Coronavirus Disease 2019 Information for Travel
Travelers Returning from High Risk Countries
Travelers from China and Iran Arriving in the United States
Search COVID-19 risk assessment by country.
Risk Assessment Level for COVID-19
Widespread sustained (ongoing) transmission and restrictions on entry to the United States
Widespread sustained (ongoing) transmission
Sustained (ongoing) community transmission
Risk of limited community transmission
Widespread sustained (ongoing) transmission and restrictions on entry to the United States
CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to the following destinations. Entry of foreign nationals from these destinations has been suspended.
• China (Level 3 Travel Health Notice)
• Iran (Level 3 Travel Health Notice)
Widespread sustained (ongoing) transmission
CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to the following destinations:
• South Korea (Level 3 Travel Health Notice)
• Italy (Level 3 Travel Health Notice)
Sustained (ongoing) community transmission
CDC recommends that older adults or those who have chronic medical conditions consider postponing travel to the following destinations:
• Japan (Level 2 Travel Health Notice)
Risk of limited community transmission
Travelers should practice usual precautions at the following destination:
• Hong Kong (Level 1 Travel Health Notice)
Travelers from Countries with Widespread Sustained (Ongoing) Transmission Arriving in the United States
To slow the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) into the United States, CDC is working with state and local public health partners to implement after-travel health precautions.
Depending on your travel history, you will be asked to stay home for a period of 14 days from the time you left an area with widespread or ongoing community spread (Level 3 Travel Health Notice).
Countries that have a Level 3 Travel Health Notice (widespread, ongoing transmission):
• China (Level 3 Travel Health Notice)
○ More information for Travelers from China arriving in the United States
• Iran (Level 3 Travel Health Notice)
• Italy (Level 3 Travel Health Notice)
• South Korea (Level 3 Travel Health Notice)
Stay home for 14 days from the time you left an area with widespread, ongoing community spread (Level 3 Travel Health Notice countries) and practice social distancing.
Take these steps to monitor your health and practice social distancing:
1. Take your temperature with a thermometer two times a day and monitor for fever. Also watch for cough or trouble breathing.
2. Stay home and avoid contact with others. Do not go to work or school for this 14-day period. Discuss your work situation with your employer before returning to work.
3. Do not take public transportation, taxis, or ride-shares during the time you are practicing social distancing.
4. Avoid crowded places (such as shopping centers and movie theaters) and limit your activities in public.
5. Keep your distance from others (about 6 feet or 2 meters).
What To Do If You Get Sick
If you get sick with fever (100.4°F/38°C or higher), cough, or have trouble breathing:
• Seek medical care. Call ahead before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room.
• Tell your doctor about your recent travel and your symptoms.
• Avoid contact with others.
If you need to seek medical care for other reasons, such as dialysis, call ahead to your doctor and tell them about your recent travel to an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of COVID-19.
For additional questions on monitoring your health, contact your local public health officials.
Travelers from China and Iran Arriving in the United States
To slow the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) into the United States, CDC is working with public health partners to implement new travel procedures announced in the Presidential Proclamation on Novel Coronavirus and Presidential Proclamation on Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting Coronavirus. In summary:
1. Foreign nationals who have visited China or Iran in the past 14 days may not enter the United States.
2. American citizens, lawful permanent residents, and their families who have been in China or Iran in the past 14 days will be allowed to enter the United States, but will be redirected to one of 11 airports to undergo health screening. Depending on their health and travel history, they will have some level of restrictions on their movements for 14 days from the time they left China or Iran.
If you are in the second group above and are traveling to the United States:
• Your travel will be redirected to one of 11 U.S. airports where CDC has quarantine stations.
• You will be asked about your health and travel.
• Your health will be screened for fever, cough, or trouble breathing.
Depending on your health and travel history:
• You will have some restrictions on your movement for a period of 14 days from the time you left China or Iran.
These actions are being taken to protect your health, the health of other travelers and the health of U.S. communities.
Travelers who have been in Hubei Province in the past 14 days:
• If you have fever, cough, or trouble breathing: CDC staff at the airport will evaluate you for illness. You will be taken to a medical facility for further evaluation and care. You will not be able to complete your travel itinerary.
• If you do not have symptoms (fever, cough, trouble breathing): You will be placed under a federal, state or local quarantine order for a 14-day period from the time you left China. You may not be able to complete your travel itinerary until the 14-day period has elapsed.
Travelers from other parts of China (outside Hubei Province) and Iran in the last 14 days:
• If you have fever, cough, or trouble breathing: CDC staff at the airport will evaluate you for illness. You will be taken to a medical facility for further evaluation and care. You may not be able to complete your travel itinerary.
• If you do not have symptoms: You will be allowed to reach your final destination. After arrival at your final destination, you will be asked to monitor your health for a period of 14 days from the time you left China or Iran. You will receive a health information card that tells you what symptoms to look for and what to do if you develop symptoms. During that time, you should stay home and limit interactions with others as much as possible. Your state or local health department will contact you for further follow up. Check available hours when contacting your local health department.
Coronavirus and Travel in the United States
Should I travel within the US?
CDC does not generally issue advisories or restrictions for travel within the United States. However, cases of COVID-19 have been reported in many states, and some areas are experiencing community spread of the disease. Crowded travel settings, like airports, may increase your risk of exposure to COVID-19, if there are other travelers with COVID-19. There are several things you should consider when deciding whether it is safe for you to travel.
Things to consider before travel:
• Is COVID-19 spreading where you’re going?
If COVID-19 is spreading at your destination, but not where you live, you may be at higher risk of exposure if you travel there.
• Will you or your travel companion(s) be in close contact with others during your trip?
Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 may increase in crowded settings, particularly closed-in settings with little air circulation, if there are people in the crowd who are sick. This may include settings such as conferences, public events (like concerts and sporting events), religious gatherings, public spaces (like movie theatres and shopping malls), and public transportation (like buses, metro, trains).
• Are you or your travel companion(s) at higher risk of severe illness if you do get COVID-19?
People at higher risk for severe disease are older adults and people of any age with serious chronic medical conditions (such as heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes). CDC recommends that travelers at higher risk for COVID-19 complications avoid all cruise travel and nonessential air travel.
• Do you have a plan for taking time off from work or school, in case you get exposed to, or are sick with, COVID-19?
If you have close contact with someone with COVID-19 during travel, you may be asked to stay home to self-monitor and avoid contact with others for up to 14 days after travel. If you become sick with COVID-19, you may be unable to go to work or school until you’re considered noninfectious. You will be asked to avoid contact with others (including being in public places) during this period of infectiousness.
• Do you live with someone who is older or has a severe chronic health condition?
If you get sick with COVID-19 upon your return from travel, your household contacts may be at risk of infection. Household contacts who are older adults or have severe chronic medical conditions are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
• Is COVID-19 spreading where you live?
Consider the risk of passing COVID-19 to others during travel, particularly if you will be in close contact with people who are older adults or have severe chronic health condition These people are at higher risk of getting very sick. If your symptoms are mild or you don’t have a fever, you may not realize you are infectious.
Depending on your unique circumstances, you may choose to delay or cancel your plans. If you do decide to travel, be sure to practice precautions to prevent getting and spreading COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases during travel. For the most up-to-date COVID-19 travel information, visit CDC COVID-19 Travel page.
Communication Resources for Travelers
Public Health Communication at US Ports of Entry
Travel Health Alerts
CDC’s public health messaging system offers up-to-date messages to travelers at specific airports, seaports, and land borders where most international travelers enter or leave the United States.
This is the latest information posted by CDC, in partnership with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and other port-of-entry partners.
Health Alert
Health Alert: Protect Yourself and Others
CARE
The CARE (Check and Record Everyday) booklet is for travelers arriving from China and Iran. It explains self-monitoring, how to conduct daily symptom checks, and what to do if they get symptoms of COVID-19.
Traveler Health Alert Notice
This Travelers’ Health Alert Notice (T-HAN) is given at ports of entry to travelers arriving from high-risk countries (with a LEVEL 3 Travel Health Notice). The T-HAN directs travelers to a webpage with more information in multiple languages on self-monitoring, symptoms of COVID-19, and what to do if they have symptoms.
Health Alert: For Departing Travelers
This health alert message is posted at TSA security-check stations at US airports for departing travelers who may be going to areas with widespread outbreaks of COVID-19.
English
Health Alert: For All Travelers
This prevention poster is available to download and use in your community. It reminds travelers to: Protect yourself and others by staying home if you feel sick, cover your mouth if you need to cough or sneeze and wash your hands often.
English
Stop the Spread of Germs Poster
This prevention poster is available to download and use in your community. It reminds travelers and others to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by avoiding close contact with people who are sick; covering your mouth if you cough or sneeze; avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth; and washing your hands with soap and water.
Symptoms of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Poster
This informational poster is available to download and use in your community to inform people thatSymptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, cough and shortness of breath, and these symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.
Stay informed
Traveler pulling a suitcase. Airplane in the background.
Travelers’ Health
Get the latest updates on COVID-19 and travel information related to this outbreak.
Stay informed with Emergency Partners Information Connection (EPIC) Newsletters
Stay informed about ways to keep yourself and your loved ones safe when a public health emergency happens. Sign up for EPIC newsletters and announcements.
Other Resources
Coronavirus Disease 2019 Information for Travel
Information for travelers returning from China
Travel: Frequently asked questions
Local Public Health Officials Contact Information
Resources for State, Local, Territorial and Tribal Health Departments
Social Media
MMWR
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). New report from MMWR
CDC’s primary vehicle for scientific public health information and recommendations. See the latest COVID-19 reports.
Check and Record Everyday Booklet – China
If you are traveling from China, CDC recommends following the COVID-19 CARE (Check and Record Everyday) recommendations. CARE helps you understand how to self-monitor your health and how to check your symptoms daily. It also includes instructions of what to do if you have COVID-19 symptoms. If you are experiencing symptoms or have questions, CARE has information on how to connect with the local health department in the state you are in. Check available hours when contacting your local health department.
Travel: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Table of Contents
Canceling or Postponing Travel
Should I cancel my trip?
CDC provides recommendations on postponing or canceling travel. These are called travel notices and are based on assessment of the potential health risks involved with traveling to a certain area. A list of destinations with travel notices is available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html.
Warning Level 3: CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential travel to destinations with level 3 travel notices because of the risk of getting COVID-19.
Alert Level 2: Because COVID-19 can be more serious in older adults and those with chronic medical conditions, people in these groups should talk to a healthcare provider and consider postponing travel to destinations with level 2 travel notices.
Watch Level 1: CDC does not recommend canceling or postponing travel to destinations with level 1 travel notices because the risk of COVID-19 is thought to be low. If you travel, take the following routine precautions:
• Avoid contact with sick people.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Clean your hands often by washing them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60%–95% alcohol. Soap and water should be used if hands are visibly dirty.
○ It is especially important to clean hands after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
Are layovers included in CDC’s recommendation to avoid nonessential travel?
Yes. Layovers at airports in destinations with level 3 travel notices are included in CDC’s recommendation to avoid nonessential travel. If a layover is unavoidable, CDC recommends that travelers not leave the airport. Travelers with layovers may still be subject to screening and monitoring when entering the United States.
I don’t want to travel because of COVID-19. Can CDC help me get a refund from my airline or cruise line?
Each company establishes its own refund policies, and CDC cannot intervene to get them to change their policies. Some companies may base their policies on CDC’s travel health notices. The decision to post or change the level of a travel health notice is based on the best available science and takes into account numbers of cases, sustained spread, geographic spread of cases, risk to travelers, and other factors. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html
In some cases, trip cancellation insurance can protect your financial investment in a trip if you need to change your itinerary in the event of an international outbreak. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/insurance
Is it safe to go on a cruise?
Cruises put large numbers of people, often from countries around the world, in frequent and close contact with each other. This can promote the spread of respiratory viruses, such as the virus that causes COVID-19. You may get sick from close contact with an infected person or by touching contaminated surfaces.
CDC recommends travelers, particularly those with underlying health issues, defer all cruise ship travel at this time. To reduce spread of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, CDC recommends:
• Older adults and travelers with underlying health issues should avoid situations that put them at increased risk for more severe disease. This entails avoiding crowded places, avoiding non-essential travel such as long plane trips, and especially avoiding embarking on cruise ships.
• Discuss cruise ship travel with your healthcare provider prior to travel.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
○ If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Stay in your cabin when you are sick and let the onboard medical center know immediately if you develop a fever (100.4°F/38°C or higher), begin to feel feverish, or have other symptoms (such as cough, runny nose, shortness of breath, or sore throat).
What is the risk of getting COVID-19 on an airplane?
Because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes, most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on airplanes. Although the risk of infection on an airplane is low, travelers should try to avoid contact with sick passengers and wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer that contain 60%–95% alcohol.
For more information: Exposure Risk During Travel
What happens if there is a sick passenger on a flight?
Under current federal regulations, pilots must report to CDC all illnesses and deaths before arriving to the United States. If a sick traveler is considered to be a public health risk, CDC works with local and state health departments and international public health agencies to contact passengers and crew exposed to that sick traveler—according to CDC disease protocols.
Be sure to give the airline your current contact information when booking your ticket.
For more information: Contact Investigation
How are travelers from China being screened when they enter the United States?
At this time, American citizens, lawful permanent residents, and family members (as specified in the Presidential Proclamation) who have been in China in the past 14 days will be allowed to enter the United States. Those travelers will be directed to one of 11 US airports and will be screened for fever and symptoms and asked questions about their travel in China and exposure. Those travelers will have some level of restriction on their movement depending on their health and travel history.
For more information: Travelers from China Arriving in the United States
What if I recently traveled to an area affected by COVID-19 and got sick?
If you were in a country with a COVID-19 outbreak and feel sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, within 14 days after you left, you should
• Seek medical advice – Call ahead before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room. Tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms.
• Avoid contact with others.
• Not travel on public transportation while sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to avoid spreading the virus to others.
• Wash your hands with soap and water immediately after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
• If soap and water are not readily available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60%–95% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
After returning from China, when can employees return to work?
Currently, anyone who enters the United States after being in China during the past 14 days will have some level of restrictions on their movements.
• Travelers from Hubei Province will be quarantined and actively monitored in a location to be determined by public health authorities for up to 14 days.
• Travelers from other parts of China who do not have any symptoms are being asked to monitor their health and practice social distancing for 14 days.
Social distancing means remaining out of:
• Public places where close contact with others may occur (such as shopping centers, movie theaters, stadiums).
• Workplaces (unless the person works in an office space that allows distancing from others).
• Schools and other classroom settings.
• Local public transportation (such as on a bus, subway, taxi, ride share, plane, ship)
These restrictions are to be in effect for 14 days from the time the person was possibly exposed.
For more information: Guidance for Businesses and Employers
Should businesses recommend facemasks or other protective equipment during travel?
CDC does not recommend travelers wear facemasks to protect themselves from COVID-19. You may choose to wear a mask, but it is more important that you take these steps.
We recommend that everyone follow everyday prevention practices:
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning product.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60%–95% alcohol.