by: DEE-ANN DURBIN, Associated Press
Posted: Jul 8, 2021 / 12:11 PM EDT
Updated: July 8, 2021 / 11:57 AM EDT
FILE – This June 23, 2021, file photo people are working at the lobby counter of the Crockfords Hotel at Resorts World Las Vegas in Las Vegas. Most fully vaccinated people do not need to take special precautions in hotels, but what you are comfortable with will depend on your situation. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say people who have been vaccinated can resume their indoor and outdoor activities without a mask or social distancing. (AP Photo / John Locher, File)
Do I have to take precautions in hotels if I am vaccinated?
Most people won’t need it, but it depends on your situation.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the risk of COVID-19 is small when you are fully vaccinated and that you can resume indoor and outdoor activities without a mask or social distancing.
However, if you have any health issues, the CDC says you should speak to your doctor about the need to continue taking precautions. Parents of young children may also want to be more careful until their children are vaccinated. The guidelines may also vary by country, depending on local vaccination and infection rates.
“Hotels are safe, but I think there are individual personal factors that you can influence in one way or another,” says Dr. Soniya Gandhi, Associate Chief Medical Officer at Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital.
To help you determine your level of comfort, Gandhi recommends looking at infection and vaccination rates in the place you are visiting. If the cases are rare, you should feel more confident about activities that might bring you in close contact with others, such as eating in a hotel restaurant or using the gym.
Most U.S. hotel chains took steps to reduce the risk of infection during the pandemic, and these changes remain in effect. Many hotels offer contactless check-in, pre-packaged breakfast items instead of open buffets, and more frequent cleaning of public areas.
Some hotels and inns, including the MGM Resort chain, have also upgraded their air filter systems and even equipped some guest rooms with custom air purifiers.
If you are concerned, call ahead to see what protocols the hotel has.
Marriott, Hyatt, IHG Hotels & Resorts and other hotel operators have lifted the mask requirement for fully vaccinated guests in their US hotels. Hilton’s masking rules vary by location, but employees are still required to wear masks.
___
In this series, the AP answers your questions about the coronavirus. Send them to: FactCheck@AP.org. Read more here:
What should I know about the Delta variant?
Will one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine protect me with two doses?
Can COVID-19 Vaccines Affect My Period?
