Is it safe to travel during the Covid-19 Outbreak?

Is it safe to travel during the Covid-19 Outbreak?

The CDC recommends you stay at home whenever possible, practicing social distancing. Traveling increases your risk of exposure and the risk of exposing others, especially elderly and other vulnerable people, and carrying the virus to other locations. Only travel if you have to, and again, take precautions.

Different types of travel have different levels of risk. Traveling alone in a car, for example, carries little to no risk, except when you interact with others or use public facilities, such as stores, gas stations, or public restrooms. The same goes for the risks to traveling with others in your household.

Traveling on a train or airplane for longer distances dramatically increases your risk of exposure. On planes and trains people are close together for long periods of time. This raises the risk of transmission. They also have self-contained ventilation systems, so the air that flows through the cabins is circulated, spreading any droplets further throughout, and recirculates it.

When traveling, if you have to, wear a mask, wipe down any and all surfaces with a disinfectant wipe after every use or touch, and whenever possible wash or disinfect your hands frequently. And don’t touch your face.