The purpose of this post is to help you determine how you can travel safely during COVID. This is not a post about whether or not you should be traveling. Its main purpose is to help you stay safe and smart. Always read info from the CDC and WHO before making your final decision to travel during COVID.
It was almost a year ago when the world was first really learning of the novel coronavirus and now we’re just a few months away from when the world officially shut down in 2020. While travel still remains restricted, there are some places you are able to travel right now. In this post I’ll be helping you make the right decision about traveling across the US and internationally during the pandemic and of course, how to travel safely during COVID.
While many people have an opinion over whether or not we should be traveling right now, the main purpose of this post is not to sway you to travel or to stay home. Instead my intent is to simply help you make the safest decisions to limit the spread and keep yourself safe. People may travel for recreation but they also might be traveling for work or for family. My main intent is to help you travel safely, no matter what the direct reason.
As of January of 2021, citizens of the US still cannot travel to Europe, but there are some places that are welcoming US visitors. Some of the places that US citizens can travel right now include the Maldives, Tanzania, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Polynesia, Turkey, Egypt, Mexico, and a number of Caribbean Nations. US state borders also remain open so it is possible to travel locally within the US.
Keep in mind that most of these countries will allow you to travel during COVID but they also do require a negative COVID PCR test taken within 48-72 hours of traveling. They also require you to fill out passenger locator forms and in certain countries you’ll need to go through testing again once you land. I recommend regular testing whether you’re traveling abroad or locally. Testing helps you keep yourself and others safe, as it of course helps you from spreading COVID even when you’re asymptomatic.
In spite of everything that’s happened over the last year, our love for travel and our yearning to explore new places has not gone away. So how can we support local tourism, fuel our wanderlust and stop the spread of the coronavirus?? Let’s jump right in!
How to travel safely during COVID-19
Check with your local government advisory before traveling during COVID
Checking the government websites and advisories can give you a more clear picture of what the coronavirus situation is like where you are and where you’re going to be traveling to. Always follow the government regulations to keep yourself safe during your travels. On that note, the government sites will also be able to tell you whether or not you should be traveling somewhere. Remember to follow their guidance and avoid a destination if it’s not safe.
This goes for National Parks as well! A big concern with the spread of COVID of course, is overwhelming our hospitals. Oftentimes, National Parks are located away from major cities and they simply don’t have the capacity to handle a COVID outbreak. That being said, many National Parks are temporarily closing or restricting the amount of visitors. You can learn more about traveling to the National Parks near you with the National Parks services find-a-park website. They’ll let you know what’s open and what’s not.
Look for destinations, hotels, restaurants, and tour operators that are COVID compliant and taking proper precautions to keep their staff and local town/city safe
Tourism has taken a huge hit in 2020. A lot of countries rely on tourism for their local economy. That being said, it’s important for these countries and communities that we do resume travel (as soon as it’s safe to do so). Many destinations have started putting in the work on their end to make sure that their hotels, restaurants and tour providers are taking necessary precautions to make travel safe.
The World Travel and Tourism Council has launched a Safe Travel program that has set protocols for industries like hospitality, flying, and tour operators. Companies and destinations can apply for a Safe Travels stamp once the health and hygiene changes have been made. These protocols are to be updated as new information about COVID-19 becomes available to us.
Even without the Safe Travel stamp of approval, you can call a hotel or restaurant before booking and ask them what precautions they are taking to keep visitors and staff safe. This is a great way to continue to travel safely during COVID and support local economies without spreading the virus as you go.
Take proper precautions yourself when traveling during COVID
Finally, one of the best ways that you can stop the spread of the virus is by taking proper precautions when traveling during COVID. These include:
- Always, always wear a mask
- Wash your hands often and keep hand sanitizer on you
- Keep your distance from others
- Stick to doing outdoor activities. Eat outdoors, choose to hike or go for walks and always choose to go when it’s not peak time or choose less popular hikes and activities.
Always ALWAYS check with local governments rules and regulations and follow their guidance. Don’t go breaking the rules, you do NOT want to be that tourist. I know I already said that above, but it feels like the kind of thing you might need to repeat a bit louder for the people in the back.
One more thing to consider when traveling during this time
Of course, another consideration needs to be how you’re traveling. There is a lot of speculation and in turn, studies about the safety of air travel right now. Surely jumping in your car with plenty of snacks, masks and hand sanitizer is safer than being crammed on a plane with a hundred strangers right??
Well, actually, Dr. Lin H. Chen, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School said, “data to date suggests only rare possible occurrences of in-flight transmission”. Surprising right?? She says that as long as everyone follows WHO’s guidelines, the risk of getting COVID on a plane and anywhere else is significantly reduced.
However, that does mean that it’s important to choose to fly with airlines that are blocking middle seats in order to follow safe social distancing measures. AND it’s very important to make sure you’re wearing proper PPE during the entire flight. Yup, that means you don’t get to take your mask off as soon as you plop down in your seat.
Keep this in mind when you’re determining where you want to travel to. Maybe for now it’d be better to choose a destination that you can access by car or just fill your days with a few extra novels about destinations you hope to get to visit in the future.
Let’s all do our part while traveling during COVID to stay safe
All in all, I can’t advise you whether you should travel or stay home. Everything in our lives, including simple trips to the grocery store now require new protocols. The most important thing you can do at home and abroad is to follow the rules, wear a mask and get tested often.
If you’re traveling, it’s best to plan for testing both before you leave and after you get home. And of course, if you develop symptoms, stay home and quarantine. But of course, you don’t need me to tell you that, just follow the guidelines from the CDC and the WHO.
Have you traveled since the outbreak of COVID began and borders shut? If so, where have you gone? If you haven’t traveled, where’s the first place you want to go when it’s safe to do so? Let’s chat about it in the comments.
I had been traveling between México & USA since pandemic started, the first time March 31, 2020, I was coming back to Mexico city was kind of scary, airports were empty and a lot of flights were canceled then I went back to USA in August & December kind of normal just wearing a mask all the time and social distancing at the airports;
I”m getting use to that and wash my hands everytime I can.
To my next trip to USA, its mandatory to present a negative test of Covid19 (at the airport, its a lab doing that. it cost 40usd aprox. just need an extra hour of the usual & cross the fingers to be negative 😉)