Is Traveling Right Now Worth the Risk?
Photo by Lea Douglas
With our second summer in the pandemic quickly approaching, people are eager to travel. But, is it the safest activity to participate in during the global pandemic? In order for the pandemic to fully end, we need to do our part and stay local to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and further.
But, many people around the world are growing tired of COVID-19 restrictions and limited travel. The CDC says anyone who’s unvaccinated and traveling should get tested at least three days before going on their trip. Along with that all people should wear masks, uphold social distancing measures, and avoid large modes of transportation (aircrafts, trains, buses).
“I think people can travel during the pandemic if they are taking the right precautions. Traveling via car is way more safe than flying,” Caroline Corning, 10, said. She is a frequent traveler.
A lot of countries have restrictions and bans on who can enter and exit the country; Some see the virus as such a threat that they’ve halted visitors. Canada, along with a majority of European and Asian countries, have completely rejected visitors’ access and aren’t allowing their citizens to go beyond the border. If countries still have their borders closed months later, doesn’t that say something? Political leaders and medical experts from around the world don’t see travel fit right now, why do we continue to do it then? People need to stay home until all health officials have given the green light to proceed with travel.
With foreign countries having more requirements for entry, it poses the question of whether it’s safer to travel within the U.S. or internationally. Personally, it seems safer to travel internationally than interstate. If you’re traveling interstate, you are not required to show proof of a negative test, whereas foreign visitors must test negative before they’re allowed to visit the country. In addition to that, other countries recommend and/or require visitors to quarantine themselves for a period of time before they visit the country. When travelers are returning from countries with known Covid variants, they are advised to self-isolate for a period of time.
What’s with the sudden urge to travel now anyway? Is it the lack of fear for contracting COVID-19? Or, do people desire to travel to feel a piece of normality? Regardless of travelers reasoning behind traveling, unvaccinated people should not be taking trips during the pandemic. If we ever want this pandemic to end, we need to take initiative and make sacrifices, like staying home until we’re fully vaccinated.
It seems evident that some people aren’t as afraid of the virus as they once were in the beginning. The lack of wearing masks (or wearing them below the nose), hosting large gatherings, and disregarding COVID-19 regulations altogether makes it plain as day. But, do people not have regard for the well-being of their elderly family members or at-risk peers? The length of this pandemic has made some people feel invincible, despite the fact that viruses don’t care whether you’re sixteen or sixty.
While I do have a problem with people traveling during the pandemic, there are exceptions in my opinion. If you’ve been fully vaccinated, go for it. By all means–you’ve taken precautions to reduce the risk of catching or transmitting the virus. But, being vaccinated doesn’t mean you’re out of the woods just yet. According to health.com, although the vaccine lowers your risk of contracting the virus by about 90 percent, no one is completely immune from the virus.
Although there is still some risk, Caroline thinks people who are vaccinated should be able to travel. “Although they can’t [really] contract or spread the virus, they should still wear a mask,” she explained.
Although the pandemic has been an exhausting and isolating experience, we must see this through to the end. As long as people continue to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines and get vaccinated, we can beat this virus and return to normal––even if that means sacrificing travel for the foreseeable future.