We’re well into the pandemic’s second year. Some people could hardly have imagined that Covid-19 would still be around this long, but the reality is that many doctors and scientists warned us that this was the most likely scenario.
The fact that there are now three FDA-approved vaccines is borderline miraculous. Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna all tried extremely hard to develop suitable vaccines, and we should commend them for their work. Also, since Biden became president, the national effort has ramped up considerably, and now, millions of Americans either have had the vaccine, or they’re getting it shortly.
You might wonder if it’s okay to travel now, and maybe you’re targeting the upcoming Easter holiday as the moment when you can see your relatives again. Let’s discuss whether travel is safe now or whether you should still hold off for a while.
Have You Had the Vaccine?
If you’re getting ready for some possible travel, whether you have had the vaccine or not is the most critical question. If you haven’t had it yet, regardless of your age or other factors, most doctors agree that it’s best not to travel.
However, if you’re going to venture out, there are ways that you can do it more safely. Flying should still be out of the question.
If you have not had the vaccine yet, and you get on a plane, then wearing a mask the whole time can only protect you so much. You’re still breathing the same recirculating air, and you’re surrounded by people from other cities and states. You don’t know who might be sick, and if anyone removes their mask just for a moment and coughs or sneezes, you risk contracting Covid-19.
You should also avoid buses and trains, for the same reason. Even if you’re not sitting right next to someone, you’re still in close quarters with other individuals, some of whom might be ill. You also never know when someone nearby is going to decide to remove their mask.
You Can Drive More Safely
If you’re intent on traveling, then taking your personal vehicle is undeniably the best plan. That’s how you can stay away from other people, since it’s just you alone in the car, or possibly with other immediate family members if you decided to travel with them.
You can also rent a vehicle if you don’t own one. The agencies wipe down the car’s interior before they rent it out again, and you’re probably fine to drive it as long as you don’t have an immunocompromised condition.
Have Your Relatives Had the Vaccine?
If you do decide that driving is safe and you’re going to visit some relatives, you next need to consider whether they have had the vaccine or not. If you have gotten one, and all of them have as well, then you’re likely okay to visit each other now. You probably love hearing that since you might not have had any in-person contact with your relations in more than a year.
If they have had the vaccine, but you have not, or vice versa, then you might still be able to visit, as long as you still observe some safety measures. For instance, we’re getting close to spring now, so the weather should be warming up in many states. If you and your relatives have not received the vaccine yet, then you can have some socially distanced visiting time outside.
You and your relatives can meet in a public park, or if they have a backyard, you can all sit down and have a pleasant visit together that way. You can’t hug or kiss them, but you can at least see them, and that should make everyone involved very happy.
If one of your relatives has an immunocompromised condition, then you shouldn’t visit them until both you and they have had the vaccine, even if you keep your distance. You might be eager to see them, but you shouldn’t risk it if you’re not sure that it’s safe.
Things Should Be Back to Normal Soon
The tide seems to be turning. With the Johnson & Johnson version out now, everyone who wants the vaccine should be able to get it within the next few months.
At that point, all travel forms should be safe, and you can visit and socialize to your heart’s content. We’re close to normalcy now, but we need to be patient and safe for just a little while longer.
