avianca travel requirements covid

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• Travel requirements

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Check in advance the necessary documentation for your trip and avoid unforeseen events

All tourists over 7 years old must pay the tourist card for San Andres Island. Ask for it at the boarding gate.

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Airlines Are Making it Easier for Travelers to Submit COVID-19 Tests

By Jessica Puckett

One of the most comprehensive COVID-19 travel regulations is now in effect, nearly a year into the pandemic.

All travelers —including citizens—entering the U.S. need a negative COVID test in order to board a flight from an international destination. The screening must be a viral test taken within three days of departure, according to the protocols put in place by the CDC.

Airlines are responsible for verifying the medical documentation, and in some cases denying boarding to those without proper test results. As a result, carriers have adapted a slew of new technologies to streamline the new process.

United Airlines, for instance, launched a “Travel-Ready Center” on Monday. Available through United's app and website, the new online hub is a “one-stop shop where customers can review their specific COVID-19 travel requirements for upcoming travel, find local testing options in select markets, and upload any testing or vaccination records,” the airline says. 

When a passenger uploads their test records to the Travel-Ready Center, United employees verify them electronically. After a passenger is deemed “travel-ready," they are allowed to check in for their flight. Passengers who upload test results can be cleared for check-in and receive a mobile boarding pass all before arriving at the airport.

United's new app feature lets passengers know if they are cleared to fly.

Later in February, United plans to launch a test-booking feature that would allow its passengers to make an appointment at one of more than 15,000 testing sites around the world. If the passenger tests negative and is able to travel based on the new protocols, the test provider will directly alert United.

Delta has similarly launched an online tool to help its passengers find acceptable testing centers around the world. Additionally, Delta is waiving change fees on international flights booked on or before January 12 (the day the new requirements were announced) if the ticket was originally scheduled for travel through February 16. 

The fee waiver is presumably so customers have more time to schedule a test before departure, but getting a test might be less time consuming than travelers think, thanks to some flexibility in the CDC requirements. “A new feature is the inclusion of rapid testing into the mix, so it doesn't necessarily mean it only has to be a PCR test,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian said on the airline's recent earnings call. "And with the growth of antigen testing, the quality of antigen testing that's out there, and the supplies in place, you literally could get some of these tests done within a 10-minute interval shortly before you return.”

American Airlines has also expanded a partnership with health passport app VeriFly: Passengers on all of American's international flights can now download the app , choose their destination, and see their travel requirements . After uploading their COVID-19 test documents to the app, VeriFly will confirm the date and type of test, and send a QR code once approved for gate agents to scan.

Other airlines in the U.S. and around the world have been taking similar steps, even before the new CDC testing guidelines were announced. In December, JetBlue, Lufthansa, Swiss, United, and Virgin Atlantic began to roll out the CommonPass app—which makes test results easy to read, similar to VeriFly—on certain routes from New York, Boston, London, and Hong Kong. Other international carriers, including heavy hitters like Emirates, Qatar, and Etihad, have signed on for customers to use a similar app: IATA Travel Pass.

The majority of airlines' new online tools have capabilities for passengers to upload their vaccination status as well, which some experts have predicted could become the next travel requirement in order to board international flights.

We’re reporting on how COVID-19 impacts travel on a daily basis. Find our latest coronavirus coverage here , or visit our complete guide to COVID-19 and travel .  

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COVID-19 Flight Waivers and Refund Policies by Airline

See recent posts by Ricky Radka

With uncertainty surrounding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation stateside, many U.S.-based carriers are relaxing ticket restrictions to give passengers a little peace of mind when booking flights for future travel. Flexible policies on flight cancellations and change fees have been applied to select tickets, and most airlines have temporarily waived fees on new itineraries. Here are all the major U.S. carriers’ current change and cancellation rules as they relate to travel during the ongoing COVID-19 situation.

All policies have the most up-to-date info as of: March 31, 2020 .

To see if your upcoming travel has been affected click here for a full list of coronavirus flight suspensions by region and airline .

Coronavirus Waiver Policies by Airline:

American Airlines

Delta air lines, united airlines, alaska airlines, hawaiian airlines, sun country.

• International Carriers

Which US Airlines Are Offering Free Ticket Changes Amid Coronavirus (COVID-19) Concerns?

American Airlines has continued to expand on its initial change fee waiver to offer passengers more flexibility. Currently, any ticket (both domestic and international) purchased between March 1 and April 30, 2020 , including restrictive Basic Economy tickets, will be granted a one-time change without incurring the standard $200 change fee.

American has broadened its waiver policy to include all itineraries purchased before March 1 with upcoming departure dates through May 31, 2020. Customers with previously issued tickets may now have their trips rebooked before December 31, 2020, or 12 months from the original ticket date, whichever is earlier.

Newly purchased tickets must include travel between today and January 30, 2021, and rescheduled trips must be completed within a year of the original issue date. Itineraries may be changed online or by calling reservations, but keep in mind that although the change fee is waived, any difference in the fare price will apply.

It remains unclear if AAdvantage awards are excluded from the waiver policy, (they previously were), so reaching out directly to an AA representative is the best course of action regarding tickets booked with miles.

For all domestic and international travel originally scheduled to depart through May 31, 2020 , all change fees are waived, and you can rebook your trip to the same destination for travel departing before May 31, 2020, with no difference in fare applied. Trips rebooked to the same destination for travel departing between June 1 and December 31, 2020, no change fees will be assessed but a difference in fare may apply. 

Delta has put forth a blanket waiver on all tickets (domestic and international) purchased between March 1 and April 15, 2020 , allowing for multiple alterations free of change fees. Tickets purchased during this travel window are permitted changes for up to a year from the date of original purchase.

In all instances, ticket changes can be made online under the My Trips section of Delta.com, a change fee may initially display, but after selecting the new travel dates, it will disappear on the checkout page. Like all other carriers, a fare difference may apply.

Alternatively, if you choose to cancel your trip outright, the value of your ticket may be credited on a future Delta flight up to one year from the original purchase date.

SkyMiles award ticketed during this period are not clearly listed as part of the policy, so reaching out to a Delta representative is the cautious approach. For more information on travel regarding other affected regions, view Delta’s policy here .

Related: COVID-19 Flight Cancellations by Region and Airline

Customers can book confidently knowing that change fees on United flights will be waived for all itineraries purchased between March 3 and April 30, 2020, no matter the fare class. Tickets booked during this period are eligible for a one-time change to a flight of equal or lesser value valid over a period of one year from the original issue date of the ticket. For example, a ticket purchased on March 29, 2020, can be rescheduled through March 29, 2021. If the future flight is less in price, no residual value will be given; however, if the price is higher, customers will be required to pay the difference in cost.

Additionally, United has extended its waiver policy to include all itineraries purchased on or before March 2 with upcoming departure dates from today through May 31, 2020. Customers with previously issued tickets may now have their trips rebooked before December 31, 2020, or 12 months from the original ticket date, whichever is earlier. 

Customers who decide to cancel tickets booked in the listed purchase period can do so with no additional charges. Ticket values will be apples in the form of credit for use on future United flights within 12 months of the ticket’s original issue date.

It has now been reported that United is redepositing award tickets free of charge and taxes being refunded on most award tickets. Contacting United directly and asking them to waive redeposit fees is the best plan of action until exact guidelines are stated on the United site.

Epidemic or not, Southwest has never charged change or cancellation fees . Customers who would like to change a flight itinerary on Southwest will only be liable for any fare difference (customers with travel through April 30, 2020, may now change their tickets without paying a fare difference) . Southwest even offers a credit if the price drops after you have booked.

If you opt to cancel your reservation altogether, Southwest will issue a credit to your “travel fund” for use on a future flight within one year of the date of issue. Customers with funds that have expired or are set to between March 1 and May 31, 2020, will now expire on June 30, 2021.

After issuing the first fee waiver policy among major U.S. airlines, JetBlue has expanded its policy to passengers with existing itineraries with upcoming departures scheduled to commence through May 31, 2020, are now included in JetBlue’s fee waiver program. Flights may be rebooked for travel through October 24, 2020.

Additionally, customers who purchased tickets between now and April 30, 2020, may cancel or change flights free of charge for travel through October 24, 2020. Tickets purchased between March 6 and March 26, 2020, can rebook through September 8, 2020.

Cancellations will be refunded in the form of a credit toward the passengers JetBlue’s Travel Bank, and valid for one-year on future JetBlue travel. Refunds apply to all fares, even JetBlue’s most restrictive Blue Basic fares and also JetBlue Vacation Packages booked with the carrier. Changed tickets will still be subject to the cost of the fare difference, and only one rebooking is permitted.

Flights purchased with TrueBlue points will be redeposited free of charge. However, taxes paid on award tickets will be credited to the customer’s Travel Bank.

Related: 7 Must-Pack Items to Keep You Healthy While Traveling

Alaska Airlines has revamped its initial “peace of mind” policy to include a larger travel window for all tickets purchased between February 27 and April 30, 2020 . Select tickets purchased between those dates may now make a one-time change or cancel through February 28, 2021 .

Customers holding an itinerary with upcoming travel through May 31, 2020, now qualify for Alaska’s no change or cancellation fee policy, regardless of the booking date.

However, the previous separate restrictions still apply to Saver Fares.

Saver Fares purchased before April 30, 2020, for travel through February 28, 2021, are only eligible to cancel and redeposit funds into Alaska’s My Account wallet. Changes not permitted.

All other fares, including non-refundable First Class or Main fares booked before March 31, 2020, are entitled to a one-time date change at no extra cost (a fare difference may apply). Or free cancellation in which the value of the ticket will be deposited into a My Account travel wallet.

Mileage Plan award tickets qualify for Alaska’s updated cancellation policy and will be refunded and redeposited free of charge.

Hawaiian Airlines policy allows for waived change fees for new flights purchased between March 1 and May 31, 2020 . Itineraries purchased during the window are entitled to a one-time date change to a future flight beginning before December 31, 2020. A fare difference will be collected for the price of the new trip, and customers must contact Hawaiian at least 24-hours before departure for waived fees.

Customers with any existing booking made prior to March 9 with upcoming departure dates between today and May 31, 2020, are now included in Hawaiian most updated policy. Guests holding previously issued tickets may now have their trips rebooked for travel commencing no later than December 31, 2020.

Award flights ticketed with HawaiianMiles may be redeposited without any fees. Other location-specific information about fee waivers to Asia, French Polynesia, Australia, and New Zealand can be viewed here .

Related: Strategies to Get a Refund on a Non-Refundable Airfare

In the wake of other low-cost carriers introducing flexible travel policies, Spirit has released a program allowing customers that need to alter their travel plans a one-time free modification. Fare differences will apply, and the best method to make these changes is to call or text Spirit’s Guest Care lines listed below:

• Call (801) 401-2222
• Text: 48763
• Text via WhatsApp to (801) 401-2222 with “Hello”

Customers wishing to cancel their trips altogether have the option to receive a reservation credit for the full value amount of their ticket. Credits are valid for up to 6 months from the issue date.

Flights to select destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean served by Spirit have imposed travel restrictions on incoming passengers. If you have upcoming travel to Aruba, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, Peru, or St. Maarten, view each country’s travel restriction and code to contact Spirit about refunds or changes.

As a standard policy throughout the year , change fees are waived for Frontier passengers as long as they make alterations to their itineraries at least 60 days or more before departure. But amid concerns of the epidemic and travelers wishing to change travel plans on shorter notice, Frontier has implemented increased flexibility to the current policy . Passengers with tickets issued prior to March 10, 2020, with upcoming travel scheduled between today and May 20, 2020 , are granted a one-time change to their itinerary without incurring change or cancel fees.

Customers booking new tickets between today and April 15, 2020 , will also qualify for the one-time waiver to change or cancel free of charge.

On flight changes, travel must be completed before November 9, 2020, and will be subject to a price difference. If the flight is lower in price, no residual value will be returned to the customer. Passengers who prefer to cancel an itinerary will receive the full cost of the ticket to be used toward the purchase of another Frontier flight within 90 days of the cancellation. All changes must be made at least 24-hours before the flight’s scheduled departure time, and the easiest way to make adjustments to tickets is by dialing Frontier directly at (801) 401-9000.

Related: New No Change Fee Policy on Frontier Airlines

COVID-19 situation or not, Sun Country allows customers to change their trip reservation online free of charge as long as the departure date is 60 days out or more. However, due to the current situation, Sun Country will permit passengers with flights scheduled through May 31, 2020 , to change or cancel tickets without fees . Flyers holding itineraries that qualify should call Sun Country directly at (651) 905-2737 between the hours of 6:00 am – 11:00 pm CDT, to make alternative travel plans. Passengers with international travel onboard Sun Country should view this page to view location-specific information about final flight operations and border closings.

There are no set waiver dates listed by Allegiant regarding which tickets may be changed or canceled, just simply that customers are allowed a one-time change without incurring additional fees. Passengers who wish to make changes to existing reservations are asked to call Allegiant’s Customer Care Center (702) 505-8888, email, or reach out via Twitter or Facebook; further instructions can be read here .

Related: The Travel Insurance You Need to Buy and the Kind You May Already Have

Coronavirus waiver policies on international carriers.

• Air New Zealand
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Copa Airlines
• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
• LOT Polish Airlines
• Norwegian Air
• Porter Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• TAP Air Portugal
• Turkish Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic

Those who are traveling in the near future can monitor the spread of Covid-19 in real-time using this map provided by the World Health Organization .

You can find more information on how this virus is transmitted as well as protective measures you can take to stay safe .

Featured image: Shutterstock

All products are independently selected by our writers and editors. If you buy something through our links, Jetsetter may earn an affiliate commission.

This story originally appeared on our sister site airfarewatchdog.com .

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• COVID-19 travel advice

Considering travel during the pandemic? Take precautions to protect yourself from COVID-19.

A coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine can prevent you from getting COVID-19 or from becoming seriously ill due to COVID-19 . But even if you're vaccinated, it's still a good idea to take precautions to protect yourself and others while traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you've had all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses, including boosters, you're less likely to become seriously ill or spread COVID-19 . You can then travel more safely within the U.S. and internationally. But international travel can still increase your risk of getting new COVID-19 variants.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you should avoid travel until you've had all recommended COVID-19 vaccine and booster doses.

Before you travel

As you think about making travel plans, consider these questions:

• Have you been vaccinated against COVID-19 ? If you haven't, get vaccinated. If the vaccine requires two doses, wait two weeks after getting your second vaccine dose to travel. If the vaccine requires one dose, wait two weeks after getting the vaccine to travel. It takes time for your body to build protection after any vaccination.
• Have you had any booster doses? Having all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses, including boosters, increases your protection from serious illness.
• Are you at increased risk for severe illness? Anyone can get COVID-19 . But older adults and people of any age with certain medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 .
• Do you live with someone who's at increased risk for severe illness? If you get infected while traveling, you can spread the COVID-19 virus to the people you live with when you return, even if you don't have symptoms.
• Does your home or destination have requirements or restrictions for travelers? Even if you've had all recommended vaccine doses, you must follow local, state and federal testing and travel rules.

Check local requirements, restrictions and situations

Some state, local and territorial governments have requirements, such as requiring people to wear masks, get tested, be vaccinated or stay isolated for a period of time after arrival. Before you go, check for requirements at your destination and anywhere you might stop along the way.

Keep in mind these can change often and quickly depending on local conditions. It's also important to understand that the COVID-19 situation, such as the level of spread and presence of variants, varies in each country. Check back for updates as your trip gets closer.

Travel and testing

For vaccinated people.

If you have been fully vaccinated, the CDC states that you don't need to get tested before or after your trip within the U.S. or stay home (quarantine) after you return.

If you're planning to travel internationally outside the U.S., the CDC states you don't need to get tested before your trip unless it's required at your destination. Before arriving to the U.S., you need a negative test within the last day before your arrival or a record of recovery from COVID-19 in the last three months.

After you arrive in the U.S., the CDC recommends getting tested with a viral test 3 to 5 days after your trip. If you're traveling to the U.S. and you aren't a citizen, you need to be fully vaccinated and have proof of vaccination.

You don't need to quarantine when you arrive in the U.S. But check for any symptoms. Stay at home if you develop symptoms.

For unvaccinated people

Testing before and after travel can lower the risk of spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 . If you haven't been vaccinated, the CDC recommends getting a viral test within three days before your trip. Delay travel if you're waiting for test results. Keep a copy of your results with you when you travel.

Repeat the test 3 to 5 days after your trip. Stay home for five days after travel.

If at any point you test positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 , stay home. Stay at home and away from others if you develop symptoms. Follow public health recommendations.

Stay safe when you travel

In the U.S., you must wear a face mask on planes, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation. The mask must fit snugly and cover both your mouth and nose.

Follow these steps to protect yourself and others when you travel:

• Get vaccinated.
• Keep distance between yourself and others (within about 6 feet, or 2 meters) when you're in indoor public spaces if you're not fully vaccinated. This is especially important if you have a higher risk of serious illness.
• Avoid contact with anyone who is sick or has symptoms.
• Avoid crowds and indoor places that have poor air flow (ventilation).
• Don't touch frequently touched surfaces, such as handrails, elevator buttons and kiosks. If you must touch these surfaces, use hand sanitizer or wash your hands afterward.
• Wear a face mask in indoor public spaces. The CDC recommends wearing the most protective mask possible that you'll wear regularly and that fits. If you are in an area with a high number of new COVID-19 cases, wear a mask in indoor public places and outdoors in crowded areas or when you're in close contact with people who aren't vaccinated.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Cover coughs and sneezes.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• If soap and water aren't available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub your hands together until they feel dry.
• Don't eat or drink on public transportation. That way you can keep your mask on the whole time.

Because of the high air flow and air filter efficiency on airplanes, most viruses such as the COVID-19 virus don't spread easily on flights. Wearing masks on planes has likely helped lower the risk of getting the COVID-19 virus on flights too.

However, air travel involves spending time in security lines and airport terminals, which can bring you in close contact with other people. Getting vaccinated and wearing a mask when traveling can help protect you from COVID-19 while traveling.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has increased cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces and equipment, including bins, at screening checkpoints. TSA has also made changes to the screening process:

• Travelers must wear masks during screening. However, TSA employees may ask travelers to adjust masks for identification purposes.
• Travelers should keep a distance of 6 feet apart from other travelers when possible.
• Instead of handing boarding passes to TSA officers, travelers should place passes (paper or electronic) directly on the scanner and then hold them up for inspection.
• Each traveler may have one container of hand sanitizer up to 12 ounces (about 350 milliliters) in a carry-on bag. These containers will need to be taken out for screening.
• Personal items such as keys, wallets and phones should be placed in carry-on bags instead of bins. This reduces the handling of these items during screening.
• Food items should be carried in a plastic bag and placed in a bin for screening. Separating food from carry-on bags lessens the likelihood that screeners will need to open bags for inspection.

Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds directly before and after going through screening.

Public transportation

If you travel by bus or train and you aren't vaccinated, be aware that sitting or standing within 6 feet (2 meters) of others for a long period can put you at higher risk of getting or spreading COVID-19 . Follow the precautions described above for protecting yourself during travel.

Even if you fly, you may need transportation once you arrive at your destination. You can search car rental options and their cleaning policies on the internet. If you plan to stay at a hotel, check into shuttle service availability.

If you'll be using public transportation and you aren't vaccinated, continue physical distancing and wearing a mask after reaching your destination.

Hotels and other lodging

The hotel industry knows that travelers are concerned about COVID-19 and safety. Check any major hotel's website for information about how it's protecting guests and staff. Some best practices include:

• Enhanced cleaning procedures
• Physical distancing recommendations indoors for people who aren't vaccinated
• Mask-wearing and regular hand-washing by staff
• Mask-wearing indoors for guests in public places in areas that have high cases of COVID-19
• Vaccine recommendations for staff
• Isolation and testing guidelines for staff who've been exposed to COVID-19
• Contactless payment
• Set of rules in case a guest becomes ill, such as closing the room for cleaning and disinfecting
• Indoor air quality measures, such as regular system and air filter maintenance, and suggestions to add air cleaners that can filter viruses and bacteria from the air

Vacation rentals, too, are enhancing their cleaning procedures. They're committed to following public health guidelines, such as using masks and gloves when cleaning, and building in a waiting period between guests.

Make a packing list

When it's time to pack for your trip, grab any medications you may need on your trip and these essential safe-travel supplies:

• Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol)
• Disinfectant wipes (at least 70% alcohol)
• Thermometer

Considerations for people at increased risk

Anyone can get very ill from the virus that causes COVID-19 . But older adults and people of any age with certain medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness. This may include people with cancer, serious heart problems and a weakened immune system. Getting the recommended COVID-19 vaccine and booster doses can help lower your risk of being severely ill from COVID-19 .

Travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19 . If you're unvaccinated, staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 . If you must travel and aren't vaccinated, talk with your health care provider and ask about any additional precautions you may need to take.

Remember safety first

Even the most detailed and organized plans may need to be set aside when someone gets ill. Stay home if you or any of your travel companions:

• Have signs or symptoms, are sick or think you have COVID-19
• Are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test
• Have been diagnosed with COVID-19
• Have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 in the past five days and you're not up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines

If you've had close contact with someone with COVID-19 , get tested after at least five days. Wait to travel until you have a negative test. Wear a mask if you travel up to 10 days after you've had close contact with someone with COVID-19 .

• How to protect yourself and others. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• Domestic travel during COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• Requirement for face masks on public transportation conveyances and at transportation hubs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/face-masks-public-transportation.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• International travel. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel/index.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• U.S citizens, U.S. nationals, U.S. lawful permanent residents, and immigrants: Travel to and from the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel-during-covid19.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• Non-US. citizen, non-U.S. immigrants: Air travel to the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/noncitizens-US-air-travel.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• People with certain medical conditions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• Stay up to date with your vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• Pack smart. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/pack-smart. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
• Travel: Frequently asked questions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/faqs.html. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) information. Transportation Security Administration. https://www.tsa.gov/coronavirus. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
• WHO advice for international traffic in relation to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/articles-detail/who-advice-for-international-traffic-in-relation-to-the-sars-cov-2-omicron-variant. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
• VRHP/VRMA Cleaning guidelines for COVID-19. Vacation Rental Management Association. https://www.vrma.org/page/vrhp/vrma-cleaning-guidelines-for-covid-19. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
• Safe stay. American Hotel & Lodging Association. https://www.ahla.com/safestay. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
• Khatib AN, et al. COVID-19 transmission and the safety of air travel during the pandemic: A scoping review. Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases. 2021; doi:10.1097/QCO.0000000000000771.

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U.S. travel resources

• Check CDC recommendations for travel within the U.S.
• Review testing requirements for travel to the U.S.
• Look up restrictions at your destination .
• Review airport security measures .

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What is COVID-19?

Who can get covid-19, can i travel if i recently had covid-19, what can travelers do to prevent covid-19, more information.

CDC Respiratory Virus Guidance has been updated. The content of this page will be updated soon.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. The virus spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets and small particles produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. The virus spreads easily in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor settings.

People with COVID-19 have reported a wide range of symptoms   – ranging from no or mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2–14 days after exposure to the virus. Possible symptoms include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, new loss of taste and smell, sore throat, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Anyone can get COVID-19. However, some people are more likely than others to get very sick if they get COVID-19. These include people who are older, are  immunocompromised , or have certain  disabilities , or have  underlying health conditions .  Vaccination, past infection, and timely access to testing and treatment can help protect you from getting very sick from COVID-19.

Yes, you can travel once you have ended isolation . Check CDC guidance for additional precautions, including testing and wearing a mask around others. If you recently had COVID-19 and are recommended to wear a mask, do not travel on public transportation such as airplanes, buses, and trains if you are unable to wear a mask whenever around others.

Get  up to date  with your COVID-19 vaccines before you travel and take steps to protect yourself and others . Consider wearing a mask in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor areas, including on public transportation and in transportation hubs. Take additional precautions if you were recently exposed to a person with COVID-19. Don’t travel while sick.

If you have a  weakened immune system  or  are at increased risk for severe disease talk to a healthcare professional before you decide to travel.  If you travel, take multiple prevention steps to provide additional layers of protection from COVID-19, even if you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines. These include improving ventilation and spending more time outdoors, avoiding sick people, getting tested for COVID-19 if you develop symptoms, staying home if you have or think you have COVID-19, and seeking treatment if you have COVID-19.

Consider getting travel insurance in case you need medical care abroad .

Consider getting a COVID-19 test if you:

• Develop COVID-19 symptoms before, during, or after travel.
• Will be traveling to visit someone who is at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.
• Were in a situation with a greater risk of exposure during travel (e.g., in an indoor, crowded space like an airport terminal while not wearing a mask).

If you traveled and feel sick, particularly if you have a fever, talk to a healthcare professional, and tell them about your recent travel.

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COVID-19 testing and vaccine rules for entering the U.S.

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See the  CDC's COVID-19 guidance for safer international travel.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

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• Covid-19: Moscow re...

Covid-19: Moscow re-enters lockdown as cases surge in Russia

Read our latest coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

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Moscow is imposing Russia’s first major lockdown in over a year as the country seeks to short circuit an autumn surge that has seen cases and deaths climb relentlessly for six weeks.

Moscow’s mayor will close businesses, schools, kindergartens, and all shops except groceries and pharmacies for 11 days from 28 October. Bars and restaurants will allow takeout only. Museums and galleries may operate at half capacity, admitting only people with digital vaccine certificates. Unvaccinated people aged over 60 will not be permitted to leave home.

Moscow’s coronavirus situation is “developing according to the worst case scenario,” the city’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, wrote in a blog.

Throughout Russia workers will receive a week off starting on 30 October, President Vladimir Putin announced. The measure comes as new cases continue to soar, and Russia’s official daily death toll—a figure widely believed to be a serious underestimate—has exceeded 1000 on each of the past six days.

With under a third of Russians fully vaccinated, the Kremlin has begun to voice new exasperation at the prevalence of vaccine scepticism in the country. Mortality is high because of the “unacceptably low level of vaccination,” said a Kremlin spokesman last week. “All facilities have been provided to citizens to save their lives by getting inoculated,” said Dmitry Peskov, who was himself admitted to hospital with covid in May.

Persuading people

Putin this week said that he could not understand why some friends of his had not been vaccinated. “I ask, ‘Have you been vaccinated?’ ‘No.’ ‘Why?’ ‘Oh, I don’t know, I’ll wait.’ It’s strange,” he said. “People with a good education, with academic degrees. I just don’t get what’s going on.”

Critics argue that the Kremlin is a victim of its own success in playing down the pandemic’s impact on Russia, leading many citizens to believe that they have no need of vaccination. Russian media have praised Russian vaccines but also sometimes focused on negative or misleading stories about western vaccines, which may have bred a broader vaccine scepticism. Putin himself was vaccinated only in March, and he chose not to admit cameras.

At a foreign policy forum on 21 October Putin again urged Russians to get vaccinated. “There are just two options for everyone—to get sick or to receive a vaccine,” he said. “There is no way to walk between the raindrops.”

But he rejected vaccine mandates. “I believe we mustn’t force it but persuade people and prove to them that vaccination is better than illness,” he said. “We must try to increase people’s trust in the government’s actions. We need to be more convincing and prove it by example.”

Miscounting the cost

But the mistrust begins with the government’s figures on cases and deaths, which show numerous statistical anomalies at the local level and an inexplicably lighter toll than in nearby countries such as Poland and Romania, which are more thoroughly vaccinated.

From the pandemic’s outset, deaths from covid in Moscow reported by the government agency Rospotrebnadzor were far outstripped by the excess deaths counted in the city’s morgue based reporting system. Official deaths from covid are registered by panels that often attribute the cause of death to some other health condition, even with a positive coronavirus test. But Rospotrebnadzor’s covid death figures are dwarfed by a spike in all cause excess deaths since the pandemic arrived, in figures compiled by Russia’s official statistics agency, Rosstat. 1

Alexei Raksha, a demographer who quit Rosstat last year after criticising official covid statistics, this month used the agency’s data to calculate that Russia had lost 997 000 people in the 12 months from October 2020 to September 2021. 2 The Moscow Times , also working with data obtained from Rosstat, found this month that excess deaths during the pandemic in Russia numbered 660 000. 3 Russia’s official death toll stands at 228 453.

This article is made freely available for use in accordance with BMJ's website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose (including text and data mining) provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained.

• ↵ Raksha A. Population estimates. 9 Oct 2021. https://www.facebook.com/rickky.spirewanderer/posts/4457670520967557
• ↵ Russia’s coronavirus excess death toll hits 660K. Moscow Times 2021 Oct 8. https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/10/08/russias-coronavirus-excess-death-toll-hits-660k-a75254