I tested positive for COVID-19. Should I still travel?
Variations on that question are proliferating Google Search (Summer trip and Number of new coronavirus infections.
If you travel for work or pleasure, there’s a good chance you’ll eventually have to resolve the question of whether or not you should fly while infected with COVID-19, if you haven’t already.
President Joe Biden Positive reaction During a campaign event in Las Vegas. Tour de France Riders are also dealing with the latest outbreak of COVID-19. I myself was infected earlier this month during a recent cross-country trip, testing positive just two days before I was scheduled to fly to Alaska to help my parents, ages 79 and 85, move out of the family home that they recently sold.
Ethically, I didn’t feel comfortable getting on a plane knowing I had COVID-19, and there was no way I was going to fly home with the virus, but scrambling to rebook a trip at the last minute with my dog, husband, and parents still needing my help was incredibly stressful.
learn more: Best Travel Insurance
If I test positive for COVID, should I fly?
Technically, can Airsickness – No one is going to stop you at the gate and wipe your nose – but you shouldn’t.
Just because airlines no longer require proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test result before boarding an international flight doesn’t mean Previous Years Just because of the pandemic doesn’t mean travel has to be germ-free.
“We recommend not flying,” said Vicki Sowers, director of nursing resources. Passport Health, “There is a possibility that you may be able to infect other passengers on the plane, and the travel process may increase fatigue and worsen your symptoms,” he wrote in an email.
Medical experts say you should not fly if you know you have COVID-19 or think you may have it. CDCand everyone who shared their thoughts on my social media pages last week.
“Should you travel if you have COVID? Absolutely not. You could essentially kill innocent people because other people are immunocompromised,” says Nick Longo, 56, of Corpus Christi, Texas. Longo travels outside the US “at least once a year” and frequently flies within the US. “Do I think a lot of people are flying with the virus right now? Yes. People who don’t care about other people are (flying) and that’s how it spreads.”
Mike Hensley, 54, of Northern California, agreed.
“The answer is simple,” he wrote. “No, you shouldn’t travel; traveling spreads the virus rapidly. But certainly there are people who are positive but are traveling because they think it’s seasonal allergies or a cold, they convince themselves they’re not that bad, they’re already sick (and don’t know/care about how the virus works), or they’re just being selfish and don’t care about the people they’re infecting.”
I’ve been on a dozen planes over the past few months, and from my experience, I see a lot of people sniffing, sneezing, and coughing, and they rarely wear masks.
Another traveler said she knows three people who flew from California to Europe despite having COVID-19, while she and her parents changed their travel plans last month after contracting COVID-19, postponing their flight for three days until they received negative test results.
Should I wear a mask when flying?
of CDC, who, Mayo Clinic Many medical experts agree that masks can help lower the risk of respiratory virus infection, especially in confined spaces such as planes, trains, buses and automobiles. N95 masks It is the most effective.
Anecdotally, it appears that many people are choosing to board planes without masks, either knowingly contracting COVID-19 or without getting tested if they develop symptoms. Many people are no doubt tired of masks and the pandemic, and are likely treating COVID-19 like the seasonal flu or the common cold: they’ll just have to deal with it if they get it.
Some people wrote on my social media pages that when it comes to travel, they are not worried about transmitting the virus to others because they feel that people are knowingly taking risks when boarding a plane these days.
This last sentiment really hit home for me, because I believe it’s why for the second year in a row, I contracted COVID-19 in July shortly after a cross-country work trip, coinciding with the summer travel peak and virus surge.
What should I do if I test positive for COVID just before my planned trip?
Although I am vaccinated and received my final booster shot in December 2023, I have some risk factors and got sick with COVID-19 last summer and was pretty much unable to do anything for about 2 weeks.
At first I thought it was seasonal allergies so I waited a few days to get tested, by which time I was already feeling pretty ill – I had a terrible headache, head and chest congestion, muscle aches, fatigue and had lost my sense of taste and smell for almost 2 months.
This summer was different. I had a slight tingling in the back of my throat, but I was tired and sore, and I knew something was wrong, so I got tested right away. The test came back positive, Paxrovid I immediately postponed my trip to Alaska.
I did not fly until I had a negative test result and wore a mask the entire time I was on the plane (I did not eat or drink during the flight). I met the latest guidelines of having two negative tests 48 hours apart, but I will continue to wear a mask indoors until all symptoms (I still have a mild runny nose) are gone. It’s not worth the risk of infecting my parents or anyone else.
I’ll be honest, over the past year I’ve gotten pretty lax about wearing a mask when flying. I often feel a little awkward because I’m the only person wearing one, but I don’t want to get sick. I’m definitely going to wear one on future flights.
What are the latest CDC guidelines?
I have several friends who, despite COVID-19, are being expected to return to the office to work and wear a mask if they feel well. What exactly are the current rules?
of Latest CDC guidelinesThe guidelines updated in March state that people can return to normal activities if they meet two requirements:
- Have been fever-free for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication).
- The symptoms have generally improved.
However, because it may still be contagious, the CDC recommends the following for at least five days after resuming daily activities:
- Please use a mask.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Practice physical distancing, especially from people with risk factors for respiratory illness.
- Take additional steps For clean air.
In addition to CDC guidelines: The FDA recommends Before meeting in public again, people with symptoms will need to take two negative antigen tests, 48 hours apart, and people without symptoms will need to take three negative tests.
Travel Insurance:What is the most affordable option?
What if I can’t afford to leave my home to quarantine or get sick?
The costs add up: changing flights, extending stays, and even adding time away from work. Should I stop traveling? No, but COVID-19 precautions are necessary to protect others. Richard Martinello“We’re seeing a lot of infections in the US,” medical director of infection prevention at Yale New Haven Health in Connecticut recently told Outside Magazine.
Martinello urges people to think about the moral and ethical implications of putting others at risk, for example by not drinking and driving. “If you know you are sick, whether it’s COVID-19 or any other contagious virus, it is irresponsible to be in close, prolonged contact with fellow passengers,” he said. “You never know who is sitting next to you on an airplane, and if you’re immune-compromised, even a cold can make you seriously ill.”
Be sure to check your airline’s COVID-19 policies before purchasing your ticket. Many airlines are waiving change fees for travelers who have to reschedule because of exposure to the virus. For extra protection, book a ticket that allows you to change or credit if you need to cancel your flight. Travel Insurance.
I almost always fly Alaska Airlines and usually pay a little extra to get 100% of my travel fare refunded in any case. I didn’t do that on this flight (to save $280 for my husband and I). We ended up paying a $37 change fee for the difference in ticket price between the day we planned to fly and the day we actually flew. Many airlines will give you a full refund on a future flight if you have to cancel due to illness.
How can I stay safe while traveling?
Passport Health Vicki Sowers says preparation is key. She urges travelers to get vaccinated before traveling, including a COVID-19 booster shot, and to pack a first aid kit with medications to use if they get sick.
“You want your health to be at its best when you go on your ‘trip of a lifetime,'” she said. Because COVID-19 spreads through airborne particles and droplets, “bring a mask and sanitizer when you fly in case the person next to you or other travelers nearby are coughing and appearing ill. Use hand sanitizer before eating and when you know you’re going to touch your face.”
Jennifer Jolie Emmy Award-winning consumer technology columnist and on-air correspondent. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. Contact[email protected].
