Covid and Travel. What you need to know.

Published by Kayleigh Ebenrick on September 16, 2020

In light of the frequently evolving information regarding Covid, our most recent Zoom call addressed some common questions and important things to know in order to travel and host safely and respectfully during these current times. Infection Prevention Specialist BethAnn Kavanagh has kindly provided us with a presentation of steps you can take to lower risk during travel. We are sharing her presentation information here for easy reference, and have also uploaded a video of the full Zoom call.

Here's the link to the video!

https://youtu.be/lMQjzBmDDM4 

 

Assessing the Risks

Safe travel during a pandemic is possible, but there are some things to be aware of.

 

Review Risk at Destination

Be sure to review the cases within the last seven days at your destination. You can do so here: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#cases_casesinlast7days.

 

Assess Your Personal Risk

Are you or someone you live with at increased risk for severe illness?

 

Consider Mode of Travel

 

Air Travel

  • Risk is at terminals which can bring you into close contact with many people in security lines and waiting areas.
  • Most viruses do not spread easily on airplanes because of how the air flow is engineered to circulate and be filtered.
  • Taxis or ride share to and from airport can present risk.

Car Travel

  • Making stops for food and bathroom breaks can put you in contact with other people and frequently touched surfaces.
  • RV travel may mean fewer stops for food and bathroom breaks.

 

How to Protect Yourself While Traveling

 

Social Distancing of 6 Feet

  • Respiratory viruses are transmitted by droplets of respiratory secretions.
  • Especially important indoors and in larger group settings with unknown persons.

Appropriate Use of Masks

  • Surgical or two layers of washable, breathable cloth

Hand Sanitation

  • Always a good policy.
  • Contaminated hands touching mouth, nose or eyes can potentially transmit Covid 19 and other respiratory viruses.

 

A Note on Masks

  • Simple barrier to prevent respiratory droplets from infected person traveling into the air and onto other persons.
  • Masks reduce spray of droplets when securely worn over the nose and mouth of infected person.
  • Use is important in close settings when social distancing is difficult to maintain.

 

Hand Sanitation

  • Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.​
  • If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer with 60% or greater isopropyl alcohol.
  • For either, make sure all surfaces of hand and fingers are cleansed.
  • Gloves are not recommended except when caring for ill individual.
 

Key Times to Wash Hands

  • Before, during, and after food prep
  • Before eating
  • Before and after caring for someone who is ill or treating a wound
  • After using the toilet or changing a diaper
  • After sneezing, coughing or blowing nose
  • After handling garbage or dirty laundry
  • After handling pet or animal waste

 

Strategies for Those That Are Hosting Travellers

 

Cleaning and Disinfection

  • Cleaning reduces the number of germs by removing dirt and other impurities.
  • Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces.
  • Important to focus on high touch surfaces (i.e. light switches, door knobs, toilet handles). 
  • Electronics – use 70% alcohol
  • Soft items, launder

If Using Bleach as a Disinfectant

  • Make certain bleach contain 5.25-8.25 % sodium hypochlorite.
  • Ensure at least one minute of wet contact time on surface being disinfected.
  • Check that bleach is not past expiration date.
  • Never use bleach with ammonia.
  • Bleach solutions are only effective for 24 hours after dilution. (5 Tablespoons in a gallon or 4 teaspoons in a quart of room temp. water)

 

HVAC Systems

 

Make Sure HVAC Filter is in Place    

  • Consider using highest grade filter system can accommodate.
  • HVAC systems only filter air when fan is running. Set system to run fan even when not heating or cooling.
  • When used properly, air purifiers can reduce airborne contaminants including viral particles.
  • Ozone machines are not recommended.

Improve Ventilation   

  • Open windows and screen doors if possible.
  • Operate bathroom fan continuously.

 

A Note on Vaccine Development

  • Operation Warp Speed Goal to Produce Safe Effective Vaccine by January 2021
  • Led by Health and Human Services and Department of Defense (https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/explaining-operation-warp-speed/index.html)
  • 3 vaccines in Phase 3 trials: Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech, and AstraZeneca/University of Oxford
  • Phase 3 trials look at proportion of cases between vaccinated and placebo control.
  • Federal government has invested in necessary manufacturing and distribution capacity.
  • $10 billion allotted through CARES Act
 
 

Additional Ways to Minimize Risk

Sunshine is a friend!

 

Vitamin D

  • Vitamin D is called the Sunshine Vitamin.
  • Humans make vitamin D from sun exposure on skin.
  • Helps with absorption of zinc.
  • Zinc has been shown to decrease the replication of viral RNA.
  • Improves the function of T cells.
  • Higher Vitamin D levels correlate with lower Interleukin 6 levels.
  • Interleukin 6 is a component of severe inflammation and cytokine storm associated with severe Covid 19 outcomes.
     
     

Annual Influenza Vaccine is Available

It takes two weeks for immunity to develop.

 

Thank you for taking the time to review this information and contribute to safe travel and hosting experiences for all. You can always contact us with any additional questions.

Join us next week for yet another fun-filled VTE via Zoom call. See you at 7:00pm EDT. Cheers!