Los Angeles residents who plan to travel for business or leisure may find that getting on a plane isn’t as simple as it used to be. Here’s what you need to know if you plan on traveling during the pandemic, and how getting a COVID test at home in Los Angeles can simplify your travel plans.
California COVID-19 travel rules and regulations
California is currently under a Travel Advisory, which you can read in its entirety here. Below, we’ve outlined key points of this advisory.
- California residents are encouraged to avoid any nonessential travel out of state
- Anyone arriving in California, including returning residents, must fill out a Traveler Form that acknowledges the signee has read, understood, and agrees to abide by all current travel rules and advisories
- Anyone arriving in Los Angeles county must self-quarantine for at least 10 days
- International travelers may be required to fulfill additional requirements in order to be allowed entry
- People traveling to another country can find country-specific guidance here
If you need to travel and want to keep yourself and those around you safe, you can consult the CDC’s safe travel guidance to help protect yourself and prevent the virus from spreading. These recommendations include:
- Mask wearing during transit
- Frequent hand washing
- Getting a COVID-19 test before departing your home city and after arriving at your destination
- Social distancing as much as possible
- Delaying travel if you are currently sick with COVID-19 or have recently come into contact with someone who has a confirmed case of the virus
- Getting vaccinated before you go, if you are eligible to do so
LAX is now offering rapid onsite COVID-19 tests
Some airports around the US are now offering COVID-19 tests near terminals for travelers, including LAX. They currently offer two types of onsite COVID-19 tests, which we describe below.
- Rapid antigen – This test detects specific antibodies your body produces in response to a SARS-CoV-2 infection. but not accepted by all airlines
- RT-PCR – negative test result is necessary for travel to some places – within a day of travel for all tests, although the onsite lab across from Terminal 6 can provide results within 3 – 5 hours of your appointment
If you would prefer not to get tested at LAX, you can use this free testing center locator to find the closest testing center to where you’ll be staying.
The benefits of in-home testing
Getting in-home coronavirus testing in LA with a service such as Concierge MD LA has several advantages over getting tested at the airport or your local testing center.
In-home testing is convenient
Getting tested for COVID-19 at home is the most convenient way to find out if you are infected – whether or not you have symptoms. A nurse comes to your home with all the equipment necessary for your appointment, administers the test, and provides medical guidance if you do test positive.
Many in-home testing services offer group and family testing, further simplifying the process since you don’t have to pack the family in the car in order to get everyone tested.
Appointments are fast
All COVID-19 tests take a few minutes to administer, but lines at standing testing centers and clinics mean you could be waiting for hours depending on demand. In-home tests mean that you don’t have to take time out of your day to drive across town and wait in line to get a test that only takes a few minutes.
You can have peace of mind before you travel – or after you come back
Instead of spending the time preparing, packing, going to the airport, getting tested at the terminal, and then waiting for your results, getting tested at home in LA means you can have your results in hand before you fly. There’s no need to add another ‘to-do’ to your travel plans whether you’re traveling for business or leisure.
You don’t need to deal with DIY kits
DIY kits can be obtained from many pharmacies or sent directly to your door. As the name suggests, these kits must be self-administered. If you’ve obtained the kit for use on a child, you must administer the test yourself. After you’ve collected the sample using the instructions on the kit, you are responsible for sending the kit back to the laboratory. An in-home test with a medical service spares you these hassles. Further, if you do test positive, your nurse also will provide guidance as to your next steps so you aren’t left wondering what to do.
What if you do test positive?
If you test positive – whether you haven’t left home or have already arrived at your destination, it’s important that you follow the CDC’s recommended guidance, which we’ve outlined below. You can find the complete recommendations here.
- Inform those you plan to visit about your positive test result
- Adjust your travel plans as much as possible to stay quarantined from others
- Avoid public transportation where possible
- Contact places you have visited and those you’ve been in contact with to inform them and ultimately help slow the spread of the virus
- Monitor your symptoms
- Inform your primary care physician and follow their recommended guidance
- Care for yourself like you would for a cold or the flu: get plenty of rest, stay hydrated, and take over-the-counter medications to help you feel better
Whether you haven’t left home yet or you’ve already arrived at your destination, the most important thing you can do is to self-isolate and prevent the virus from spreading to others.