SARS-CoV-2 Cases Reported on International Arriving and Domestic Flights: United States, January 2020–December 2021

Journal Article · 01 August 2023 · American Journal of Public Health

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2023.307325· OSTI ID:2425790

Preston, Leigh Ellyn ^[1]; Rey, Araceli ^[1]; Dumas, Simone ^[1]; Rodriguez, Andrea ^[1]; Gertz, Alida M. ^[1]; Delea, Kristin C. ^[1]; Alvarado-Ramy, Francisco ^[1]; Christensen, Deborah L. ^[1]; Brown, Clive ^[1]; Chen, Tai-Ho ^[1]

---

1. Leigh Ellyn Preston, Araceli Rey, Simone Dumas, Andrea Rodriguez, Alida Gertz, Kristin C. Delea, Francisco Alvarado-Ramy, Deborah L. Christensen, Clive Brown, and Tai-Ho Chen are with the CDC COVID-19 Ports of Entry Team, Atlanta, GA.

Objectives. To describe trends in the number of air travelers categorized as infectious with SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; the virus that causes COVID-19) in the context of total US COVID-19 vaccinations administered, and overall case counts of SARS-CoV-2 in the United States.

Methods. We searched the Quarantine Activity Reporting System (QARS) database for travelers with inbound international or domestic air travel, a positive SARS-CoV-2 lab result, and a surveillance categorization of SARS-CoV-2 infection reported during January 2020 to December 2021. Travelers were categorized as infectious during travel if they had arrival dates from 2 days before to 10 days after symptom onset or a positive viral test.

Results. We identified 80 715 persons meeting our inclusion criteria; 67 445 persons (83.6%) had at least 1 symptom reported. Of 67 445 symptomatic passengers, 43 884 (65.1%) reported an initial symptom onset date after their flight arrival date. The number of infectious travelers mirrored the overall number of US SARS-CoV-2 cases.

Conclusions. Most travelers in the study were asymptomatic during travel, and therefore unknowingly traveled while infectious. During periods of high community transmission, it is important for travelers to stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations and consider wearing a high-quality mask to decrease the risk of transmission. (Am J Public Health. 2023;113(8):904–908. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307325 )

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: SC0014664
• OSTI ID: 2425790
• Journal Information: American Journal of Public Health, Journal Name: American Journal of Public Health Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 113; ISSN 0090-0036
• Publisher: American Public Health Association
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

Public
Environmental & Occupational Health