The short answer is yes. The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is more contagious than any STD because it is spread by droplets in the air. You can catch it just by being less than 6 feet away from an infected person. You can get it from touching a surface that was recently touched by a person who has COVID-19.

Do I have to provide a negative COVID-19 test result to enter the US?

Air passengers traveling to the US are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery. Airlines must confirm the negative test result or documentation of recovery for all passengers before boarding.

Do I need to get another COVID-19 test if I have a connecting flight?

If your itinerary has you arriving to the US via one or more connecting flights, your test can be taken within the 3 days before the departure of the first flight.

What quarantine exemptions are available for airline passengers during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Exemptions may be granted on an extremely limited basis when emergency travel (like an emergency medical evacuation) must occur to preserve someone’s life, health against a serious danger, or physical safety and testing cannot be completed before travel.

Can you have sex if your partner has symptoms of COVID-19?

If you or your partner isn’t feeling well or think you might have COVID-19, don’t kiss or have sex with each other until you’re both feeling better.

Are sexual minority persons more likely to contract COVID-19?

Sexual minority persons in the United States have higher self-reported prevalences of several underlying health conditions associated with severe outcomes from COVID-19 than do heterosexual persons, both in the overall population and among racial/ethnic minority groups.

Can you get COVID-19 from kissing someone?

It’s well known that the coronavirus infects the body’s airways and other parts of the body, but new research indicates that the virus also infects mouth cells. You don’t want to kiss someone who’s got COVID.

How far can COVID-19 particles travel in the air?

The new findings support earlier work from researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which suggested that particles from a cough, buoyed by the warm air in our breath, could travel much farther than 6 feet

Can COVID-19 spread through HVAC systems?

While airflows within a particular space may help spread disease among people in that space, there is no definitive evidence to date that viable virus has been transmitted through an HVAC system to result in disease transmission to people in other spaces served by the same system.

Does the COVID-19 stay in your clothes?

Viruses similar to coronavirus don’t survive well on porous surfaces Despite the little information we have about the survivability of coronavirus on your clothes, we do know a few other helpful things.

Article first time published on

Will the CDC reimburse travelers for COVID-19 testing fees?

CDC is not able to reimburse travelers for COVID-19 testing fees. You may wish to contact your insurance provider or the location that provided your test about payment options.

What happens if I don’t take a test and want to travel to the US?

Air passengers traveling to the US are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery. Airlines must confirm the negative test result or documentation of recovery for all passengers before boarding.

What is a NAAT COVID-19 test?

A Nucleic Acid Amplification Test, or NAAT, is a type of viral diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. NAATs detect genetic material (nucleic acids).

Can an airline deny boarding a passenger if they don't have a negative COVID-19 test?

Airlines must confirm the negative test result for all passengers or documentation of recovery before they board. If a passenger does not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery, or chooses not to take a test, the airline must deny boarding to the passenger.

What medications should be avoided before the COVID-19 vaccine?

It is not recommended you take over-the-counter medicine – such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen – before vaccination for the purpose of trying to prevent vaccine-related side effects.

Do I have to provide a negative COVID-19 test result to enter the US?

Air passengers traveling to the US are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery. Airlines must confirm the negative test result or documentation of recovery for all passengers before boarding.

Can COVID-19 be transmitted through semen or vaginal fluids?

There is currently no evidence that the COVID-19 virus is transmitted through semen or vaginal fluids, but the virus has been detected in the semen of people who have or are recovering from the virus. Further research is needed to determine if the COVID-19 virus could be transmitted sexually.

When can COVID-19 symptoms begin to appear?

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after someone is exposed to the virus and can include fever, chills, and cough.

How long does it take to get COVID-19 if you are exposed?

According to earlier CDC guidance, COVID symptoms can appear anywhere from two to 14 days after someone is exposed to the virus. Anyone exhibiting symptoms should get tested for COVID-19. Some people may never experience symptoms, though they can still spread the virus.

How does COVID-19 mostly spread?

The principal mode by which people are infected with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is through exposure to respiratory droplets carrying infectious virus.