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Health Minute: Safe Summer Travel
Andrew Catanzaro, MD, infectious disease physician with Adventist HealthCare, gives his advice on how to stay safe while traveling this summer and protect yourself from COVID-19.
What advice do you have for people that are looking to travel this summer?
Before you travel, make sure you’re up to date on your vaccines. You should also pay attention to the current COVID-19 situation in your destination. When traveling, make sure you’re:
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Wearing a well-fitting mask that covers your mouth and nose
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Wearing your mask in indoor areas of public transportation and transportation hubs, especially airports, trains, buses and ferries
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Washing your hands often with soap and water or using a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
After your trip, self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms. If you develop symptoms, isolate and get tested.
If someone’s traveling internationally, are there different precautions they need to follow?
First, people should not travel internationally until they are fully vaccinated. They will also need to check the travel requirements for the country they’re going to. The country may require a negative COVID-19 test prior to entry.
It’s important to prepare for emergencies if you were to test positive in a foreign country.
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Write down contact info of people you may need while abroad
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Make sure you are checking in with someone regularly
If you have a medical condition or take medication that weakens your immune system, talk with your HCP about your risk. You should consider delaying travel to high-risk areas.
If traveling into the United States, you will need to show a negative COVID-19 test no more than 1 day before travel. There is an option for people who recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days.
When should people not travel?
You should not travel if you:
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Have symptoms of COVID-19, even if you have recovered in the last 90 days and are updated on your vaccines
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Tested positive within the last 10 days (either 10 days from the start of symptoms or 10 days after receiving a positive test)
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Are awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test
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Had close contact with someone who tested positive, and you are recommended to quarantine.