The COVID factor

While several of the airlines straighten out their operations, COVID should remain a top-of-mind task for any travelers who insist they need to leave town.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel asked three medical experts from three of the region’s medical schools for advice on what leisure and business travelers should consider so long as the variant remains prevalent.

“Every traveler should be doing a check list prior to getting that ticket or even getting in the car,” said Dr. Eneida O. Roldan, chief executive officer of the FIU

Health Care Network.

“The first line would be, ‘Am I vaccinated or not? What is my age group?” Roldan asked. “Even if you are vaccinated you have to look at your medical condition. I’ve seen even with a vaccination you may not have built up the immunity as much as another individual who does not have an underlying disease.”

For anyone considering travel, it’s important to think about your own health risk, and what you can do to lower your chances of becoming infected or spreading COVID-19, said Dr. Joanna L. Drowos at the Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University.

The CDC recommends delaying travel until you are fully vaccinated, because travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19, she added. There are specific recommendations for unvaccinated individuals, which include testing pre- and post- travel, masking and quarantining after you return.