Major airlines have said passengers are at low risk of contracting the novel coronavirus while flying, but some new studies suggest that the virus can—and has—spread on planes.

Can an airline deny boarding a passenger if they don’t have a negative COVID-19 test?

Airlines must confirm the negative test result for all passengers or documentation of recovery before they board. If a passenger does not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery, or chooses not to take a test, the airline must deny boarding to the passenger.

What do I do if I test positive for COVID-19 before a flight?

People should self-isolate and delay their travel if symptoms develop or a pre-departure test result is positive until they have recovered from COVID-19. Airlines must refuse to board anyone who does not present a negative test result for COVID-19 or documentation of recovery.

Are you required to get a COVID-19 test to fly back to the U.S.?

Air passengers traveling to the US are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery. Airlines must confirm the negative test result or documentation of recovery for all passengers before boarding.

How long is the quarantine period for people who are exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19?

• Stay home for 14 days after the date of their last known exposure to a person diagnosed with COVID-19. The day of exposure counts as day 0. The day after their last known exposure is day 1 of the 14-day period.

What quarantine exemptions are available for airline passengers during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Exemptions may be granted on an extremely limited basis when emergency travel (like an emergency medical evacuation) must occur to preserve someone’s life, health against a serious danger, or physical safety and testing cannot be completed before travel.

What are the requirements for entering the US through air travel during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Air passengers traveling to the US are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery. Airlines must confirm the negative test result or documentation of recovery for all passengers before boarding.

Do I need to be tested for COVID-19 before or after traveling in the USA if I have been vaccinated?

• If you travel in the United States, you do not need to get tested before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel.

Why does traveling increase the spread of COVID-19?

Individuals who travel may be at risk for exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, before, during, or after travel. This could result in travelers’ spreading the virus to others at their destinations or upon returning home.

Can COVID-19 spread through HVAC systems?

While airflows within a particular space may help spread disease among people in that space, there is no definitive evidence to date that viable virus has been transmitted through an HVAC system to result in disease transmission to people in other spaces served by the same system.

What happens if there is a sick passenger on an international or domestic flight during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Under current federal regulations, pilots must report all illnesses and deaths to CDC before arriving to a U.S. destination. According to CDC protocols, if a sick traveler has a contagious disease that is a risk to others on board the airplane, CDC works with local and state health departments and international public health agencies to contact exposed passengers and crew.

Be sure to give the airline your current contact information when booking your ticket so you can be notified if you are exposed to a sick traveler on a flight.

For more information, see the CDC webpage Protecting Travelers’ Health from Airport to Community: Investigating Contagious Diseases on Flights.

Can I travel internationally during the COVID-19 pandemic if I am fully vaccinated?

Fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get and spread COVID-19. However, international travel poses additional risks, and even fully vaccinated travelers might be at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading some COVID-19 variants.

What happens if I don’t take a test and want to travel to the US?

Air passengers traveling to the US are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery. Airlines must confirm the negative test result or documentation of recovery for all passengers before boarding.

What should I do if am overseas and I can’t get tested before my flight during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Passengers should contact the airline regarding options for changing their departure date to allow time for a test, see if the airline has identified options for testing, or if there are options available for changing their flights to transit through a location where they can get tested before boarding their final flight to the United States.

What type of covid test is required for travelling to the United States?

The test must be a SARS-CoV-2 viral test (nucleic acid amplification test or antigen test) with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Do I need a COVID-19 negative test if am travelling between US states but transit through a foreign country?

If you booked an itinerary from a US state or territory to another US state or territory and the itinerary has you taking a connecting flight through a foreign country, you do not need to be tested. An example of this situation is an itinerary booked between the Northern Mariana Islands (a US territory) and the US mainland via Japan.

Does the COVID-19 negative test order apply to land border crossings?

No, the requirements of this Order only apply to air travel into the US.

Can I get an exemption or waiver to the COVID-19 testing requirement?

Exemptions may be granted on an extremely limited basis when emergency travel (like an emergency medical evacuation) must occur to preserve someone’s life, health against a serious danger, or physical safety and testing cannot be completed before travel.

Do the requirements of the COVID-19 negative test order apply to diplomats and special visa holders?

Diplomats and special visa holders are not exempt from this Order.

What is the difference between isolation and quarantine?

• Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick.

• Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick.

Should I quarantine if I had been in contact with someone with COVID-19?

Anyone who has had close contact with someone with COVID-19 should stay home for 14 days after their last exposure to that person.

Should I get tested for COVID-19 if I was in close contact with a positive case?

•Viral testing is recommended for close contacts of persons with COVID-19.

What steps to take after close contact with someone with COVID-19?

• Stay home for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19.

• Watch for fever (100.4◦F), cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19

• If possible, stay away from others, especially people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19

Fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get and spread COVID-19. However, international travel poses additional risks, and even fully vaccinated travelers might be at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading some COVID-19 variants.

Are you required to get a COVID-19 test to fly back to the U.S.?

Air passengers traveling to the US are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery. Airlines must confirm the negative test result or documentation of recovery for all passengers before boarding.

Is Australia open for travel?

Australian citizens, residents and their families can now travel without quarantine restrictions on the way home. However, those rules are at a national level — and not all regions are allowing international travel. The borders are still closed to all other arrivals.

Are Australian borders open?

Australian citizens, residents and their families can now travel without quarantine restrictions on the way home. However, those rules are at a national level — and not all regions are allowing international travel. The borders are still closed to all other arrivals.

What happens if I don’t take a test and want to travel to the US?

Air passengers traveling to the US are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery. Airlines must confirm the negative test result or documentation of recovery for all passengers before boarding.

Do I need to be tested for COVID-19 before or after traveling in the USA if I have been vaccinated?

• If you travel in the United States, you do not need to get tested before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel.

What type of covid test is required for travelling to the United States?

The test must be a SARS-CoV-2 viral test (nucleic acid amplification test or antigen test) with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

What are the requirements for entering the US through air travel during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Air passengers traveling to the US are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery. Airlines must confirm the negative test result or documentation of recovery for all passengers before boarding.

Can you still spread COVID-19 if you have the vaccine?

Vaccinated People Can Transmit the Coronavirus, but It’s Still More Likely If You’re Unvaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines continue to protect against severe illness but do not entirely block transmission. Fully vaccinated people are also less likely to contract the coronavirus than unvaccinated people.

What can you do when you’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19?

If you’ve been fully vaccinated:

• You can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic.

• To reduce the risk of being infected with the Delta variant and possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.

Can you still get Covid after the COVID-19 booster shot?

COVID-19 is still a risk. Getting a booster shot doesn’t guarantee you won’t be infected with the coronavirus.

What should I do if am overseas and I can’t get tested before my flight during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Passengers should contact the airline regarding options for changing their departure date to allow time for a test, see if the airline has identified options for testing, or if there are options available for changing their flights to transit through a location where they can get tested before boarding their final flight to the United States.

Can I still have sex during the coronavirus pandemic?

If both of you are healthy and feeling well, are practicing social distancing and have had no known exposure to anyone with COVID-19, touching, hugging, kissing, and sex are more likely to be safe.

What are the risks of getting COVID-19 on an airplane?

Most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes. However, keeping your distance is difficult on crowded flights, and sitting within 6 feet/2 meters of others, sometimes for hours, may make you more likely to get COVID-19.

What are the different types of COVID-19 tests?

1. A diagnostic test can show if you have an active coronavirus infection and should take steps to quarantine or isolate yourself from others. Currently there are two types of diagnostic tests – molecular (RT-PCR) tests that detect the virus’s genetic material, and antigen tests that detect specific proteins on the surface of the virus. Samples are typically collected with a nasal or throat swab, or saliva collected by spitting into a tube.

2. An antibody test looks for antibodies that are made by the immune system in response to a threat, such as a specific virus. Antibodies can help fight infections. Antibodies can take several days or weeks to develop after you have an infection and may stay in your blood for several weeks after recovery. Because of this, antibody tests should not be used to diagnose an active coronavirus infection.

What is a NAAT COVID-19 test?

A Nucleic Acid Amplification Test, or NAAT, is a type of viral diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. NAATs detect genetic material (nucleic acids).

Is there a diagnostic test for COVID-19?

Yes, the FDA has issued Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for different types of COVID-19 tests. Some tests are used to diagnose the virus that causes COVID-19 infection whereas other tests are used to detect a recent or prior COVID-19 infection.

Do I need a COVID-19 negative test if am travelling between US states but transit through a foreign country?

If you booked an itinerary from a US state or territory to another US state or territory and the itinerary has you taking a connecting flight through a foreign country, you do not need to be tested. An example of this situation is an itinerary booked between the Northern Mariana Islands (a US territory) and the US mainland via Japan.

Do I need to have a COVID-19 test before my doctor’s appointment at the Cleveland Clinic?

For the following surgeries or procedures, you will need a COVID-19 test before your appointment:

• If you require an overnight stay or admission to the hospital.
• If you are age 14 or younger.
• Bronchoscopy.
• Pulmonary function challenge testing (methacholine challenge, exercise challenge and mannitol challenge).
• Oral, nasal, pharyngeal and laryngeal procedures (does not include dental procedures).

Additional testing may be required for other procedures based on your symptoms. Your provider will decide when this is necessary.

Can an airline deny boarding a passenger if they don’t have a negative COVID-19 test?

Airlines must confirm the negative test result for all passengers or documentation of recovery before they board. If a passenger does not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery, or chooses not to take a test, the airline must deny boarding to the passenger.

Can I get an exemption or waiver to the COVID-19 testing requirement?

Exemptions may be granted on an extremely limited basis when emergency travel (like an emergency medical evacuation) must occur to preserve someone’s life, health against a serious danger, or physical safety and testing cannot be completed before travel.

Do the requirements of the COVID-19 negative test order apply to diplomats and special visa holders?

Diplomats and special visa holders are not exempt from this Order.

Does the COVID-19 negative test order apply to land border crossings?

No, the requirements of this Order only apply to air travel into the US.

Air passengers traveling to the US are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery. Airlines must confirm the negative test result or documentation of recovery for all passengers before boarding.

Can I travel internationally during the COVID-19 pandemic if I am fully vaccinated?

Fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get and spread COVID-19. However, international travel poses additional risks, and even fully vaccinated travelers might be at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading some COVID-19 variants.

Do I need to be tested for COVID-19 before or after traveling in the USA if I have been vaccinated?

• If you travel in the United States, you do not need to get tested before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel.

What type of covid test is required for travelling to the United States?

The test must be a SARS-CoV-2 viral test (nucleic acid amplification test or antigen test) with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

What are the requirements for entering the US through air travel during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Air passengers traveling to the US are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery. Airlines must confirm the negative test result or documentation of recovery for all passengers before boarding.

Can you still spread COVID-19 if you have the vaccine?

Vaccinated People Can Transmit the Coronavirus, but It’s Still More Likely If You’re Unvaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines continue to protect against severe illness but do not entirely block transmission. Fully vaccinated people are also less likely to contract the coronavirus than unvaccinated people.

What can you do when you’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19?

If you’ve been fully vaccinated:

• You can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic.

• To reduce the risk of being infected with the Delta variant and possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.

Can you still get Covid after the COVID-19 booster shot?

COVID-19 is still a risk. Getting a booster shot doesn’t guarantee you won’t be infected with the coronavirus.

What should I do if am overseas and I can’t get tested before my flight during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Passengers should contact the airline regarding options for changing their departure date to allow time for a test, see if the airline has identified options for testing, or if there are options available for changing their flights to transit through a location where they can get tested before boarding their final flight to the United States.

Do I need a COVID-19 negative test if am travelling between US states but transit through a foreign country?

If you booked an itinerary from a US state or territory to another US state or territory and the itinerary has you taking a connecting flight through a foreign country, you do not need to be tested. An example of this situation is an itinerary booked between the Northern Mariana Islands (a US territory) and the US mainland via Japan.

Can I get an exemption or waiver to the COVID-19 testing requirement?

Exemptions may be granted on an extremely limited basis when emergency travel (like an emergency medical evacuation) must occur to preserve someone’s life, health against a serious danger, or physical safety and testing cannot be completed before travel.

What happens if I don’t take a test and want to travel to the US?

Air passengers traveling to the US are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery. Airlines must confirm the negative test result or documentation of recovery for all passengers before boarding.

Can I still have sex during the coronavirus pandemic?

If both of you are healthy and feeling well, are practicing social distancing and have had no known exposure to anyone with COVID-19, touching, hugging, kissing, and sex are more likely to be safe.

What are the risks of getting COVID-19 on an airplane?

Most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes. However, keeping your distance is difficult on crowded flights, and sitting within 6 feet/2 meters of others, sometimes for hours, may make you more likely to get COVID-19.

How long will it take to build immunity after getting the COVID-19 vaccine?

It takes time for your body to build protection after any vaccination. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second shot of the Pfizer-BioNtech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, or two weeks after the single-dose J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.

Do you still have to wear a mask if you get the COVID-19 vaccine?

• If you have a condition or taking medications that weaken your immune system, you may not be fully protected even if you are fully vaccinated. You should continue to take all precautions recommended for unvaccinated people, including wearing a well-fitted mask, until advised otherwise by their healthcare provider.

How long does it take for the body to produce antibodies against COVID-19?

Antibodies can take days or weeks to develop in the body following exposure to a SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection and it is unknown how long they stay in the blood.

How far away should I stay from people who are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19?

In general, CDC recommends people who are not fully vaccinated maintain physical distance of at least 6 feet from other people who are not in their household.

Should unvaccinated COVID-19 survivors get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Data suggest that unvaccinated people who survive COVID-19 will be far more protected if they get vaccinated after recovering from their illness. After a coronavirus infection, “it looks like your protection may vary” depending on a number of factors, Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said.

What should you do if you’re fully vaccinated and come in contact with someone who has COVID-19?

• Wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until a negative test result.

• Get tested 3-5 days after close contact with someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.

• Get tested and isolate immediately if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

What quarantine exemptions are available for airline passengers during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Exemptions may be granted on an extremely limited basis when emergency travel (like an emergency medical evacuation) must occur to preserve someone’s life, health against a serious danger, or physical safety and testing cannot be completed before travel.

Can an airline deny boarding a passenger if they don’t have a negative COVID-19 test?

Airlines must confirm the negative test result for all passengers or documentation of recovery before they board. If a passenger does not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery, or chooses not to take a test, the airline must deny boarding to the passenger.

Does the COVID-19 negative test order apply to land border crossings?

No, the requirements of this Order only apply to air travel into the US.

Australian citizens, residents and their families can now travel without quarantine restrictions on the way home. However, those rules are at a national level — and not all regions are allowing international travel. The borders are still closed to all other arrivals.

Do fully vaccinated travelers need to get tested for COVID-19 after international travel?

• Fully vaccinated international travelers arriving in the United States are still recommended to get a SARS-CoV-2 viral test 3-5 days after travel.
• Fully vaccinated travelers do not need to self-quarantine in the United States following international travel.

Are you required to get a COVID-19 test to fly back to the U.S.?

Air passengers traveling to the US are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery. Airlines must confirm the negative test result or documentation of recovery for all passengers before boarding.

Do I need to be tested for COVID-19 before or after traveling in the USA if I have been vaccinated?

• If you travel in the United States, you do not need to get tested before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel.

What type of covid test is required for travelling to the United States?

The test must be a SARS-CoV-2 viral test (nucleic acid amplification test or antigen test) with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Should vaccinated people get tested for COVID-19?

People who are fully vaccinated should get tested 3-5 days after coming into close contact with someone with COVID-19 and wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days or until they test negative. If symptoms develop, they should isolate and get tested immediately.

Can I travel internationally during the COVID-19 pandemic if I am fully vaccinated?

Fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get and spread COVID-19. However, international travel poses additional risks, and even fully vaccinated travelers might be at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading some COVID-19 variants.

Can you still spread COVID-19 if you have the vaccine?

Vaccinated People Can Transmit the Coronavirus, but It’s Still More Likely If You’re Unvaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines continue to protect against severe illness but do not entirely block transmission. Fully vaccinated people are also less likely to contract the coronavirus than unvaccinated people.

Are Australian borders open?

Australian citizens, residents and their families can now travel without quarantine restrictions on the way home. However, those rules are at a national level — and not all regions are allowing international travel. The borders are still closed to all other arrivals.

What happens if I don’t take a test and want to travel to the US?

Air passengers traveling to the US are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery. Airlines must confirm the negative test result or documentation of recovery for all passengers before boarding.

Are you at higher risk of catching COVID on an airplane?

Major airlines have said passengers are at low risk of contracting the novel coronavirus while flying, but some new studies suggest that the virus can—and has—spread on planes.

What should I do if am overseas and I can’t get tested before my flight during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Passengers should contact the airline regarding options for changing their departure date to allow time for a test, see if the airline has identified options for testing, or if there are options available for changing their flights to transit through a location where they can get tested before boarding their final flight to the United States.

What are the requirements for entering the US through air travel during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Air passengers traveling to the US are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery. Airlines must confirm the negative test result or documentation of recovery for all passengers before boarding.

Can I still have sex during the coronavirus pandemic?

If both of you are healthy and feeling well, are practicing social distancing and have had no known exposure to anyone with COVID-19, touching, hugging, kissing, and sex are more likely to be safe.

What can you do when you’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19?

If you’ve been fully vaccinated:

• You can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic.

• To reduce the risk of being infected with the Delta variant and possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.

Can you still get COVID-19 after booster vaccine?

COVID-19 is still a risk. Getting a booster shot doesn’t guarantee you won’t be infected with the coronavirus. But it can help your immune system build protection against severe disease or hospitalization — including from the delta variant.

Can I get reinfected with COVID-19 after I have been vaccinated in Kentucky?

These findings suggest that among persons with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, full vaccination provides additional protection against reinfection. Among previously infected Kentucky residents, those who were not vaccinated were more than twice as likely to be reinfected compared with those with full vaccination.

Should unvaccinated COVID-19 survivors get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Data suggest that unvaccinated people who survive COVID-19 will be far more protected if they get vaccinated after recovering from their illness. After a coronavirus infection, “it looks like your protection may vary” depending on a number of factors, Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said.

Will getting a COVID-19 vaccine cause me to test positive for COVID-19 on a viral test?

No. None of the authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines cause you to test positive on viral tests, which are used to see if you have a current infection.​

If your body develops an immune response to vaccination, which is the goal, you may test positive on some antibody tests. Antibody tests indicate you had a previous infection and that you may have some level of protection against the virus.

Learn more about the possibility of COVID-19 illness after vaccination

How soon after exposure should I get tested for COVID-19 if vaccinated?

Get tested 3-5 days after their first exposure. A person with COVID-19 is considered infectious starting 2 days before they develop symptoms, or 2 days before the date of their positive test if they do not have symptoms.

What are the different types of COVID-19 tests?

1. A diagnostic test can show if you have an active coronavirus infection and should take steps to quarantine or isolate yourself from others. Currently there are two types of diagnostic tests – molecular (RT-PCR) tests that detect the virus’s genetic material, and antigen tests that detect specific proteins on the surface of the virus. Samples are typically collected with a nasal or throat swab, or saliva collected by spitting into a tube.

2. An antibody test looks for antibodies that are made by the immune system in response to a threat, such as a specific virus. Antibodies can help fight infections. Antibodies can take several days or weeks to develop after you have an infection and may stay in your blood for several weeks after recovery. Because of this, antibody tests should not be used to diagnose an active coronavirus infection.

What is a NAAT COVID-19 test?

A Nucleic Acid Amplification Test, or NAAT, is a type of viral diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. NAATs detect genetic material (nucleic acids).

Is there a diagnostic test for COVID-19?

Yes, the FDA has issued Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for different types of COVID-19 tests. Some tests are used to diagnose the virus that causes COVID-19 infection whereas other tests are used to detect a recent or prior COVID-19 infection.