vaccinations if they have completed the primary series and received one booster shot when eligible. A second booster is currently not required to meet this status.

In addition to recommending that all travelers get tested for COVID no more than three days before departure, the CDC also suggests that travelers should test again after returning from their trip, particularly if their travel included high-risk situations like being in crowded places without a well-fitting mask.

As of May 18, the average daily COVID cases in the U.S. reached 103,231, marking an increase of over 50 percent from two weeks prior, when the average was 65,891. Hospitalizations have also risen by 29 percent in the same period, with a daily average of 23,223, according to the New York Times’ COVID tracker.

Federal health officials warned on Wednesday that the rise in cases may persist, noting that one-third of the U.S. population now resides in areas where mask-wearing indoors is recommended again.

The CDC maintains its recommendation for masks during travel

Earlier this month, the CDC reiterated its guidance that everyone aged two and older should wear a well-fitting mask while using public transportation and at transportation hubs, including airplanes and airports. This updated recommendation followed just two weeks after a federal judge in Florida overturned the federal transportation mask mandate, leading to a wave of lifted mask requirements nationwide, including on domestic flights.

“Using public transportation heightens the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19 due to close contact with others, often for extended durations,” a CDC representative informed Dinogo.

While masking and testing for domestic travel are voluntary, COVID testing remains mandatory for international travel into the U.S. All travelers aged two and older arriving in the U.S. (including citizens and residents) must present proof of a negative COVID test taken within one day of travel, irrespective of vaccination status.