How To Plan A Vacation During Covid

*Collaborative Post

Intro

After months of Covid restrictions, many people are looking forward to taking their first real vacation. However, the Covid-19 pandemic is by no means over, meaning that travel and vacation conditions have yet to return to normal. Like most other things we took for granted pre-pandemic, the new normal for vacations looks different from before.

As things stand, traveling and vacationing are less risky than a year ago. That said, there is a chance that you could get sick or infect a loved one, so it’s important that you do not become complacent about safety precautions. Here are factors to consider when planning your vacation during the pandemic.

Get tested before and after your trip

One of the safest ways to travel is with a negative Covid test. If you take a test and know you do not have coronavirus, you can travel safely knowing that you do not pose a threat to others. Similarly, getting tested when you return from your trip helps ensure that you didn’t bring the virus back with you.

While you can always get tested at a local site, several medical services offer LA rapid PCR testing, including Drip Hydration, Event Scan, Covid Clinic, and Global 7 Diagnostics, among others. Their friendly medical professionals administer tests that can return results within several hours. You will receive a copy of your test results to take with you on vacation. This is especially valuable if you are travelling somewhere that requires proof of a negative test result to enter.

Vaccination should also be prioritized before going on vacation. Vaccines are easy to access and help your immune system build up a resistance to Covid. After immunization, people have a significantly decreased chance of contracting Covid. Even though breakthrough cases can happen, symptoms will not be as severe as they are for an unvaccinated individual. This means that vaccinated individuals are unlikely to require a hospital stay.

Understand the risks

You might need to travel on an airplane, bus, or train to reach your destination. A prolonged period in a closed environment among unfamiliar people could lead to a Covid infection if you do not take sufficient precautions. Staying in a hotel room when you cannot be sure what sanitization methods were used to clean it before your arrival exposes you to potential risk. So does visiting any popular attractions and other crowded spaces.

These risks should not put you off from going on a vacation if your heart is set on travel. However, the risks mean that you should be vigilant and take practical steps to prevent an infection, such as wearing a mask while in public spaces or using hand sanitizer frequently.

Research your destination

When choosing a holiday destination, research the area’s coronavirus statistics. Analyzing infection patterns from when the disease first emerged until now helps you determine how risky vacationing there could be. 

You should also look at local vaccine statistics to see how many residents have taken the vaccine as a more vaccinated population reduces your risk of exposure. If you feel this area poses a low infection risk, go ahead and book your accommodations.

In the weeks and days leading to your departure, keep monitoring Covid infection rates to ensure that there has not been a significant spike in positive cases. You may want to consider postponing your plans if so.

Traveling

Most experts advise that the safest vacation you can take is somewhere you can reach by car. Public transport, such as air, rail, and bus travel, puts you at an increased risk of exposure and should only be contemplated if no other alternatives are available.

Transport authorities have mitigated the infection risk by insisting that passengers wear masks. Even should mandatory mask-wearing cease, continue wearing one to protect yourself.

Additional precautions

Social distancing, mask-wearing, and hand sanitizing are essential weapons in the fight against Covid. While sanitizers should be available at all facilities, always carry some with you in case there is none. Clean your hotel room’s surfaces frequently to prevent the virus from lingering there and causing a potential infection.

When enjoying your vacation, avoid crowded enclosed areas as they are a hotbed for Covid transmission. When you venture into such spaces, ensure you maintain a healthy physical distance from others.

*This is a collaborative post. For further information please refer to my disclosure page.