CDC asks unvaccinated people not to travel this Labor Day

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing a travel warning for Labor Day.

The agency is advising vaccinated people to consider their risk and asking unvaccinated people not to travel at all.

"First and foremost, if you are unvaccinated, we would recommend not traveling," Dr. Rochelle Walensky, CDC director, said during a White House COVID-19 briefing this week.

The CDC is asking those who are not vaccinated planning to travel in the U.S. to do the following:

  • Get tested with a viral test 1-3 days before the trip.
  • While traveling, wear a mask in required areas plus the CDC recommends mask-wearing, maintaining at least six feet of distance from others and regular hand washing and sanitizing.

After traveling, the CDC advises those who are not vaccinated to:

  • Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel and stay home to self-quarantine for seven days after travel
  • Those who don’t get tested are advised to self-quarantine for 10 days after travel
  • Avoid being around those who are at higher risk for severe illness
  • Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if symptoms develop

The travel warning for those not vaccinated comes as COVID-19 hospitalizations across the country hit a seven-month high.

The Biden administration is now moving forward on vaccine booster shots.

Food and Drug Administration advisers will meet Sept. 17 to consider Pfizer’s booster shot application. That comes just days before the president’s Sept. 20 goal to get the third shot out to Americans.