The central theses

  • The CDC now requires all incoming travelers from abroad to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result before boarding their flight.
  • The announcement comes at a time when new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus are spreading from countries such as Great Britain, Brazil and South Africa.
  • Some airlines offer testing services and resources at home to help passengers understand the testing requirements of their destinations.

With more than 100 million confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are taking new steps to limit infections from abroad...

On January 26th, the agency implemented the new guidelines. Now, all passengers traveling to the U.S. by air from overseas are required to provide a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation showing that they have recovered from the disease...

Individuals must be tested no later than 3 days prior to their flight and provide the airline with a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 (proof of a recent positive virus test and a letter from a health care provider) or an official of the public health service stating that they have been cleared for travel). The CDC says the rule applies to anyone over the age of 2, regardless of citizenship status.

US territories are not considered foreign countries. This means people traveling from American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are not required to provide evidence of a COVID-19 test to fly. The documentation does not have to be in English, but the order states: “Airlines and other aircraft operators must be able to confirm the test result and verify other necessary information.”

While the rule is strict about who can board a flight, there are no strict guidelines for self-isolation or re-examination upon arrival in the states. Kunjana Mavunda, MD, A Florida pulmonologist who also runs an international travel clinic tells Verywell the rule is a necessary step in limiting COVID-19 exposure from overseas.

“We should have had this rule a long time ago,” she says.

What this means for you

If you are planning to travel internationally, you must now provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result no more than three days before the flight. To stay as safe as possible during the flight, experts recommend wearing surgical or multi-layer masks, choosing a seat away from other passengers, and limiting the number of movements in the cabin.

advantages and disadvantages

The new rule builds on a CDC regulation enacted on December 24th requiring COVID-19 testing for passengers flying to the US from the UK and reflects similar travel restrictions put in place in countries around the world were.

“Traveler testing is generally controversial, but it is becoming commonplace.” Henry Wu, MD, According to Verywell, he is the director of the Emory TravelWell Center and Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases at Emory University School of Medicine in Georgia. “The benefits and pitfalls largely depend on your goals.”

Overall, experts believe this testing requirement can reduce transmission of the virus on airplanes and help curb the spread of new variants from one country to another.

“The pre-travel test requirements will certainly reduce the risk of airborne transmissions, although the basic risk initially appears to be very low, especially with masking mandates,” says Wu. “Requirements could reduce the introduction of new, more transmissible, or more virulent strains – that is the intent of US rule. However, there would be minimal or no benefit if a strain is already common in the US.”

However, this rule also has some potential drawbacks. “There are concerns that travelers from countries with limited resources may use limited testing resources on-site,” says Wu. “There is also concern that returning US travelers with COVID-19 will be stuck in countries with poor health resources and poorly cared for if they are seriously ill.”

Even so, Wu believes the test is beneficial. “Personally, I think testing requirements and travel restrictions are justified right now because we don’t know exactly how common these emerging strains are in the US,” he says.

Choosing the right test

The CDC accepts all virus tests approved by the country where it is administered to detect SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This includes reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and antigen or rapid tests.

However, not all COVID-19 tests are equally effective. Antigen tests are known to be less reliable and give false negative results...

“Inferior tests are always a problem, as are fake lab reports or fake letters from health care providers to document recovery,” says Wu. “We’ve always known about fake yellow fever vaccine certificates and I’m sure there will be a market for fake COVID-19 reviews.”

Once a person has recovered from COVID-19, PCR tests can indicate that they are still infected with the virus weeks later, making it difficult to determine and prove that they are no longer infected.

“Due to the fact that the rapid test can result in false negatives, the masks and social distancing are still important at the airport as there is a chance an infected person could get on the plane,” says Mavunda.

Hugo Lin / Verywell

If a person gets a positive test result prior to their flight, they will not be able to board the plane and must quarantine and recover before returning to the United States

Travel safely

A Department of Defense, Boeing and United Airlines report released in October claims the risk of catching COVID-19 flying is minimal..Despite the apparent effectiveness of aircraft air filters and ventilation systems, experts warn that the risk of exposure increases when human factors such as removing masks for eating and drinking and sharing bathrooms are taken into account.

To be safe during the flight, Mavunda recommends limiting exposure to other passengers by sitting in a window seat outside the aisles and minimizing the amount of time spent in the bathrooms and moving around the cabin. If possible, she says it is best to be among the last people to board and be the first to get off the plane to limit the number of people who can get past you.

Experts say it’s also a good idea to have a personal supply of hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes with you to disinfect airplane seats, tables, and other touch-sensitive surfaces. It is also important that your face mask offers adequate protection.

“If you have multiple layers of cloth masks, that’s better than a single layer,” says Mavunda. “But the surgical masks are definitely better.”

How airlines adapt

Some airlines offer services that make it easier for travelers to understand US and international policies and comply with CDC regulations.

For example, American Airlines recently launched an app called VeriFly. According to a company statement, the app will allow users to understand the testing requirements at their destination and upload negative COVID-19 results and other documents...

Delta Airlines will soon be selling home test kits that passengers can use before a flight or pack to take with them on their journey to test before they return. The company also provides customers with resources to help them find test locations abroad while traveling. Adrian Gee, MA, The senior coordinator for corporate communications at Delta Airlines announced Verywell in an email.

American Airlines began selling home test kits in December before the new CDC rules were implemented.

Weighing up travel expenses

With the new regulations, travelers may have to consider additional costs and time to get COVID-19 tests and wait for results.

And, as has been the case throughout the global pandemic, choosing to travel usually carries a higher risk of infection for a person. For example, if you are halfway on a flight and a nearby passenger refuses to wear their mask, it may not be possible to move to a safer location out of exposure.

“When you are at home, you are in control of your surroundings,” says Mavunda. “Unfortunately, while traveling or on an airplane, you can get into a situation that is not good and you may not be able to get off.”

Wu agrees. “Do not travel internationally or domestically unless you absolutely have to,” he says. “While COVID-19 is rife in the US, a big problem is the specter of emerging strains that are more dangerous and may not be as well controlled by our vaccines. Additionally, travelers are generally prone to more situations facing them endanger exposure or infection of others, so staying home when you can helps to control this pandemic. ”