You’ll need to test one day—not 24 hours—before coming home

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Just as vaccinated travelers were getting used to the new normal of Covid restrictions, along comes Omicron—and with it, a return to travel bans and a reshuffling of regulations. The biggest one for US citizens is the change in timing on when you’ll need a Covid test to return to the US. Here’s what you need to know.  You’ll need to test one day—not 24 hours—before coming home Starting December 6, all passengers over the age of two traveling to the US by air (including citizens), regardless of vaccination status, must present a negative Covid test taken one day before departure. Note that it’s not 24 hours. This means if your flight back to the US is at 6pm on February 2, you can take the test any time on February 1.  There is one exception Travelers who recently recovered from Covid can travel with proof of that recovery, which includes a positive viral test result taken no more than 90 days before the flight’s departure, and a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or a public health official stating that you have been cleared to travel.  Which tests are approved? The test must be a viral test, which could be an antigen test or a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), which is usually a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test. Many rapid tests fit the bill, as do self-administered tests, though the latter must be supervised by a telehealth provider. (Full details on test requirements are here.)  How to find a test abroad We’ve covered this before, and the advice still stands. Start with checking to see if rapid tests are offered at the airport you’ll be departing from or at the hotel where you’re staying. The embassy website for the country you’re visiting often has a link to resources, or you can simply google “covid test in [city].” Another way to get peace of mind is to bring your own test with you. Self-tests are accepted for re-entry to the US so long as the test is supervised via telehealth. For example, tests from CityHealth cost $75 for one person*. Just log on to do the test when you’re ready, and the results will be securely emailed and texted to you within a few minutes of the appointment. All you need is an internet connection, and a device with a webcam; there’s no appointment needed and you can test any time of the day. Just make sure you order your test with plenty of time before your trip.