Travel risk can occur during domestic, international, or cruise ship travel. It can even occur during travel near where you live depending on local hotspots, attendance at events where public health measures are not followed, or through personal behaviors not in line with public health recommendations. It is important to remember that behaviors outside of the workplace affect our risk inside the workplace.

The following standard precautions are recommended for all travelers:

• Get Up to Date on vaccination prior to travel if at all possible.
• Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth in indoor areas of public transportation (including airplanes) and indoors in U.S. transportation hubs (including airports) can reduce the risk of exposure to respiratory viruses. If you have an immunocompromising condition or other reason that requires an enhanced level of safety, please consult with your primary care provider.
• Familiarize yourself with local conditions at your destination. You can get valuable information on local conditions by visiting https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/data-research/dashboard/activity-levels.html. Adhere to physical distancing, facial covering, and hand hygiene as directed by the locality that you are visiting. Those with immunocompromising conditions are encouraged to maintain physical distancing, facial covering, and hand hygiene even if it is not mandated by the locality.
• Do not travel if you are sick, tested positive for a respiratory virus and haven't ended isolation, or are waiting for results of a respiratory virus test.
• Understand the risks that you are taking, e.g., activities, destinations, or modes of transportation, and maintain awareness of ill persons in your vicinity.

Risk factors that may increase travel-associated respiratory virus exposure include:

• Travel by public transportation (air, bus, or train).
• Prolonged presence in public areas (shopping districts, pedestrian zones, narrow walkways, etc.).
• Crowded settings such as bars, casinos, movie theaters, and gyms and large gatherings such as concerts, sporting events and re-unions or parties with family or friends outside of your household.
• Travel to a high-risk area, i.e., with ongoing, widespread community transmission, or visitors from such an area coming into your home.

Back to top