The pandemic put many things on hold for everyone. One of those things included traveling--whether that was traveling for vacation, traveling to see a family member in another state or country or taking a road trip. Although our passports went unmarked last year, it does not necessarily mean that those vacations will never happen in the future.
As the winter season finally ends on March 20 and COVID-19 vaccines are slowly being distributed, it seems as though we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. There are still many COVID-19 guidelines in place but traveling may be in our near future.
Can I travel in 2021?
Traveling in 2021 looks different than ever before. Masks mandates are still in place, as well as social distancing guidelines. Although some travel restrictions have been lifted, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers a list you should consider before traveling:
Does the area where you live or plan to go have an increasing number of cases or number of patients in the hospitals? If so, consider going someplace that has limited cases or postpone the trip until the numbers have decreased.
If you plan on visiting places where you may have close contact with individuals with whom you do not reside, consider or delaying your trip.
The most important thing you need to remember is if you have been exposed to COVID-19, you feel sick or you have tested positive with COVID-19, you should follow CDC quarantine guidelines. This will decrease the risk of exposing others around you and help to limit the spread of the virus.
Although traveling may be allowed in the United States, it is important to consider these questions before planning your trip to keep everyone’s safety in mind.
What does traveling currently look like for me and my family?
There are many safety tips to consider when you travel individually or with family members. You want to protect yourself and those around you when traveling, and the CDC offers travel tips and tricks to assist. Below are five travel tips if you decide to go on an adventure this year, and you can find many more on the CDC website:
Wear your mask when you are traveling by plane, bus, train or other forms of transportation in public. Also, make sure to pay attention to the signage around you and always have a mask with you.
Wash your hands often f you are traveling. Also, carry hand sanitizer to use if you are unable to reach soap and water when needed.
Avoid large crowds when you can and make sure to social distance when you are around the general public.
What are some international travel tips for traveling outside of the U.S.?
The No. 1 tip for traveling outside of the U.S.is to review guidelines for traveling to and within the country you plan to travel. As of March 2021, if you do travel internationally all air passengers must present a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they return to the U.S.
There are many rules and guidelines when it comes to traveling during a pandemic. The best thing to do is to check the latest CDC guidelines and consider these tips before venturing out. If you do travel, make sure to do your research on how to prevent the spread and protect your safety and everyone else’s as much as you can! Stay safe.
*The information in this article was compiled from a variety of sources and is intended to provide helpful tips only.