Required test to fly
Not everyone has been able to get vaccinated yet—thinking of those under 5. The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this.
Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. However, the CDC still recommends getting tested within three days before your departure, and avoiding travel if you are sick.
Gronvall added that the rule change in itself is unlikely to cause a summer surge.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. If you are about to board a flight to the United States, you no longer need to provide a negative COVID test result or documentation of recovery from infection beforehand. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thanks for your feedback! The fact that there are no restrictions on testing before air travel in some other nations may also be a factor, which made the U.
Despite dropping the testing rule, the CDC still recommends getting tested within three days of departure. Health experts say this decision might not affect infection rates during the summer, but travelers are still recommended to get tested before their flight and to avoid travel if they test positive. The testing requirement was meant to minimize virus transmission earlier in the pandemic, but it's not currently serving as a useful way of controlling the spread within the U.
At this time, each country has its own strategy around travelers entering and leaving the country. By Carla Delgado. See Our Editorial Process. Although a majority of the U. Therefore, getting vaccinated and boosted is still critical in reducing the risk of severe disease and death, MacDonald said.
Travel Requirements Guide
Perry N. Should the state of the pandemic change, the CDC will reassess the need for a testing requirement. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. The travel industry had been lobbying to end the testing rule, saying that it discouraged many people from traveling.
Was this page helpful? Key Takeaways The CDC said widespread vaccine uptake, availability of COVID treatment, and high rates of population immunity made it possible for withdrawing the testing rule for air travelers. Testing before boarding the plane is still recommended, and those who test positive should delay their travel plan.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board. Share Feedback. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings , which can also be found in the footer of the site. What is your feedback? In a press release , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC said that the pandemic has "shifted to a new phase," because of high vaccination rates and ample treatment supply.
By Carla Delgado Carla M. Delgado is a health and culture writer based in the Philippines. Related Articles. Fact checked by Heather Mercer. You should delay your travel plan if you do test positive before your flight, Gronvall said. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies.