As personal and business travel restrictions begin to lift, there are multiple factors to consider in your travel plans. MRIGlobal’s Chris Bailey, Director of Quality and Regulatory Systems, suggests asking these Centers for Disease Control questions first.
Is COVID-19 spreading in the area where you’re going?
If COVID-19 is spreading at your destination, but not where you live, you may be more likely to get infected if you travel there than if you stay home. If you have questions about your destination, you should check your destination’s local health department website for more information.
Will you or your travel companion(s) be in close contact with others during your trip?
Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like coronavirus may increase in crowded settings, particularly closed-in settings with little air circulation. This may include settings such as conferences, public events (like concerts and sporting events), religious gatherings, public spaces (like movie theatres and shopping malls), and public transportation (like buses, metro, trains).
Do you have a plan for taking time off from work or school, in case you are told to stay home for 14 days for self-monitoring or if you get sick with COVID-19?
If you have close contact with someone with COVID-19 during travel, you may be asked to stay home to self-monitor and avoid contact with others for up to 14 days after travel. If you become sick with COVID-19, you may be unable to go to work or school until you’re considered noninfectious. You will be asked to avoid contact with others (including being in public places) during this period of infectiousness.
Do you live with someone who is older or has a serious, chronic medical condition?
If you get sick with COVID-19 upon your return from travel, your household contacts may be at risk of infection. Household contacts who are older adults or persons of any age with severe chronic medical conditions are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
Is COVID-19 spreading where I live when I return from travel?
Consider the risk of passing COVID-19 to others during travel, particularly if you will be in close contact with people who are older adults or have severe chronic health condition. These people are at higher risk of getting very sick. If your symptoms are mild or you don’t have a fever, you may not realize you are infectious.
About Chris Bailey
Chris Bailey is Director of Quality and Regulatory Systems at MRIGlobal. He hold a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry and a master’s in industrial hygiene. He is a Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence and a Certified Industrial Hygienist. His areas of expertise include quality systems, program management, regulatory compliance, corporate environment, safety, and health (ESH) program development; chemical hygiene, and identification, evaluation and control of occupational safety and health hazards.