Demographic and travel characteristics and self-reported pre-departure
SARS-CoV-2 testing behavior in air passengers entering the United States
from foreign destinations from July to September 2021
- Anthony Panasci
, - Shannon Gearhart,
- Anna Shaum,
- Arthur Simental,
- Colby Mitchell,
- Dionne Mitcham,
- Gilandria Williams,
- Nadim Shake,
- Clive Brown,
- Alida Gertz
Anthony Panasci
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Author ProfileShannon Gearhart
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Author ProfileArthur Simental
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Author ProfileColby Mitchell
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Author ProfileDionne Mitcham
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Author ProfileGilandria Williams
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Author ProfileAlida Gertz
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Corresponding Author:qvr9@cdc.gov
Author ProfileAbstract
From January 2021 to June 2022, CDC required pre-departure SARS-CoV-2
testing for all air passengers arriving into the United States. Using
data collected during a pilot surveillance program, this manuscript
describes pre-departure testing behavior among a convenience sample of
international air passengers entering the United States from July to
September 2021 at six US ports of entry. We analyzed pairwise
relationships between self-reported test type, test timing, demographic
and travel characteristics, and COVID-19 vaccination status. We found
that test type was significantly associated with departure region,
likely reflecting the regional disparities in the availability of tests
at the time of the activity.
