5 Things to Know About COVID Travel

As you can imagine, I’m getting lots and lots of questions these days from people asking about travel with relation to COVID-19.

In talking with folks, it seems like there are quite a few myths going around about travel right now, so I thought it’d be helpful for me to provide some clarification based on the current facts.

COVID Travel Airplane EverAfter Travel Agency Rogers, MN

MYTH: I am not allowed to travel internationally right now.

FACT: The U.S. Department of State removed the Level 4 global health advisory for international travel on 8/6/20, and is now advising travelers to refer to each country’s specific travel advisories for more information.

MYTH: I will be required to quarantine in my home for 14 days after I return from a trip.

FACT: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) dropped the mandatory 14-day quarantine for returning travelers on 8/18/20. The CDC is still advising against non-essential travel, but for those that choose to, they are now recommending that they follow the same protocols that they want people following on a daily basis anyway: social distancing, wearing a face covering, washing their hands often and monitoring for possible symptoms.

UPDATED 11/8/21: U.S. citizens returning on international flights are required to have a negative antigen or PCR COVID-19 test to re-enter the entering the United States (taken within 3 days for vaccinated travelers and within 1 day for unvaccinated travelers). Click here to learn more.

MYTH: Borders of other countries are closed.

FACT: Many countries have reopened their borders and several have been welcoming visitors back for a several months already. For example, islands in the Caribbean like St. Lucia, Jamaica, Aruba, Antigua, and the Dominican Republic are open, as well as all of Mexico. Please refer to the U.S. Embassy COVID-19 country-specific pages to learn more about current entry requirements.

MYTH: All travel insurance covers trip cancellation due to circumstances related to COVID-19.

FACT: Standard travel insurance does not cover trip cancellations due to a pandemic, however, some “cancel for any reason” plans may cover a portion of your trip costs. Prior to purchasing any type of travel insurance, you should always speak with an insurance agent to clarify any policy coverage questions you may have.

MYTH: I’m not currently able to get/renew a passport because passport agencies are closed.

FACT: Passport agencies started reopening this summer, and as of 8/31/20, there are 25 passport agencies and centers open. They are still experiencing delays, but are anticipating a return to normal processing times this fall. Please refer to the U.S. Department of State’s Passport Operations in Response to COVID-19 page for the latest information.

I hope you find this information helpful, and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about your future travel plans!

Related blog posts:

8 Places to Travel in 2021

My Post-COVID Travel to Mexico Experience

What does a travel agent do on a "business" trip to the Dominican Republic?

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