The State Department warned Americans traveling abroad to make “contingency plans” because they may get stranded due to COVID.
The department also asserted that if a person gets stuck in another country longer than planned, their arrangements will be at their own expense.
“U.S. citizens who do choose to travel internationally should make contingency plans, as they may have to remain in a foreign country longer than originally planned, which will be at their own expense,” the State Department said in a statement.
Additionally, travelers are advised to get insurance for flight cancellations and healthcare.
“The Department recommends international travel insurance with coverage for COVID-related trip cancellation and medical benefits,” it added.
All travelers over age two must have documentation of a negative viral test within 24 hours of the flight’s departure or a documented recovery from COVID-19 — regardless of vaccination status.
“Air travelers aged two and older, regardless of nationality or vaccination status, are required to show documentation of a negative viral test result taken within one day of the flight’s departure to the United States before boarding. You must show your negative result to the airline before you board your flight. That includes all travelers – U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs), and foreign nationals,” the State Department website states.
The advisory continues, “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).”
The website says that “exemptions will be considered on an extremely limited basis.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you do not travel internationally unless you are “fully vaccinated.”
“International travel poses additional risks, and even fully vaccinated travelers might be at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading some COVID-19 variants. Delay travel and stay home to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. If you do travel, follow all CDC recommendations before, during, and after travel,” the State Department website says.
