More travelers taking to the skies
As COVID-19 vaccines roll out more feel safe to travel
Dr. Asha Shajahan world traveler.
A different city every month or a different country every year, it doesn’t matter, she loves to travel.
“A year before COVID I went to six different countries,” said Shajahan, a family practice physician in Roseville and medical director of community health for Beaumont Health Grosse Pointe.
Traveling for Shajahan is not only a passion but a release. She works hard, and after completing the rigors of a busy medical practice, not to mention volunteering her time to treat the homeless, travel serves as a source of rejuvenation.
So, being grounded for more than a year because of the coronavirus pandemic has been especially hard on her.
“The pandemic was really getting to me. I was feeling exhausted and burnt out,” she said.
Still, she had her parents to think about. Traveling anywhere during the pandemic not only put her at risk of contracting the virus but of bringing it home to them.
That all changed with the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Once I was vaccinated and both my parents were vaccinated the risk of spreading it was low,” she said. “It seemed pretty safe so I decided to do it.”
In February, after researching airlines and travel restrictions for Florida, she booked a flight with Delta Airlines (which is still leaving the middle seat open for social distancing) to Naples, Fla. where she spent the weekend of her birthday visiting a friend.
“It was so nice to go somewhere,” said Shajahan, who was not alone on her flight.
As COVID-19 vaccines roll out across the United States, more travelers are taking to the skies.
“Friday (March 12) marked the busiest day for the nation’s airports since
is a
the middle of March 2020, when COVID-19 caused air travel to plummet,” according to an NPR report. “About 1.36 million passengers passed through security checkpoints, according to figures from the Transportation Security Administration. That is the highest volume since March 15, 2020, when checkpoints reported more than 1.5 million passengers. Friday’s uptick comes as the total number of COVID-19 doses administered in the U.S. climbed past 100 million.”
The U.S. is currently administering more than 2.3 million shots a day.
A new survey by Morning Consult and commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) shows consumers are optimist about traveling again in 2021, with 56% reporting they are likely to go on holidays this year.
Other key findings in the survey of 2,200 adults in January included the following:
• 34% of adults are already comfortable staying in a hotel, while 48% say their comfort is tied in some way to vaccine distribution.
• One in five Americans (19%), expect their next hotel stay to be between now and April, with another 24% expecting it sometime between May and August.
• While recovery will begin in 2021, a full recovery is not expected by the AHLA until 2024.
Shajahan said she would not recommend traveling unless you are vaccinated and if you do go make sure you pack your mask and hand sanitizer.
“We were very
careful.
We went to the beach and when we did go to a restaurant we ate outdoors,” Shajahan said.
She also advises travelers to check with the airline regarding travel restrictions or your place of destination, and do so often as they are constantly changing.
“My cousin traveled to India and she was quarantined for 14 days,” Shajahan said.
What to know before you go
Travel increases your chance of spreading and getting COVID-19. However, if you are vaccinated or must travel the Center for Disease and Control and other travel experts offer the following tips to protect yourself and others:
• If you are eligible, get fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Wait 2 weeks after getting your second vaccine dose to travel-it takes time for your body to build protection after any vaccination.
• Get tested with a viral test 1-3 days before you travel. Keep a copy of your test results with you during travel in case you are asked for them. Do NOT travel if you test positive.
• Check travel restrictions before you go. The CDC has a special link to check individual state restrictions.
• Be sure to have all necessary travel documentation, including health insurance cards at hand.
• Pack an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol and disinfecting wipes.
• Pack any extra supplies you may need, including additional doses of medication, in the event your return trip is delayed.
• Eat a meal before you travel and pack snacks so you’re not waiting in lines.
• Print your tickets and boarding passes before you go, or have them ready to display on your mobile device.
• Wear a mask over your nose and mouth when in public settings. Masks are required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
• Avoid crowds and stay at least 6 feet/2 meters (about 2 arm lengths) from anyone who did not travel with you. It’s important to do this both indoors and outdoors.
• Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol).
• Avoid contact with anyone who is sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Do NOT travel if you were exposed to COVID-19, you are sick or you test positive for COVID-19. Learn when it is safe for you to travel. Don’t travel with someone who is sick.
• Know the nearest location of and contact information for the U.S. embassy or consulate. Also, enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), so you can be reached if the situation changes while abroad. The STEP program also provides alerts relevant to the areas that you identify as part of your travels step. state.gov/step/,
For more information visit cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/ travelers/index.html or cdc. gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/ travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html