As the world moves beyond the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone is wondering how we’ll travel.  Are planes safe?  How about trains and buses? 

The answers aren’t yet known with 100% certainty, but the health experts at the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) and the World Health Organization (www.who.int)  have been monitoring the disease and developing tips for the safest possible travel.

Here is what they have to say about travel by different modes and in general.

Before taking a trip, I advise you to check the latest updates at the Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) and the World Health Organization (www.who.int) websites for the latest advice.

Common Sense Precautions Against COVID-19 While Traveling

You’ve certainly heard these tips by now, but it doesn’t hurt to review:

Clean your hands often.

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, after touching surfaces frequently touched by others, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, and before touching your face or eating.

Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer with you in case you don’t have access to soap and water.  Remember, the alcohol content needs to be AT LEAST 60%!

Try to keep your hands away from your face.

Social distancing is still a major preventative of virus transmission.  Make sure to keep that magic 6 foot distance from others.

Wear a cloth face covering in public.  There is some question over the effectiveness of cloth masks that aren’t rated at N95.  But some protection is better than no protection, and there is no question that masks are highly effective in blocking the virus from exiting a virus carrier’s mouth or nose.

Sneeze or cough into a tissue or cloth.

Domestic Travel

Travel in the US will require the same type of vigilance as during the peak of the virus.  Hotspots like NYC are at lows for new cases, but that doesn’t mean you can let your guard down.

In fact, the news media has been reporting that areas that were once nearly free of COVID-19 cases are seeing a strong uptick in new cases.

So, even if you are planning to take a long road trip to camp or stay at an out-of-the way place, you need to stay focused on hygiene.

That said, the CDC website does offer advice for minimizing risks while staying in hotels or rental properties or taking road trips. For example, when you get to your room or rental property, clean and disinfect all high-touch surfaces. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, remote controls, toilets, and sink faucets.

Another issue with domestic travel is that some states are requiring out-of-state visitors to self-quarantine for 14 days.  There are even fines attached to some of these laws.

Always check the state’s website for travel advisories while planning your trip.  The pro tip is to ALWAYS CHECK THE STATE’S WEBSITE FOR THE FRESHEST INFO.  Who needs to self-quarantine on a vacation or pay a fine for breaking that rule?

Fuggeddaboutit! 

International Travel

International travel will remain difficult even after COVID-19 levels decline in the US.  At this point in time, the only area on Earth that has not been affected by the virus is Antarctica!

Its essential that you check with the US State Department’s website (www.state.gov)  to check the current travel status of any country you plan to visit.  Travel advisories change over time, and yesterday’s “safe” country might be today’s highly infected.

Many nations have placed restrictions on foreigners entering their countries, so it’s best to stay updated as you develop travel plans.

Most airlines have drastically cut international flights, paring back service from the U.S. to just a few cities overseas, including Tokyo and London.

More international routes are expected to start up again in June, but for now, that won’t do the average traveler much good because these same nations have instituted 14 day quarantine periods.

So, unless you want to visit Paris from the windows of your hotel room, stay informed.

Some destinations have suggested that they might reopen to U.S. travelers for at least part of the summer season, although there have been no official announcements yet.

Air Travel

As you might imagine, air travel carries its own set of challenges when it comes to highly infectious diseases.

Airports tend to be busy and crowded, with long periods of time spent awfully close to your fellow travelers.

Most travelers have experienced standing belly-to-backside to check baggage, or in security lines that might last several hours.  This is especially the case during peak travel times. 

And we haven’t even entered the aircraft.

Once on the plane, we’re rubbing elbows (literally!) with our fellow passengers. People sitting behind us, and in front of us are also well within the 6 foot social distancing zone.

To avoid infection by COVID-19, the World Health Organization advises travelers to exercise the same precautions they’d follow to avoid infectious disease by following the rules we’ve all been doing since the pandemic started. 

Use antiseptic wipes on high touch surfaces such as the armrests, trays, and anywhere else that germs can settle from skin contact or as aerosol droplets. This is especially true if you use the toilet during the flight.  Make sure that you wipe down the door handles and anything you touch within the bathroom with antiseptic wipes.

Don’t forget to use soap and water while you’re in the bathroom!  20 seconds is the magic number…

As for masks, most airlines are requiring that masks be worn throughout the flight.  It should go without saying that you can expect that rule to persist for a long time going forward.

Bus and Train Travel

For travelers in Jammany Hall’s hometown of NYC, buses and trains are in heavy use all day and into the night.  People ride buses and trains from the outer boroughs and suburbs, and then transfer to other buses and trains once in the city.

Its important to stay informed as to service maintenance and shutdowns during the reopening of any area.  Extra cleaning and maintenance will be performed on buses and trains in most locations to eradicate as much of the virus as possible.

Limit touching frequently touched surfaces such as kiosks, digital interfaces such as touchscreens and fingerprint scanners, ticket machines, turnstiles, handrails, restroom surfaces, elevator buttons, and benches as much as possible.

If you must touch these surfaces, as soon as you can, wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

Use touchless payment and no-touch trash cans and doors when available. Exchange cash or credit cards by placing them in a receipt tray or on the counter rather than by hand, if possible.

If possible, practice social distancing.  Try to find a spot on the platform that isn’t packed with people.

When possible, consider traveling during non-peak hours when there are likely to be fewer people.

Consider skipping a row of seats between yourself and other riders if possible.

Enter and exit buses through rear entry doors if possible.

When you arrive at your destination, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

Taxi and Car Service Travel

Travel by taxi or car service also presents most of the same challenges as the other modes of transportation that we’ve covered so far.

The main difference is that you must manipulate door handles and seat belts when traveling by car. 

In addition, you may have to pay cash for the ride, so contact with the driver might be unavoidable.

Car services like Uber and Lyft allow you to pay electronically, so this isn’t a concern.

Avoid accepting offers of free water bottles and avoid touching magazines or other items that may be provided for free to passengers.

If you’re with a group that doesn’t live together, it’s best to limit the number of passengers per car, if possible. 

Sit in the back seat in larger vehicles such as vans and buses so you can remain at least six feet away from the driver.

Ask the driver to improve the ventilation in the vehicle if possible — for example, by opening the windows or setting the air ventilation/air conditioning on non-recirculation mode.

After leaving the vehicle, use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

When you arrive at your destination, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Cruise Travel

You probably remember those cruise ships that were stranded at sea and unable to dock during the early days of the pandemic.

If you’ve ever cruised, you know how crowded it can get on deck around the pools, in the dining rooms and cafeterias, elevators, and entertainment venues. 

Cruise ships are closed environments where disease travels rapidly. 

There’s a reason why many cruise lines have hand sanitizing stations posted around the ship.  This was a policy for many years before COVID-19 struck.  And even with hand sanitizing being pushed everywhere you turn on the ship, the virus still moved rapidly among the guests and crew.

Is it best to hold off on cruising?

The CDC points out that the people at highest risk of falling seriously ill from COVID-19 are older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions, including heart disease, lung disease and diabetes. On April 9, the CDC renewed a no-sail order, prohibiting cruise ships carrying 250 or more passengers and crew from sailing in U.S waters until July 24 or sooner, if COVID-19 no longer constitutes a public health crisis. Most cruise lines have suspended voyages worldwide, with plans to resume in late June or early July. A few cruise lines, including Princess Cruises and Holland America, have suspended sailings until fall 2020.

Hotel Hygiene (and Airbnb-type services)

Hotel room sanitization is a world unto itself.  What I mean is that not only do you have to account for the possible germs left by recent guests, but also the germs that might be tracked into the room everyday by the housekeeping staff.

Because you will have housekeepers entering the room every day, the boss move is to do some cleaning up after they have been through.  Housekeepers travel throughout the hotel and may come into contact with potentially infectious diseases, so I would recommend bringing disinfectant spray or wipes to clean up spots they most likely have touched.  Yes, it’s a hassle.

As with other spaces, always disinfect surfaces where aerosol droplets can settle, as well as touchpoints such as door handles, faucets, remote controls, and drinking glasses.

Basically, clean everything that a human hand could have touched, or where saliva or mucous could have landed via a sneeze, cough, or speech.

Larger hotel brands and associations are launching campaigns to reassure travelers that hotels are safe.

Hilton Worldwide has launched its “CleanStay” program, with contact-less check-ins and more rigorous cleaning practices based on advice from the Mayo Clinic.

Marriott International has convened its “Cleanliness Council,” to help overhaul its standard housekeeping practices.

The American Hotel Lodging Association (AHLA) has issued enhanced cleaning and safety guidelines to its more than 27,000 members to educate housekeepers on best cleaning practices.

Restaurant Hygiene

For most of the pandemic, restaurants have been limited to delivery or pickup operations.  Dining inside of restaurants for the most part, has been disallowed.

Now that the peak in many places has passed, restaurants are announcing reopening with safety in mind.

I advise a cautious approach to jumping back into the dining out game, and no one loves eating at a great restaurant more than I do.

Restaurants are trying to figure out the best way to serve as many customers as possible while keeping customers safe.  It’s something most restaurant owners and local health departments have never dealt with before now.

“There really is no scientific study” on the best ways for restaurants to reopen following a COVID-19 outbreak, said Dr. Robert W. Amler, dean of the School of Health Sciences and Practice at New York Medical College. Nevertheless, doctors and public health experts have some suggestions for handling the risks of dining out while the virus is still a threat.

When you are thinking about heading back to eating at restaurants, you need to consider several important points.

The first question you should consider is your own persona risk factors.  Are you in the age range that has shown the most vulnerability to the virus?  Do you have any underlying conditions that have proved to be dangerous if infected?

Naturally, these same questions should be considered by all in your party.

Another point to consider is the virus situation in the restaurant’s location.  Although you might live in a region that has been largely untouched by COVID-19, the same may not hold true for your travel destination.

Check the COVID-19 status of your trip destination on the Center for Disease Control’s website (www.cdc.gov).

Once you’ve decided on a restaurant, check out the layout of the tables.  Are the tables’ chairs at least 6 feet apart from other tables?  What is the general level of cleanliness in the dining area?

If the restaurant offers outside dining, that can be a good option, as the COVID-19 virus seems to have a lower transmission rate in open air.  Of course, that doesn’t mean you can forget about the basic rules of social distancing or wearing masks.

Eating a meal with a mask on is a challenge. Diners should arrive with face coverings, remove them temporarily to eat or drink, and put them on again before talking. A new study shows that in an unventilated room, droplets produced by normal conversation could linger in the air for as long as 14 minutes.

And you need to make sure that you wash or disinfect your hands after handling a menu or any other objects you didn’t bring with you. 

Unfortunately, the days of chilling for hours at a restaurant are over, at least for the time being.  Relax and enjoy your experience, but don’t hang out for long.  You need to find balance between enjoying the luxury of a great meal, with the possibility of exposure to the virus.  Remember, the longer you spend in public in close contact with others, the greater your chances of contracting the virus.

Public Restroom Hygiene

We all know how dirty public restrooms are at the best places.  If we’re being honest, we’ll admit that our own bathrooms at home aren’t all that clean, either.

This all comes down to physics.  Bathrooms have toilets, and toilets are machines that cause the rapid movement of liquids and solids.

When your waste takes that swirling trip to Sewer Land, aerosol particles are shot into the air.

A recent study showed that a flushed toilet can send particles into the air, and that these particles can remain airborne in an invisible cloud for up to 30 minutes!  YIKES!

Even scarier, air in an enclosed space like a public restroom can have COVID-19 particles in it for several hours after someone infectious with COVID-19 was there.

Another study has shown that COVID-19 particles can be found in feces for up to 30 days after the victim has recovered from the illness.

Since most toilet bowls are within enclosed stalls, the aerosol cloud will tend to settle on the surfaces within the stall itself.

After using the bathroom in a public restroom ALWAYS wash your hands for 20 seconds! 

When you’re done, dry your hands with paper towels if they are provided.  Hot air dryers have been shown to simply blow the dirty restroom air at you at high velocity.  Avoid the hot air dryer if you can.

Takeaway

COVID-19 has presented the traveling public with challenges seldom faced in recent years. 

For Americans, this has been a totally new experience.  Americans are used to reading about epidemics in other countries, but there hasn’t been anything as serious as COVID-19 in over 100 years.

The takeaway is simple:

• Know your personal risks (age, underlying conditions) as well as others who are traveling in your party
• Stay aware of the general cleanliness of your surroundings
• Maintain social distance of at least 6 feet if possible while using transportation that you don’t own
• Keep using masks
• Wash hands with soap for at least 20 seconds
• Use hand sanitizer of at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available
• Try to avoid touching surfaces and objects that other passengers are using
• Realize that you will need to do some cleanup although you have housekeepers at your hotel
• Dine out on rare occasions and don’t linger in the dining room too long
• Get in and out of public bathrooms because COVID-19 can linger in the air for several hours

We believe that the current vaccines used in the US and Europe are safe. The China and Russian vaccines are another matter, and there are countries that have used the Chinese vaccine with poor results.

If you decide not to get the vaccine, at least protect yourself and others by following the masking, social distancing, and hygiene protocols we’ve been using for over a year.

Until we knock out COVID-19, travel carefully!