Traveling During the Pandemic

This past year has been unexpected to most. If it was any other year, many individuals would be taking planes around the world. Currently, there are 1.93 million deaths worldwide due to the coronavirus outbreak. Traveling during the holidays in the year 2020 has been a struggle for airlines as numbers continue to drop as many chose to stay home. With new guidelines, restrictions, and testing procedures, people are contemplating if it is a good idea to leave their homes. The number one priority is to keep yourself and your family safe. 

There have been so many traveling restrictions and procedures worldwide for all to follow if they do decide to travel. State, local, and territorial governments have different restrictions in place whether it is testing, guidelines, stay-at-home orders, and quarantine arrivals. People should check the local and state health department for all the restrictions in place. Deciding to fly, passengers should look at the airline guidelines, testing, and health information needed to board the aircraft. There is a list of  guidelines that are highly recommended to  be followed from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention:

• Follow the guidelines for each state
• Wear masks
• Social distance *as much as you can*
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water
• Get tested before traveling to the destination (Negative test results)
• Avoid big groups of people

The graph above shows the United States population not staying at home. 

There are so many concerns about traveling and flying during a global pandemic. Travel may increase the spread of COVID-19 and make your risk of transmission higher. Many individuals should consider postponing travel and staying home with your family because it is the best way to protect yourselves and others from contracting COVID-19. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, at least 30% of the United States population is staying home – November 2020.  “If you or your loved ones do decide to travel, there is still a chance to transmit the virus even if no symptoms are shown. In fact, around 40% of all COVID-19 cases were seen in asymptomatic patients -Hartford Healthcare.” Supposing that you may have been exposed to COVID, it is best to quarantine, get tested, monitor health daily, and delay travel. Many are scared and worried to be going to other destinations that aren’t their home during this pandemic. The graph to the right shows that traveling has been pretty light and people have been staying at home, following the different orders that are in place for each of their state regulations. Many professionals agree that it will be best if everyone stays home to limit the spread and get back to a “new normal” in the future.