Traveling by air during the pandemic seems like a confusing and exhausting proposition.

While many may feel burdened about the possible tests needed to get through the airport and to board a flight, the process is actually much less confusing than it may seem. In fact, there is no required COVID-19 testing at airports.

Both temperature and symptom screenings are not effective ways to determine if someone has COVID-19, since many times those infected could be asymptomatic.

Instead of focusing on these two types of testings to determine if travelers have the virus, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention explained that it will focus on communication with travelers. This means more communication and promoting ways to prevent contracting the virus.

“Because SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission can occur in the absence of symptoms and because the symptoms of COVID-19 are nonspecific, symptom-based screening programs are ineffective for case detection,” a CDC report states.

This also means pre-departure and post-arrival testing will be encouraged, according to Yahoo! Life.

From the CDC report, out of 766,044 travelers, only nine tested positive when going through the tests given at the airport.

The number of positive cases using the two tests was significantly low, which made researchers reconsider how to determine whether travelers have COVID-19 or not.

To ensure safety while traveling, especially over the holidays, the CDC recommends avoiding flying unless absolutely needed, since there are no required COVID-19 tests for most travel destinations.

Currently, those traveling to hot spots, like New York and Hawaii, have the option to take a rapid test at the airport to avoid a 14-day quarantine period when arriving. This test is $250, but airports are looking for ways to lower this price.

For those who have to fly to get to their destination, a few things passengers can do is wear a mask over their nose and mouth, wash hands often, avoid contact with anyone who’s sick, avoid touching their face, carry antibacterial wipes to wipe down surfaces in the airport and on the plane and use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

Dr. Nicholas Kman, a physician at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, suggests that travelers think about if they really need to fly and who they might be putting in danger after they arrive at their destination.

Security staff were carefully checking people's documents at the airport
Security staff were carefully checking people's documents at the airport AFP / Anthony WALLACE
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