Travel Guidance for Health Care Personnel

Please Note: On May, 4, 2021, this article was updated with the recent changes to the Indiana Department of Health’s (IDH) Travel Guidance for Health Care Personnel, which now states that the term “travel” does not include commuting to work.  This clarification was previously made during the IDH Webinar on April 8, 2021, but the clarification is now available in writing.  The updated Guidance also encourages health care personnel to practice core principles of  infection control outside of work, due to the vulnerability of residents and potential risks. 

The IDH has released updated Travel Guidance for Health Care Personnel based on the CDC’s Travel Guidance.  The CDC defines travel as the use of public transportation (i.e., airplane, bus, train); although not specified in IDH’s Travel Guidance for Health Care Personnel, the activities at the location should also be taken into account even if the individual does not take public transportation to the location. However, traveling to work via public transportation is not subject to this Travel Guidance for Health Care Personnel.

Under IDH’s updated Travel Guidance for Health Care Personnel, whether testing and/or self-quarantine is required is dependent on an individual’s vaccination status and whether the travel is domestic or international, as follows:

• Fully Vaccinated Individuals:  Fully vaccinated individuals are not required to get tested before domestic travel or self-quarantine after domestic travel if asymptomatic.  However, for international travel, fully vaccinated individuals must have a negative COVID-19 test no more than 3 days before travel (or documentation that the individual has recovered from COVID-19 in the past 3 months) and receive a viral test three (3) to five (5) days after arrival.  The term “fully vaccinated” means 2 weeks after the second dose of a 2-dose series or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine.  The updated travel guidance does not specify a timeline for how long a person is considered “fully vaccinated.”
• Unvaccinated Individuals:  Unvaccinated individuals, whether traveling domestically or internationally, should get tested 1 to 3 days before the trip.  When returning home, the individual should self-quarantine for either 7 or 10 days, depending on whether the individual uses a test-based strategy or time-based strategy.  Whether an individual quarantines for 7 or 10 days, the individual should still avoid being around those who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days.
  • Test-Based Strategy:  An unvaccinated individual should self-quarantine for 7 days if the individual receives a viral test 3 to 5 days upon returning home, and the test is negative.  If the test is positive, the individual should adhere to the Return to Work guidance.
  • Time-Based Strategy:  An unvaccinated individual should self-quarantine for 10 days if the individual does not receive a viral test upon returning home.  If the individual exhibits any signs or symptoms during that 10-day period, the individual should adhere to the Return to Work guidance.

It is recommended that when traveling and/or attending activities with individuals outside of your household to continue to mitigate COVID-19 risk by social distancing, wearing a mask and washing your hands.

Please note that the requirements of each destination may be different, as well as the requirements of local health departments upon return.

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