Know before you go (home) - Covid edition
Covid cases are waning thanks to the tireless efforts of people who were willing to self-isolate, wear masks, social distance, and get vaccinated. But since there are still people who refuse to do any of those things, we all have to get covid tests before re-entering the United States. I’m going to Mexico next week and I’ve started researching the requirements.
Traveling to Mexico, there are no testing or vaccination requirements. Returning however, there are a few requirements no matter where you’re coming from. While there are no vaccination requirements, you do have to get a covid test one day prior to boarding your flight regardless of citizenship or vaccination status. Note that the rule is 1 day before, not 24 hours before, specifically to give travelers a little more flexibility. For example, if your flight is at 8pm on a Friday, you could board with a negative test that was taken any time on the prior Thursday. Thanks CDC!
Per the CDC, this must be a viral test that includes an antigen test or a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). The CDC is very helpful and provides this handy list of examples of NAATs:
Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)
Isothermal amplification including:
Nicking endonuclease amplification reaction (NEAR)
Transcription mediated amplification (TMA)
Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)
Helicase-dependent amplification (HDA)
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)
Strand displacement amplification (SDA)
They are quick to point out that this list is not exhaustive. But what does all that even mean?
It means you’re going to have to get a covid test to fly. There are no exceptions to this rule. As of today May 6, 2022, they won’t let you on the plane without one.
So how am I supposed to know where to go get a covid test in a foreign country? How am I supposed to figure this out when I can’t even remember the difference between comodo and comida? Right?! Relax, it’s easy. There’s a handy website called Test for Travel where you can search any place all over the world to find accepted testing locations.
In most cases, you’re going to want the antigen test rather than the PCR. The PCR takes longer to get the results, often at least 24 hours, which may be impractical for your schedule. A PCR test is also a lot more expensive. I searched Puerto Vallarta and found several sites spread out across the city and it even tells you the cost and how long the results take. Muy facil!
If you are also traveling to Puerto Vallarta as a queer person, I highly recommend looking up SETAC. You won’t find it on Test for Travel, this is the non-profit LGBTQ+ resource center that since 2007 has been providing HIV testing and resources to the local queer community. Adding covid testing just makes sense and they even provide tests to straight people! So please consider getting your covid test there. They don’t receive a penny from the government and you would be helping a very worthy cause. Antigen test results are returned in 3 hours and it only costs $30 US, which is half what the nearby hospital charges. There are two locations, one in the heart of Zona Romantica and another further north in La Vena.
That’s it! You’re now safe to board an airplane!
Yes, this may seem like a pain in the ass. Sure, it’s not a lot of fun to have to worry about this on the last day of your vacation. But this is now a very streamlined process and not something to stress about. It’s quite possible that this is going to be with us for a very, very long time so we might as well get used to it. And for fuck’s sake, get vaccinated.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html
