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One COVID-19 test was the standard for international travel but now the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is warning that it may no longer be sufficient, and travelers should consider taking three tests.

As we learn more about the virus, guidelines have evolved to safeguard us against infection. The CDC has updated its own guidelines to recommend that travelers take three COVID-19 tests if they'e planning on traveling outside of the country. The agency has already urged people to not travel as cases surge throughout the United States, but advised that if people have to travel internationally, they should consider taking three tests: a viral test one-to-three days before traveling, a second one, two or three days before returning to the US, and then a final one about five days after arriving back into the country.

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Covid testing.jpg
Three tests are now recommended © microgen/Getty Images

"Make sure you get your test results before you travel," the agency said. "If you are waiting for results, delay your travel." The CDC warned that air travel requires spending time in security lines and airport terminals, which can bring people in close contact with others and frequently-touched surfaces.

"Social distancing is difficult in busy airports and on crowded flights, and… may increase your risk of getting COVID-19. Testing before and after travel can reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19," it explained.

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The FDA has approved an at-home COVID-19 test

The CDC also recommends that people stay at home for seven days upon arrival, even if they test negative. The agency continues to warn against traveling for Thanksgiving as the US recorded about a million new cases in one week. "The safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year is at home with the people in your household,” the CDC’s Dr. Erin Sauber-Schatz told the Associated Press reported

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US airline to offer free COVID-19 tests for passengers flying to London

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