Labor day is fast-approaching and 53% of Americans plan on traveling for Labor Day weekend. The CDC recommends the unvaccinated do not travel and even the vaccinated should be cautious about where they go. Here are the details on the CDC guidance, what you should consider, and the places you may want to avoid.
Travel Guidance If You're Unvaccinated
During a recent press conference on Tuesday, CDC Director Walensky was asked about travel guidance for Labor Day. She answered, "First and foremost, if you are unvaccinated, we would recommend not traveling."
The safest thing to do is to stay home with your immediate household. While this is atypical behavior for Labor Day weekend, where people enjoy one last vacation getaway before the Fall, this Labor Day weekend may need to be different. Consider having a BBQ in your backyard, enjoying the outdoors away from other people, and other activities that don't place you at risk.
Travel Guidance If You're Vaccinated
People who are vaccinated can travel, but with the continuing spread of the Delta variant, it's important to weigh the risks. Again, Walensky recommends spending time outside because it is a good way to minimize infection. People are most at risk when they spend time indoors in close contact with other people. Many parts of the country have rising cases of Covid, so that should be considered before traveling.
Walensky stressed the importance of wearing masks indoors. "When in public indoor settings, please wear a mask, vaccinated or unvaccinated," she stated. It is still a requirement to wear a mask when taking public transportation such as airplanes, buses, trains, etc.
Delta Is the Reason for the Restrictive Travel Guidance
The reason for these recommendations is due to the continuing spread of the Delta variant in most of the country. The CDC released updated transmission data and now approximately 97% of the United States is considered to have 'substantial' or 'high' transmission rates.
Reconsider Travel To These Countries
Monday, the State Department and the CDC upgraded Canada to level 3 due to the increase of Covid cases. Level 3 means that the travel to Canada should be reconsidered.
Canada just opened its doors to Americans in the beginning of August, but has been seeing its own increase in cases, especially in the provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta, and the Northwest Territories. Other popular destinations to reconsider include Germany and Bermuda.
Avoid Travel to these Destinations
The State Department and CDC also upgraded several popular destinations to level 4. Level 4 means that the country has a very high level of transmission and should be avoided if at all possible. Popular countries new to this list include Switzerland, the Bahamas, Saint Lucia, and Sint Maarten.
The U.S. is still prohibiting the entry of non-citizens from many parts of the world, including the UK, Ireland, Brazil, China, and many parts of mainland Europe.
Conclusion: Be Cautious If You Travel For Labor Day
With Delta variant cases spiking in the vast majority of places in the United States and around the world, traveling for Labor Day may or may not be the best idea. If you are vaccinated, be cautious about where you go. If you are unvaccinated, the recommendation is to not travel.
📌 Pro-tip: If you are planning on flying, download the Skip app and let us assist you with your TSA PreCheck enrollment. Also, check every country's vaccination and testing requirements before your trip.
