Mexico eliminates the mandatory use of masks 0:43
(CNN) --
Last week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that they would no longer maintain a per-country COVID-19 risk advisory.
Instead of assessing the level of COVID-19 infection in each country, the CDC will issue advisories only when there are new variants or other situations that change its travel recommendations.
What does the CDC change mean and how should people assess the risk of international travel?
What precautions should they take and how can they best prepare for a trip?
Are there specific considerations for those who want to resume travel?
And what about domestic travel, especially as the colder months roll in?
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To answer these questions, we spoke with Dr. Leana Wen, CNN Medical Analyst, ER Physician, and Professor of Health Policy and Management at George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public Health.
She is also the author of "Lifelines: A Doctor's Journey in the Fight for Public Health."
Passengers walk through the arrival hall of Haneda airport in Tokyo on October 11.
Japan began accepting vaccinated visitors from 68 countries without a visa on Tuesday, ending nearly three years of tighter border controls.
Credit: Toru Hanai/Bloomberg/Getty Images
CNN: What does it mean that the CDC no longer maintains Covid-19 advisories for travel by country?
Dr. Leana Wen:
The CDC has long maintained travel health advisories on its website.
The CDC advises travelers to be aware of areas with outbreaks of yellow fever, dengue, cholera, Ebola, and other infectious diseases.
During the pandemic, the agency also stratified countries based on their level of Covid-19 infection.
This was intended to help travel planners understand the extent to which COVID-19 was circulating in various parts of the world, and for travelers to avoid non-essential travel in areas experiencing waves of coronavirus.
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However, the travel warnings raised some concern.
Not all countries kept accurate or up-to-date figures.
At different times over the past two and a half years, there were many parts of the United States with higher rates of Covid-19 than countries in the CDC's "avoid non-essential travel" category.
Furthermore, after vaccines became widely available in the United States, the feeling has grown that the primary determinant of risk should no longer be primarily based on coronavirus levels, as long as the vaccines were protecting people from the virus. hospitalization.
This decision by the CDC does not mean that the agency will stop tracking covid-19 altogether.
The CDC will alert the public if a new variant of concern emerges.
It will also warn if countries are so affected by the coronavirus or other diseases that their health infrastructure is overwhelmed.
But infection levels alone are not going to trigger increased alert levels in the future.
CNN: How can you assess the risk of international travel?
Wen: The key question is if you are up to date with your vaccination against covid-19, that is, if you have received the new bivalent booster.
If so, you are very well protected against severe illness from covid-19.
Some people may have decided to hold off on getting their booster shot up to date.
If you have recently had covid-19, it would be reasonable to wait three months, as reinfection is unlikely during this time.
Also, the updated booster is not yet available for children under 12 years of age.
In general, children are much less likely to become seriously ill than adults, and if they are vaccinated or have recently contracted the virus, they are very unlikely to become seriously ill even without a booster.
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Age and the presence of underlying medical conditions are also factors.
Immunocompromised people should ask their doctor if they can receive the Evusheld preventive vaccine.
People 65 and older and those with chronic illnesses should also ask, before traveling, if they are candidates for treatments such as Paxlovid and/or monoclonal antibodies if they contract COVID-19 abroad.
If so, these are additional considerations when planning your trip: Will the place you are going have these treatments available?
If you become seriously ill and need to be hospitalized, is good healthcare readily available?
Lastly, remember that the primary goal of coronavirus vaccines is to protect against severe disease.
They also reduce the risk of infection compared to unvaccinated or unboosted people, but do not completely prevent it.
Those who want to reduce the risk of infection should take additional precautions, such as the use of high-quality N95 masks or equivalent in closed places such as airports, train stations, restaurants and other crowded places.
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CNN: What precautions should people take when traveling and how can they best prepare for their trip?
Wen:
Again, getting vaccinated with the new COVID-19 booster is the first and most important step.
Make sure you get the vaccine at least 10 days before your trip.
You also need to get vaccinated against the flu.
The flu vaccine can be given at the same time as the covid-19 vaccine.
Bring lots of coronavirus tests, at least two for each traveling family member.
That way, you can get tested if you develop symptoms or have had a significant exposure.
It is also important to know the treatments that you can opt for.
Some doctors may be willing to prescribe Paxlovid in case you contract covid-19 on your trip.
Others may not, in which case, you should know what treatments you would receive if you get coronavirus.
Have a plan for accessing treatments.
Do pharmacies need a prescription, or can you just walk in and get Paxlovid?
Are there reliable and quality hospitals in case you get seriously ill?
And will your insurance or other coverage cover the costs of health care in another country?
Travel insurance is usually a good idea, although not all policies cover delays or cancellations due to covid-19, so be sure to check.
Also, find out what the rules are in each country you visit.
Many countries have already eliminated vaccine and testing requirements, but in some they are still in place.
CNN: Are there specific considerations for those who want to return to cruising?
Wen:
The CDC lifted its COVID-19 risk warning for cruise travel in May.
Some cruise lines have also relaxed vaccination and testing protocols that previously applied.
This means that people traveling on cruise ships must be prepared for the possibility of encountering covid-19.
This doesn't mean you shouldn't go on a cruise, but you should weigh your individual risk and the value of a cruise vacation.
Many people will say that they accept the risk of contracting the coronavirus because of how much they care about being on board.
If you're vaccinated and up-to-date on your shots, your chance of getting a serious illness is probably very low, so it's a reasonable decision.
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Other people could choose other forms of international travel.
A cruise in which thousands of people interact freely and without masks with each other is very different from, for example, a beach vacation in a place where all meals are taken outdoors, or a trip in which masks are worn in closed spaces such as trains and museums.
Those who wish to continue avoiding the coronavirus can take a more cautious approach while continuing to travel.
CNN: What's your advice for domestic travel, especially now that the colder months are upon us?
Wen:
The key recommendation to be up-to-date on vaccinations remains valid, as does my advice to take plenty of tests and know what treatments you would receive and where.
We have reached a point with covid-19 where we have recognized that this virus is going to be with us for many years.
That means taking advantage of the many tools we have at our disposal to protect ourselves, while getting back to the pre-pandemic activities we love so much, including travel.
Covid-19Tourism 2022
