We’re all trying to do our best to navigate the risks involved with this pandemic. There are so many questions that we ask ourselves daily- especially regarding the risks, rewards, and requirements of traveling at the moment.
Should we postpone all travel until a vaccine has been found?
Should we concentrate only on domestic trips within states without a required quarantine period?
Is it worth it to quarantine for 14 days in order to see family?
I recently had to navigate those decisions and myself onto a vacation that I decided for multiple reasons was worth the risk. I’ll share all of the questions I had along the way to help you know what questions to ask, what to expect and how to best make your own decision about travel during the pandemic.
PLEASE NOTE: I am not a doctor nor a scientist, just a writer who has done some research worth sharing. Please continue to monitor the CDC guidelines, your state government’s advising, and your own consciousness and that of your loved ones before making any decisions.
When should I get tested before traveling during the pandemic?
This was a question that was seemingly impossible to answer. If you have the ability to completely quarantine for at least 8 days before traveling, then you should get a test 4 days before leaving. Symptoms can lay dormant for 4 days, so if you are not exposing yourself to anyone else who might carry the virus for 4 days, then get tested and wait the 4 days for results, you should have an accurate and clean assessment of your health before traveling.
Flying during the pandemic- is it safe?
Yes and no. There’s been a lot of conversation about the “recycled air” on a plane that makes us all feel a little nervous.
That being said, if you are traveling by plane, there’s no way to 100% guard yourself from the risk of contracting the disease on the flight. This article from The Points Guy (sounds cheesy, but a great authority on all things air travel) helped me make my decision, as well as traveling with a hefty supply of Lysol wipes.
If you are able to quarantine for this same period post-flight, wait 4 days after flying (for potential symptoms to develop), get tested, and wait (and hope) that those results come within 5 days.
We flew United, which I can confirm took the following precautions to make us feel safe:
- Maintained a 50% capacity on the flight
- Boarded and disembarked the plane two rows at a time to maintain social distancing (this was also amazing to avoid that annoying moist-flight aisle traffic jam)
- Provided sanitized wipes via a long pair of tweezers from the flight attendant upon boarding (the tweezers were not lost on me.)
- Requested drink and food orders to be put in before boarding so as to avoid the lingering crawl of the cart.
Hotels + Rental Properties- how safe are they during a pandemic?
We stayed at both a beach house found via a local property rental website (similar to Airbnb) that maintained standards for cleanliness and had publicized sanitation guidelines. No one else entered the house but our family during the 5-day stay. The beaches in the Outer Banks are mostly residential, so there was no problem maintaining a 6-foot (or even 20-foot) distance from other beachgoers. This felt like a very safe option for accommodations.
Our hotel, a Hilton in Virginia Beach, provided the following precautions:
- The door sealed with a “sanitization guaranteed” seal when we checked into the room
- All physical “amenities” (the toilet paper, remote control, cups, ice bucket, bathroom accessories) were wrapped in plastic bags
- There would be no room service to make sure no one else entered the room during our stay
- The elevators had a maximum of 4 people inside at all times
- Masks were required in public spaces…
However, the following situations were risky and unavoidable…
- Plenty of people ignored the mask warning
- We still had to use public restrooms coming and going from the beach
- Hotelgoers were routinely drippy (no offense to anyone… it’s an oceanfront hotel)
- The dining space wasn’t physically separated from the lobby
Is Taking Public Transportation Safe During the Pandemic?
I hadn’t taken the subway since mid-March and was very concerned to be taking both the subway and the Path before boarding a plane and seeing my family. However, I didn’t see anyone without masks, and there was plenty of space on the train cars during the times we were riding. It felt good to feel like a normal straphanger in New York again, while still taking every possible precaution.
Is it safe to travel to see family during the pandemic? Is it worth it?
This is for you to decide, based on the age of family and any pre-existing conditions. Note also the hidden “conditions” the pandemic has had a way of exposing in all of us- heightened stress levels and sensitivities don’t disappear in a different, more tranquil environment. We were able to mitigate this by having the difficult conversations we may have been tempted to avoid. The pandemic has reminded us all that life is short and unpredictable- talk to the people you love. Embrace them. And care about them too much to let things slide.
But at least a vacation during the pandemic will be “relaxing,” right?
You know that anxiety we’ve all suffered from when leaving the house when the daily death rate in New York was at nearly 600, or when attending a social situation that we were promised would be “socially distanced” but very much wasn’t, or spending time around a friend for an hour or so who then lets us know they don’t believe in the pandemic and have been acting as such?
Yeah, so just imagine that times 10 but in multiple environments that are beyond your control, and no home insight.
I can’t say that this was the most relaxing vacation, but it still felt better to get away and be stressed out than to feel stuck and still stressed. Wear a mask, wash your hands like crazy, don’t touch your face, and try to enjoy yourself and time with loved ones. This is the best advice I can give.
The 14-Day Travel Quarantine Requirement- is it worth it?
A few notes on my decisions to travel regardless of this looming requirement.
What exactly is required for the 14-day quarantine?
What it is intended to require, based on my understanding and research, is the following:
- Not leaving your house, at all
- Getting your groceries delivered
- Exercising indoors, if your tiny apartment allows
- Saying “no” to even socially-distanced hangs
- If you have a roommate, even if it is your partner, everyone should wear a mask indoors
- If your roommate was not traveling with you, you must stay in a hotel for the 14 days at your own expense
- You must notify your building that someone has traveled to a “quarantine required” state… So don’t even think about collecting your own mail or packages…
What is the traveler health form? Do I have to fill it out?
The traveler health form is the form the state is using to help understand who, when, how, and why you were traveling outside of New York, where you traveled to, and how to keep track of you if needed.
I was surprised to find that this form was not passed out at the end of the flight and required before leaving the departures terminal (as customs forms always are). I was not able to fill one out in the airport, mostly because I was searching for a bathroom and then needed to make the next train in time- at no point did I see a kiosk or individual asking me to fill out the form.
This form is available to fill out online if you do not fill it out in the airport.
But will they really know if I am ‘quarantining’? Will they find me?
They can know and they can find you. And if they do, it’s a $10k fine. This city and tri-state area have fought incredibly hard to get this virus under control, and any future spike will likely be caused by out-of-state travelers.
For the most part, the quarantine is based on the honor system… just as the honor system was what brought us from the brink of complete shutdown a la Italia and into a point where we have the ability to travel at all. Be an honorable person. Do not be the catalyst. Don’t let your actions be guided by fear or fines, just be a good New Yorker.
#NewYorkTough
Can’t I just get tested as soon as I get back to NYC?
No. You have to wait 4 days to see if symptoms develop before even setting foot inside a pharmacy. If they still don’t, you can get tested, and wait the 5-14 days for your results. And even if you get “negative” results within the 9 days of landing-waiting-testing-results, the government can still fine you for not quarantining for the full 14 days.
Any other questions?
Hit me up. I’m happy to help your decision to travel, and I’ll be in quarantine for the next 12 days. And even then, I’ll still be here, trying to help 🙂
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