Washington State's COVID-19 travel advisory still in place ahead of Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving weekend approaching, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is reminding people to be cautious if they choose to travel amid COVID-19.

In its Holiday Travel Guide 2020, the airport advises that people should stay home if they’re feeling sick, and notes that the Center for Disease Control recommends against Thanksgiving travel.

They also point to the travel advisory issued by Washington Governor Jay Inslee that encourages people to stay home and avoid non-essential travel.

While you don’t need a COVID-19 test to enter the state, the advisory asks that anyone visiting or returning to Washington self-quarantine for 14 days.

“Travel may increase your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others this year,” the CDC says. “The safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to celebrate at home with the people you live with.”

The @CDCgov recommends against Thanksgiving travel. If you’re coming to SEA, WA does not require a #COVID19 test to enter the state, though @GovInslee issued a travel advisory for arriving travelers to self-quarantine for 14 days. https://t.co/8uhW5sfc7U #FlyHealthySEA pic.twitter.com/nXBd1wLYqJ

— Seattle-Tacoma Intl. Airport (@flySEA) November 24, 2020

Discovery Health MD has opened up a COVID-19 testing site at Sea-Tac that offers same- and next-day results.

Due to physical distancing, security lines look longer than normal, but wait times are not, the airport said.

Retail stores throughout the airport are operating at 25% capacity. Only to-go food options will be available and alcohol will not be sold.

Sea-Tac asks that anyone passing through the airport come prepared to comply with healthy travel measures, including face coverings and physical distancing.

“We continue to prioritize traveler safety, health and well-being with protocols, including masks, medical grade cleaning, plastic protective barriers and signage.”

As of November 23, Washington has seen 151,019 COVID-19 cases and 2,690 deaths. The United states has reported 13,075,440 cases since the start of the pandemic, and 267,528 deaths.