Coronavirus: Planning to travel? Here’s what to know

It’s summertime and many of us may be planning a trip. With the coronavirus pandemic growing in the United States and places around the world, below is some information to consider before you go, based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.

According to the CDC, travel increases your chances of exposure to the COVID-19 virus, and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from getting sick. But if your travel plans are still on, consider these factors:

• Is COVID-19 spreading where you’re going? You can get infected while traveling.
• Will you or those you are traveling with be within 6 feet of others during or after your trip?
  Being within 6 feet of others increases your chances of getting infected and infecting others.
• Are you or those you are traveling with more likely to get very ill from COVID-19?
• Do you live with someone who is more likely to get very ill from COVID-19?
• Does the state or local government where you live or at your destination require you to stay home for 14 days after traveling?
  
  

IF YOU TRAVEL

• Don’t go if you are sick or have been around someone with the coronavirus.
• Clean your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub your hands together until they feel dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Avoid close contact with others. Keep 6 feet away from others.
• Wear a cloth face covering in public.
• Cover coughs and sneezes.
• Pick up food at drive-throughs, curbside restaurant service or stores.

TYPES OF TRAVEL

• Air, bus or train travel: Social distancing is difficult, and you may have to sit near others (within 6 feet), sometimes for hours, wearing cloth face coverings.
• Car travel: Making stops along the way for gas, food, or bathroom breaks can put you and your traveling companions in close contact with other people and surfaces.
• RV travel: RV travel typically means staying at RV parks overnight and getting gas and supplies at other public places. These stops may put you and those with you in the RV in close contact with others.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

• Bring enough of your medicine to last the entire trip.
• Pack enough hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol) and keep it within easy to reach.
• Bring cloth face coverings to wear in public places.
• Prepare food and water for your trip. Pack non-perishable food in case restaurants and stores are closed.
• If you are considering cleaning your travel lodgings, see CDC’s guidance on how to clean and disinfect.

TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS While you are traveling, it is possible a state or local government may put into place travel restrictions, such as stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders, mandated quarantines upon arrival, or even state border closures. For up-to-date information and travel guidance, check the state or local health department where you are, along your route and at your planned destination. Continue checking for updates as you travel.

INTERNATIONAL RESTRICTIONS Because the coronavirus pandemic is a worldwide disaster, the CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to all global destinations.

Travelers are especially urged to avoid all nonessential travel to Brazil, China, Iran, most of Europe, the United Kingdom and Ireland. Foreign nationals who have been in one of these countries over the past 14 days will not be allowed to enter the United States.