Are you headed to Mexico soon for a relaxing vacation in paradise? New regulations have recently been issued by the CDC (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) concerning the COVID-19 virus. In order to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus from travel, the CDC is now requiring a negative COVID-19 test from all travelers entering the United States by air. COVID testing before and after travel is an important effort in order to help reduce the introduction and spread of COVID-19 at home and abroad. This strategy is designed to protect the health of Americans and is in line with the current phase of the pandemic. Read more below about the new COVID test regulation that could affect your travel plans to Mexico.
New CDC Order for COVID Tests Becomes Effective on January 26, 2021
As of January 12th, an order from the CDC was signed that will go into effect on January 26th. It will require that all air passengers take a COVID viral test within 3 days before their flight to the U.S. For Canadians, a negative PCR test is required. Also, they must provide written documentation of their laboratory test results (paper or electronic copies are accepted) to the airline. If a passenger had COVID during their travels and has recovered, they will also need to provide documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 with a negative test result. Airlines will check all passengers to verify they have negative test results before they are allowed to board their flight. In the case that a passenger does not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery, or does not take a test, the airline will deny boarding to the passenger. When traveling, it is extremely important to not travel if you do not feel well.
Updated American Policies Regarding International Travel
Right now, there is no COVID test requirement in order to enter into Mexico for travel. However, the CDC does recommend travelers get tested prior to travel to ensure that they are not traveling while sick. In addition, they recommend that travelers get a COVID test at home within 3-5 days after they return from their vacation. Plus, CDC recommendations say travelers should stay home for 7 days post-travel. This will help slow the spread of COVID-19 within the US from travelers that are unknowingly carrying the virus. This is an important safety measure that can help identify infected travelers before they put others at risk by boarding an airplane while carrying an active virus. Pre-departure testing with results known and acted upon before travel begins will help identify infected travelers before they board airplanes.
The Role of the CDC
The CDC is an organization that works to protect the health, safety and security of Americans at home and abroad. Regardless of whether illness occurs during traveling or at home, CDC does their best to adequately respond to America’s most pressing health threats. The CDC is headquartered in Atlanta, GA and works with various experts that are based in various cities throughout the United States and across the world, too. As variants of COVID virus continue to emerge, there is evidence of an increased transmissibility of some of the variants. As the US is already experiencing a crisis in hospitals and a surge in cases, the testing requirement for air passengers is an important measure. Hopefully, it will help slow the spread of the virus. Likewise, the process of vaccinating the American public is currently underway as well.
Remember, whether traveling or at home, it is important to exercise the recommended precautions like wearing masks and social distancing. If you decide to take a vacation, make sure to get your COVID test within the few days before your flight so you can be eligible to travel. If we all work together, we can ensure that travelers will be safe, healthy, and help to reduce the spread of the virus via airline flights and in airports. At the Villa Group, the health and wellbeing of our resort guests is our number one priority. We are working diligently to ensure that all sanitation and hygiene protocols are in place to keep our guests safe. If you are ready to get away from it all, contact us today to book your dream vacation in Mexico. We are ready to safely welcome you for a wonderful getaway in paradise.
