If you’ve been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you’ll soon be able to travel around the United States without mandatory tests or quarantine periods.
NBC News reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Friday that vaccinated individuals will be able to freely travel nationwide, so long as they remain masked on planes and other forms of public transport. The new guidance arrives as an increasing number of people throughout the country have either been fully faccinated, or at least received their first of two shots to protect against the novel coronavirus.
CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said on Friday that the new guidance means “fully vaccinated grandparents can fly to visit their healthy grandkids without getting a COVID-19 test, or self-quarantining, provided they follow the other recommended prevention measures.” Obviously the pandemic is far from over yet, even if American Airlines reported this week that they have gotten a 90 percent jump in bookings recently, with cases continuing to rise. The seven-day average of new cases in the United States is roughly around 62,000 new cases per day, so don’t go sharing your germs just yet.
“CDC is not recommending travel at this time due to the rising number of cases,” Walensky added, dampening the news just a little. Regardless, the United States is on track to pass over 100 million people who have gotten at least their first dose of the vaccine by the end of this week. The CDC states that over 56 million have been fully vaccinated, so low risk traveling is permitted while extensive traveling isn’t recommended.
The news comes not long after the CDC confirmed COVID-19 tests are no long required for anyone who has been fully vaccinated and has traveled to/plans to travel in the country. The guidance does not state whether people will be required to show proof of vaccination in order to travel, but so far no U.S. airlines have imposed such a move. All airlines, however, will require you to wear a mask.
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