What are the latest travel quarantine recommendations from the CDC?
The Centres for Disease Control (CDC) has updated its recommendations on self quarantining for US residents entering and leaving America amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Previously, the US agency had advised self-quarantine for 14 days after all international travel and for those moving between some states within the country that are experiencing high levels of infection.
As of now, the agency has slightly altered its guidance, but what does this mean for those travelling to, from, and around the country?
What was the previous CDC guidance?
Since March, all Americans travelling internationally had been recommended by the CDC to undertake two weeks quarantine.
Those travelling from states experiencing high levels of cases were also been advised to adhere to the same quarantine measures. This guidance no longer exists on the agency’s website, The Washington Post first reported.
The CDC continues to instruct residents not to travel if they are sick or have been around someone with Covid-19 in the past 14 days, or travel with someone who is sick. It also maintains its warnings that travel elevates the risk of contracting the coronavirus.
What is the new CDC guidance for Americans travelling internationally?
The website now directs residents to consider country-specific guidance, pointing users to a map that illustrates travel recommendations and risk levels of individual destinations.
“This updated guidance is based on risk of exposure during travel, asking travellers to think about what they did, where they were, and who they came into contact with to evaluate their risk of exposure to Covid-19,” CDC spokesman Scott Pauley told The Post.
While abroad, the CDC advises travellers to wear a face mask, avoid close contact and remain at least six feet apart from those not in your household, practise comprehensive hygiene measures such as washing hands frequently or using hand sanitiser, avoid contact with anyone who is sick, and avoid touching your face.
What is the new CDC guidance for Americans returning from abroad?
The agency has removed directions for two-week quarantines for those returning from abroad from the “After You Travel” part of its website.
Website guidance now states that when returning from travel, residents should stay at least six feet from other people outside their household both indoors and outdoors, wear a mask to keep their nose and mouth covered when outside, wash hands often or use hand sanitiser, and watch for symptoms of Covid-19.
The guidance also states that travellers who have participated in “high-risk activities” should stay home as much as possible, avoid being around people at higher risk for severe illness from Covid-19 and consider getting tested for the virus when they return from travelling.
“High-risk activities” include: being in an area that is experiencing high levels of Covid-19, going to a large social gathering like a wedding, funeral, or party, attending a mass gathering like a sporting event, concert, or parade, being in crowds — for example, in restaurants, bars, airports, bus and train stations, or movie theatres, and travelling on a cruise ship or river boat.
The agency stipulates that individual territories within the US may still have their own regulations concerning testing and quarantines. They warn that If you test positive for coronavirus on arrival, you may be required to isolate for a period of time or be prevented from returning to the US as scheduled.
What about CDC guidance for domestic travel?
The website clarifies that Americans should still follow state, territorial, tribal, and local recommendations or requirements after travel and states that if you return to or from a state that requires you to complete a two-week quarantine, you will still be required to observe those measures.
If travelling domestically, the website advises travellers area-specific guidance for their entire trip and to monitor cases in relevant states for the last seven days.
What are the rules foreign nationals?
The CDC’s ”Travel Recommendations by Destination” page emphasises that foreign nationals who have visited either China, Iran, Brazil, or most European countries including the United Kingdom and Ireland, during the past 14 days, will be prohibited from entering the US.
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