Medical Travel

How to Manage your Travel Plan during COVID times

Are you considering rescheduling travel that you put off because of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)? Maybe you have work or family obligations that require you to travel. Yet worries about safe travel and lodging are holding you back.

Get the facts about your travel options and learn how to protect yourself if you must travel.

SUMMARY: 60 SECOND READ

STAY SAFE WHEN YOU TRAVEL Follow the guidelines recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to protect yourself and others when you travel.

CHECK LOCAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS Save yourself unpleasant surprises and delays by checking for restrictions at your destination and anywhere you might stop along the way.

AIR TRAVEL Most major airlines require that crews and passengers wear cloth face coverings. To see what specific airports and airlines are doing to protect passengers, check their websites.

CAR TRAVEL For your travel plans if you prefer to drive instead of using public transport, you'll need to be smart about any stops you make and follow the other guidelines recommened by CDC / WHO/ local authorities to protect yourself and other around you.

OTHER GROUND TRANSPORTATION If you'll be using public transportation, maintain social distancing, wear a mask, and use hand sanitizer or wash your hands after reaching your destination.

HOTELS AND OTHER LODGING The hotel industry recognizes that travelers are concerned about the coronavirus and safety. Check any major chain's website for information about how it's protecting guests and staff.

MAKE A PACKING LIST When it's time to pack for your trip, grab any medicines you may need on your trip and the essential safe-travel supplies.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR PEOPLE AT INCREASED RISK Travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. If you must travel, talk with your doctor and ask about any additional precautions you may need to take.

REMEMBER SAFETY FIRST

Manage travel plan during COVID-19 pandemic

Stay safe when you travel

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends following these steps to protect yourself and others when you travel:

Maintain a distance of 6 feet (2 meters) between you and others as much as possible.
Avoid contact with anyone who is sick
Limit contact with frequently touched surfaces, such as handrails, elevator buttons and kiosks. If you must touch these surfaces, use hand sanitizer or wash your hands afterward.
Wear a cloth face mask.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Cover coughs and sneezes.
Clean your hands often. It's especially important after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- If soap and water aren't available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub your hands together until they feel dry.

Summary- Follow the guidelines recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to protect yourself and others when you travel.

Check local requirements and restrictions

Some state, local and territorial governments have requirements, such as requiring people to wear masks and requiring those who recently traveled to stay home for up to 14 days. Save yourself unpleasant surprises and delays by checking for restrictions at your destination and anywhere you might stop along the way.

State and local health department websites are your best resource. Keep in mind that restrictions can change rapidly depending on local conditions. Check back for updates as your trip gets closer.

While you're in research mode, look up visitor information and hours for businesses, restaurants parks and other places you may want to visit during your stay.

Summary- Save yourself unpleasant surprises and delays by checking for restrictions at your destination and anywhere you might stop along the way.

Air travel

Because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes, most viruses don't spread easily on flights. However, crowded flights make social distancing difficult. Plus air travel involves spending time in security lines and airport terminals, which can bring you in close contact with other people.

The CDC has issued guidance to help airlines prevent the spread of the coronavirus. As a result, most major airlines require that crews and passengers wear cloth face coverings. To see what specific airports and airlines are doing to protect passengers, check their websites.

There is also increase in cleaning and disinfecting of equipment and surfaces at screening checkpoints. If you haven't flown since the pandemic began, you'll notice some changes:

Administration Officers wearing masks and gloves, and practicing social distancing.
Administration Officers changing gloves after each pat-down.
Plastic shields at document checking podium, bag search and drop off locations.
Fewer travelers and, as a result, fewer open screening lanes.

Also be aware that administration has made a number of changes to the screening process:

Travelers may wear masks during screening. However, flight employees may ask travelers to adjust masks for identification purposes.
Instead of handing boarding passes to flight officers, travelers should place passes (paper or electronic) directly on the scanner and then hold them up for inspection.
Each traveler may have one container of hand sanitizer up to 12 ounces (about 350 milliliters) in a carry-on bag. These containers will need to be taken out for screening.
Food items should be transported in a plastic bag and placed in a bin for screening. Separating food from carry-on bags lessens the likelihood that screeners will need to open bags for inspection.
Personal items such as keys, wallets and phones should be placed in carry-on bags instead of bins. This reduces the handling of these items during screening.

Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds directly before and after going through screening.

Summary- Most major airlines require that crews and passengers wear cloth face coverings. To see what specific airports and airlines are doing to protect passengers, check their websites.

Car travel

Air travel might not be for you. You may prefer to drive, which also gives you more control over your environment. You'll still need to be smart about any stops you make, but that just takes some planning.

Here are things to consider before you hit the road:

Plan to make as few stops as possible, but stop driving if you become drowsy.
Be sure to pack cloth face masks, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes in an easily accessible spot so that you can use them during the trip as necessary.
Prepare food and water to take on the trip. Consider including nonperishable items to tide you over in case access to restaurants and grocery stores is limited.
When you need to get gas, use a disinfectant wipe on handles or buttons before you touch them. After fueling, use hand sanitizer. And when you get to where you're going, use soap and water to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds.
If you choose to pick up a meal on the road, opt for restaurants that offer drive-thru or curbside service.

Summary- For your travel plans if you prefer to drive instead of using public transport, you'll need to be smart about any stops you make and follow the other guidelines recommened by CDC / WHO/ local authorities to protect yourself and other around you.

Other ground transportation

If you travel by bus or train, be aware that sitting or standing within 6 feet (2 meters) of others for a prolonged period can put you at higher risk of getting or spreading the coronavirus. Follow the precautions outlined above for protecting yourself during travel.

Even if you fly, you may need transportation once you arrive at your destination. You can investigate car rental options and their disinfection policies on the internet. If you plan to stay at a hotel, check into shuttle service availability.

If you plan to use a ride-hailing service, don't sit in the front seat near the driver. Consider handling your own bags during pickup and drop-off. Avoid coming into contact with frequently touched surfaces before cleaning them. If you'll be using public transportation, maintain social distancing, wear a mask, and use hand sanitizer or wash your hands after reaching your destination.

Summary- If you'll be using public transportation, maintain social distancing, wear a mask, and use hand sanitizer or wash your hands after reaching your destination. If you plan to use a ride-hailing service, don't sit in the front seat near the driver. Consider handling your own bags during pickup and drop-off.

Hotels and other lodging

The hotel industry recognizes that travelers are concerned about the coronavirus and safety. Check any major chain's website for information about how it's protecting guests and staff. Some best practices include:

Enhanced cleaning of public areas, elevators, guest rooms, as well as food preparation and laundry areas
Social distancing measures in the lobby, at the front desk and in parking areas
Masking of staff and guests
Contactless payment
Focused employee training in the following:
- Hand-washing procedures
- Cleaning and disinfecting protocols
- Use of personal protective equipment
Protocol in the event that a guest becomes ill, which should include temporarily closing the guest's room for cleaning and disinfecting

For additional reassurance, call the hotel. Ask to be put in a room that has been vacant for at least 24 hours.

Vacation rental websites, too, are upping their game when it comes to cleaning. They're highlighting their commitment to following public health guidelines, such as using masks and gloves when cleaning, and building in a waiting period between guests.

Once you arrive at your room or rental, disinfect high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, light switches, countertops, tables, desks, phones, remote controls and faucets. Wash plates, glasses, cups and silverware (other than prewrapped plastic items) before using.

Summary- The hotel industry recognizes that travelers are concerned about the coronavirus and safety. Check any major chain's website for information about how it's protecting guests and staff.

Make a packing list

When it's time to pack for your trip, grab any medicines you may need on your trip and these essential safe-travel supplies:

Cloth face masks
Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol)
Disinfectant wipes (at least 70% alcohol) for surfaces
Thermometer

Summary- Make a packing list to ensure that while travelling you will have everything that you might need for safe travel.

Considerations for people at increased risk

Anyone can get very ill from the virus that causes COVID-19, but older adults and people of any age with certain underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Conditions that increase your risk include cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, serious heart problems, sickle cell disease, type 2 diabetes and a weakened immune system.

Summary- Travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. If you must travel, talk with your doctor and ask about any additional precautions you may need to take.