The holidays are vastly approaching and for most of us, this time of year is just as much about visiting family as it is about celebrating. Although the CDC still states that travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19, and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others, if you haven’t seen your family in months, you may be eager to hit the road, no matter the risk. Here are what the experts say about traveling by car, train and plane this time of year. But at the end of the day, do what feels safest for you and your family.
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This still remains the safest option, but is obviously limiting. While we’ve seen a huge surge in RV rentals during the pandemic, RVs are often expensive and require upkeep depending on how long you plan on traveling. For a long-haul trip with kids in tow, Cruise America offers nationwide rentals on RVs and motorhomes in various sizes starting around $170 per night around the Thanksgiving holiday.
Make sure you are following safety precautions like wearing a mask and washing your hands regularly when you stop for food, gas and restroom breaks on the road.
Although reports from Europe and Asia claim that traveling by trains are not a major source for transmission of the virus, it’s easy to see why the enclosed space may be worrisome. Amtrak and other train companies are now implementing mandatory masks, social-distancing rules and signage, carry-out-only dining and improved air filtration. Amtrak, for example, has implemented strict guidelines and polices aboard all of their trains.
“With a full-time medical director and public health and safety team who have been on the front lines throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, we have studied, analyzed and made improvements to the Amtrak travel experience – from beginning to end – for the safety and health of our people and travelers,” reads a statement on their website.
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According to the CDC, most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes. However, social distancing is difficult on crowded flights, and sitting within six feet of others, sometimes for hours, may increase your risk of getting COVID-19. A study from MIT also shows that while there are risks associated with flying, it may be safer than you think since the air quality on a commercial airliner is actually quite high, with the air volume in the cabin being completely refreshed every two to four minutes.
“MIT Medical continues to recommend that you postpone nonessential travel at this time, but if you must travel, do your best to travel thoughtfully, safely, and with deliberate attention to your own safety and the safety of others,” reads a statement on the website.