A positive Covid-19 test result within 72 hours of your return flight to the United States means you will be stuck in that country for a while.

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Contagion with Covid-19 is not the main concern for international travelers, according to Inmarsat Passenger Trust Tracker 2021, the largest global passenger survey since the pandemic began.

The top concern of 51% of travelers is that they will need to be quarantined at their destination. That exceeded the 43% of respondents who said they had to fear contracting the virus at the airport or on the plane. Other major concerns for travelers right now stem from the unpredictability of travel. 41% of travelers expressed concern about unforeseen border closings and more than a third (36%) kept confusing security protocols.

Even fully vaccinated travelers have the right to consider the possibility of an imposed quarantine. Since January, all travelers flying to the USA must Test negative for Covid-19 within 72 hours of entry the country. It is inevitable that some travelers, vaccinated or not, test positive within the last three days of their trip.

For vaccinated travelers, the risk of getting seriously ill with Covid-19 is extremely low. But none of the Covid-19 vaccines are 100% effective, and a small percentage of vaccinated international travelers inevitably become easily infected and test positive for the disease while abroad.

To date, thousands of travelers have received a positive test result via SMS or email at the end of a trip, sometimes on their way to the airport for their return flight to the United States. This turns their re-entry plans completely upside down, as it means delaying their return home.

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A positive test result means that travelers have to be tested again until the test result is negative and in the meantime have to stay at their destination at their own expense, often under quarantine or isolation. This of course increases the travel costs considerably.

The quarantine rules depend on your destination. You may be able to extend your hotel stay and self-isolate in your room, but some countries require travelers to stay in a designated quarantine hotel. Regardless of where you are, you’ll pay the bill for any additional days you spend in your destination, including Accommodation, food (likely limited to room service), and any additional Covid testing or medical assistance you may need.

Consult the before any international travel U.S. Department of State Covid-related site for your goal. These pages are updated frequently and cover entry and exit regulations in this country, as well as testing resources and information on possible quarantines.

Since your US health insurance is unlikely to cover medical expenses overseas, it is important that you buy pandemic-specific travel insurance before you leave the house. Some countries require foreign tourists to wear it.

To get some extra breakthrough insurance, some are fully vaccinated American travelers catch a third shot of the vaccine a few weeks before departure – although the The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to give the green light for booster vaccinations for healthy adults and many scientists say Booster shots are not necessary for most Americans.

the CDC recommends avoiding international travel until you are fully vaccinated as the risk of getting seriously ill with Covid-19 is much greater.