“Return Immediately or Shelter in Place” State Department Declares a Level 4 Travel Advisory

For the first time in American history, The U.S. State Department is asking all Americans to not travel abroad due to the continued threat of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Shortly after 3:45 p.m. Eastern Time, the State Department issued a Global Level 4 Health Advisory, asking everyone to avoid international travel for an indeterminate period of time.

“Avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19”

In the brief travel advisory, the State Department asked everyone to stop international travel plans, and everyone abroad should consider returning home immediately. The Level 4 Advisory is the highest warning level the department can issue.

“The Department of State advises U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19,” the statement reads. “In countries where commercial departure options remain available, U.S. citizens who live in the United States should arrange for immediate return to the United States, unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period. U.S. citizens who live abroad should avoid all international travel.”

For those who are currently abroad and cannot return home, the State Department warns: “You may be forced to remain outside of the United States for an indefinite timeframe.” Travelers are asked to follow local quarantine rules and plan for return transportation that does not rely on assistance from the U.S. government.

Consular services may be reduced as well. The State Department allowed consular staff and family members to leave affected areas as of Mar. 14, 2020. The departures include “U.S. personnel and family members from any diplomatic or consular post in the world who have determined they are at higher risk of a poor outcome if exposed to COVID-19 or who have requested departure based on a commensurate justification.”

This move mirrors many different moves the federal government is making to try and curb the spread of Coronavirus. In addition to closing the U.S.-Canada border to non-essential travel, the Transportation Security Administration is also taking additional measures to reduce social contact between flyers. According to a TSA spokeswoman, steps may include staggered use of security lanes and offering special services to those with special needs through the TSA Cares program.

If you're traveling, you may notice TSA is making some adjustments to increase social distancing & reduce direct contact between people. It may include metering to increase distance between individuals as they enter the security checkpoint queue. (1 of 3)

— TSAmedia_Lorie (@TSAmedia_Lorie) March 19, 2020

Limited options to return to the United States

Those who are still abroad may experience difficulty returning home. After the White House declared a moratorium on inbound travel from Europe, many air carriers have severely reduced schedules and grounded a large number of aircraft.

According to the State Department, those abroad may not get relief from consulates or embassies abroad. On a frequently asked questions page, the state department noted that only in extreme situations will the State Department help travelers get home from abroad.

“The best time to leave a country is before the crisis if at all possible. Regularly scheduled commercial transportation is always the best option when local communications and transportation infrastructure are intact and operating normally,” a statement on their website reads. “You should have a plan of action for crisis situations that does not rely on U.S. government assistance.”

Need help navigating the COVID-19 situation? FlyerTalk has a forum dedicated to the latest information – click here to read the newest posts.