How to Travel During Covid-19

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommended to avoid travel or competition with persons outside of a particular locality. While travel guidance during COVID-19 continues to evolve, be sure to check out the CDC's latest updates on travel recommendations before scheduling a trip.  Additionally, if athletes do travel outside of their local community, they should consider the following:

1. ​Before you travel, review the COVID numbers and vaccination percentages of the place(s) where you are going to determine if the statistics are reasonable to support travel.  The CDC's COVID tracker and the CDC's COVID transmission map are good places to start for domestic travel in the United States. 
2. Limit travel to essential people; identify if any individuals or their family members are high risk.
3. Book refundable travel tickets.
4. Consider purchasing trip insurance and medical evacuation insurance.
5. Bring and use you own equipment, including separate water bottles for each athlete.
6. Bring hand sanitizer, antimicrobial wipes and other cleaning supplies and encourage frequent hand washing.
7. Book private travel when possible.
8. Maintain social distancing.
9. Travel to and stay in places that follow reasonable COVID protocols
10. Be transparent about sharing positive COVID tests, COVID symptoms or exposure to COVID.
11. Prior to travel, ensure all individuals who are not fully vaccinated (two weeks after last vaccination) have a negative COVID test; you may need to show documentation of a negative COVID test and / or a proof of immunization; be sure to schedule the appointments for the COVID test in advance.
12. Research the requirements of the locality to which you are traveling and any areas through which you are traveling (e.g. do you need to quarantine upon arrival?).  The CDC has information about domestic travel as well as international travel. Another excellent resource is the U.S. Department of State's COVID-19 Country Specific Information.
13. If traveling by air, limit the number of stops or layovers.
14. Bring copies of recent negative COVID tests and updated vaccination records; upload or share any tests or immunization records with the airline or other required places.
15. Encourage mask wearing when possible, particularly if traveling with unvaccinated individuals.
16. While traveling and after arrival avoid or limit time spent in public places, particularly if they are indoors (restaurants, retail and grocery stores, etc.)
17. At your destination, identify places where you can secure a COVID test.  You may need to schedule a COVID test in advance of your return trip home. Review the testing protocol requirements to return home and if you can, book a COVID test at your destination before you travel.
18. Monitor changes to COVID cases and protocols as changes may impact your travel or return trip home.