CDC Says International Travelers Should Get Tested 3 Times
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week issued advice to the public against traveling during the holiday season. But the surge in new Covid-19 cases is not just an issue in the United States. Many countries around the world have seen spikes in recent weeks and months.
Now CDC has also released new guidance aimed at those who plan on traveling internationally. The agency recommends that Americans who are headed abroad should get tested for COVID-19 at three separate stages along their journey.
Pre-travel testing is a requirement already for many countries, so travelers should take an approved COVID-19 test (typically a PCR-type test) one to three days prior to departure. Travelers should get tested a second time between one and three days prior to their return to the U.S.. Then CDC suggests that a third test should be done three to five days after coming home.
The CDC also suggests that international travelers isolate at home and monitor themselves for symptoms for seven days after they get back. That’s even if they tested negative. If no test is done once they get home, then a 14 day quarantine is suggested.
“You may feel well and not have any symptoms, but you can be contagious without symptoms and spread the virus to others” CDC says. “You and your travel companions (including children) pose a risk to your family, friends, and community for 14 days after you were exposed to the virus.”
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WOW! Really? Needing to be told to test three times? Common sense (yes I know there is no such thing) would lead an intelligent person to do that at a minimum. As a frequent traveler I have tested a week before and again early enough to receive the results before departure. Most international locations I’ve looked at require another test on arrival and would use the same standard on the return.
Its better to stay and wait for the vaccine other than getting into this mess.
International destinations are often safer than domestic
Many people in these foreign destinations wear their masks out (in fact it’s compulsory) but leave their guns at home.
I walked out of hotels and restaurants in the Midwest and south where no one was wearing a mask as a point of stupidity errr sorry “pride”
Hahaha. They know how inaccurate the tests are, so they want to triple down on them. Classic government response.
Does anyone listen to the CDC or medical community anymore ?
They have been wrong, essentially, about everything.
I’m hitting my 25th country and 6th continent in 2020 next month. Anyone who stopped traveling for this nonsense just makes me chuckle.
All the politicians are flying. Having dinners.
Getting rich. But you, the public, should stay home….
Airports are empty, tourist destinations are unncrowded, airfares and hotels are dirt cheap. Opportunity is the flip side of chaos.
Really? Why not recommend everyone get tested every day, regardless of travel? If airplanes filtration systems are supposedly so safe, what specifically is it about international travel that warrants testing 3x?
And I’m one who is generally on the ‘more cautious’ side of the spectrum and takes mask wearing seriously, social distancing seriously, etc. I’m not one of these who refuses to acknowledge that there is a pandemic that needs to be contained.
They don’t want much to they. I hate to be negative but why not get tested three times to go to the grocery store or travel on a subway.