Travelling During COVID-19

Domestic Travel 

Before Travel 

Check the state or territorial and local health department for your location, your route, and your destination for up-to-date information and travel guidance. 

If traveling by air, check if your airline requires any health information, testing, or other documents. 

Recommendations for People Who Are Fully Vaccinated 

During Travel 

• Masks are required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Travelers are not required to wear a mask in outdoor areas of a conveyance (like on open deck areas of a ferry or the uncovered top deck of a bus). 
• Follow all state and local recommendations and requirements, including mask wearing and social distancing. 
• In areas with high numbers of COVID-19 cases, consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings and for activities with close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated. 

After Travel 

• Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms. 
• Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements. 

No need to get tested or self-quarantine if you are fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 3 months. You should still follow all other travel recommendations. 

Recommendations for People Who Are Not Fully Vaccinated 

Before travel 

Get tested with a viral test 1-3 days before your trip. 

Find a COVID testing site 

During Travel

• Masks are required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Travelers are not required to wear a mask in outdoor areas of a conveyance (like on open deck areas of a ferry or the uncovered top deck of a bus). CDC recommends that travelers who are not fully vaccinated continue to wear a mask and maintain physical distance when traveling. 
• Avoid crowds and stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths) from anyone who is not traveling with you. 
• Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol). 

After Travel

• Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel. 
• Even if you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for the full 7 days. 
• If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected. 
• If you don’t get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel. 
• Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not. 
• Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms. 
• Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements. 

International Travel 

Before travel 

Research your destination before you go: 

CDC Travel provides recommendations by destination  

The Department of State provides Travel Advisories and COVID-19 Country Specific Information 

Consult your personal physician if you have specific questions or concerns regarding your individual medical situation. 

During Travel 

Follow all airline requirements (see air travel below) as well as any requirements at your destination. 

• The CDC order requires all air travelers even those who are fully vaccinated, to have a pre-departure COVID test to travel or return to the U.S.  
• Masks are required in indoor areas of public transportation (including on airplanes) traveling into, within, or out of the United States and indoors in U.S. transportation hubs (including airports). 

If you test positive for COVID before travel to the United States, you will be denied boarding and may have to undergo a mandatory quarantine at your overseas location. Have a plan in case you have to remain overseas longer than anticipated and need to cover cover additional lodging costs, flight ticket change fees, or other expenses incurred due to the unexpected extension.  

After Travel 

• Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms. 
• Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements. 

No need to get tested or self-quarantine if you are fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 3 months. You should still follow all other travel recommendations. 

If you are NOT fully vaccinated follow the above guidance AND

• Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel. 
• Even if you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for the full 7 days. 
• If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected. 
• If you don’t get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel. 
• Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not. 

Transportation  

Masks are required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Travelers are not required to wear a mask in outdoor areas of a conveyance (like on open deck areas of a ferry or the uncovered top deck of a bus). Click here for more info.

Air Travel  

• If you are a non-U.S. citizen who is a nonimmigrant (not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or traveling to the United States on an immigrant visa), you will need to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before you travel by air to the United States from a foreign country. 
• All air passengers ages 2 or older, regardless of citizenship or vaccination status, must show a negative result of a COVID-19 viral test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they board a flight to the United States. Visit the CDC website for more information about these testing requirements. 

Required testing before air travel 

• If you plan to travel internationally, you will need to get a COVID-19 viral test (regardless of vaccination status) before you travel by air into the United States. You must show your negative result to the airline before you board your flight. 
• Fully vaccinated: The viral test must be conducted on a sample taken no more than 3 days before the flight’s departure from a foreign country if you show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 
• Not fully vaccinated: The viral test must be conducted on a sample taken no more than 1 day before the flight’s departure from a foreign country if you do not show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 
• If you recently recovered from COVID-19, you may instead travel with documentation of recovery from COVID-19 (i.e., your positive COVID-19 viral test result on a sample taken no more than 90 days before the flight’s departure from a foreign country and a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or a public health official stating that you were cleared to travel). 

COVID Policies for Columbia Metropolitan Airport Airlines

• American Airlines 

• Delta 

• United 

• Silver Airways 

Cruise Ship Travel 

The chance of getting COVID-19 on cruise ships is high because the virus spreads easily between people in close quarters aboard ships. 

The following groups of people should avoid traveling on cruise ships, including river cruises, worldwide: 

• People who are not fully vaccinated 
• People with an increased risk of severe illness, regardless of vaccination status 

Before you board

• Get fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 
• Get tested with a COVID-19 viral test 1–3 days before your departure, even if you are fully vaccinated. 
• If you test positive, isolate and do NOT travel. 
• Get travel insurance.  

While you're on board

• Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths) from anyone who is not traveling with you. Both indoors and outdoors—if you are not fully vaccinated. 
• Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol). 
• Avoid contact with anyone who is sick. 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. 
• If you have symptoms of COVID-19, stay in your cabin and notify the onboard medical center immediately. 

If you are returning to an international port or disembarking an international river cruise: 

• Foreign health officials may implement formal quarantine procedures if they identify a case of COVID-19 aboard your cruise ship. 
• Some countries might refuse to dock your ship or allow passengers to disembark. 

See Air Travel guidelines above if you travel to the United States by air 

After you disembark 

• Get tested 3–5 days after your trip. 
• If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected. 
• Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms for 14 days after travel; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms, regardless of vaccination status. 

If you are not fully vaccinated

• Stay home and self-quarantine for 7 days after cruise travel, even if you test negative. 
• If you do not get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after cruise travel. 
• Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not. 

When NOT to Travel

CDC recommends delaying travel until you are fully vaccinated, because travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. If you are not fully vaccinated and must travel, follow recommendations for people who are not fully vaccinated traveling internationally or domestically.  

Don’t travel if you or any of your travel companions: 

• Are sick with symptoms of COVID-19 (even if fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have recovered from COVID-19 in the past). 
• Have suspected or diagnosed COVID-19 (even if you don’t have symptoms) 
• Have been around someone with suspected or diagnosed COVID-19 in the past 14 days (even if they did not have symptoms). 
• People who have recovered from COVID-19 within the past 3 months, or are fully vaccinated, do not need to self-quarantine and can travel after an exposure, unless they have symptoms of COVID-19. 
• CDC can restrict the travel of people known or believed to have COVID-19, or who have been exposed to a person with COVID-19, if they plan to travel. State, local, and territorial health departments and foreign public health authorities can also restrict travel of infected or exposed people within their jurisdictions. 
• Getting trip cancellation insurance might help ensure you are able to make a last-minute cancellation or change your itinerary without losing money on flights, cruises, train tickets, or pre-paid lodgings. 

With the Coronavirus (COVID-19) currently impacting the U.S., we've compiled a list of resources and information to help you and your family stay informed. For additional COVID-19 resources and information, click here. 

For general COVID information via phone, call:

-- DHEC Care Line (General COVID Information)  855-472-3432 

-- CDC Info (General COVID Information)  800-232-4636 

-- Richland County Health Department  855-472-3432