Is it safe to travel anywhere right now?

Is it safe–or even legal–to travel anywhere right now? The Wall Street Journal just published a comprehensive guide that should answer just about all your travel-related questions, such as:

Is there any place abroad that’s safe to travel right now?

In a nutshell: no. The novel coronavirus has spread to more than 100 countries and every continent except for Antarctica. In March, the U.S. State Department issued its sternest warning against international travel.

Should I avoid flying altogether?

Health authorities maintain that the risk of infection on airplanes is low. That may be even truer now that most flights are far less than half full. And contrary to popular belief, cabin air is less of a concern; virtually all international jetliners are equipped with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, similar to those used in hospital operating room, capable of blocking more than 99 percent of airborne microbes.

If I have to fly, should I wear a mask?

 After extensive debate among health officials, the CDC in the U.S. revised its recommendation and now advises everyone, feeling ill or not, to wear a cloth face-covering when you might not be able to stand—or sit—at least 6 feet apart from another individual. Face masks, or even cloth coverings, might not be a fail-safe, but they can help reduce transmission.

Are there any “safe” vacations I can plan?

 Health experts caution against traveling now, even via domestic road trips. Instead, take a cue from Jerry Seinfeld, who recently announced on Instagram that he’d be postponing his shows at New York City’s Beacon Theater, adding, “Let’s do this another time when we can relax and enjoy it a lot more.”

When will it be safe to travel again?

What are the odds that we’ll still be housebound this summer? The short answer is: It depends on whom you ask. No one really knows for sure and predictions vary wildly. Based on reports that China is slowly reopening, however, travel industry leaders, such as Marriott International CEO Arne Sorenson, have been cautiously optimistic that at least some major hotel properties will be up and running again by summer.

6 thoughts on “Is it safe to travel anywhere right now?

  1. There’s no denying that this time kinda sucks for all of us – and the idea of potentially missing out on summer vacations doesn’t help that. However, if we follow the guidelines and help to do our part now, we can help improve the situation and hopefully return to normal a little sooner. I know that we have a week-long camping trip booked in July and are still REALLY hoping it will still be a go.

  2. I was glad I got in my trips last year, but my mother missed her trip to see her sister. We were bummed, but we found a silver lining and figured, as Jerry Seinfeld, figured, that it would be better to wait so any vacations and trips could be fully enjoyed instead of being ruled by stress.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *