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Historically, road trips have seemed to be thesafest wayto avoidCOVID-19while traveling.
Abbey Lossing
Of course, this may not be possible for everyone, which then increases the coronavirus risk involved.
That said, even a negative COVID-19 test does not fully ensure that youdont have the virus.
And arguably the best part of road trips is making fun stops on the way to your destination.
However, you may need to carefully choose the attractions you visit, or skip them entirely.
Research coronavirus statistics and restrictions before you go.
TheCOVID-19 Trackeron the CDC website shows you how many cases have been reported in the county youre visiting.
(A list of state public health websites can be found on theCDC website.)
That meansphysical distancing, masking (for children over two years old), and keeping hands clean.
Always have a mask on.
That goes without saying, he tells SELF.
Carry some hand sanitizer in your pocket and use it religiously, Dr. Swartzberg adds.
Then sanitize your hands before taking your mask off when you return to the car.
This helps you avoid potentially contaminating your covering or face, he explains.
Additionally, the CDC advises cleaning your hands after handling a used mask.
Pack a COVID kit.
Masks, antimicrobial wipes, andhand sanitizershould definitely be on your packing list.
And again, wash your hands or use sanitizer before and after touching your mask.
Specifically, the CDC recommends disinfecting the buttons and handles atgas station pumps.
Can you be outdoors?
Is the risk worth the stop?
In some cases, you may not know how busy a place is until you arrive.
Consider going back later if the attraction is busy.
Or you might just continue on to your destination.
Avoid contact with other people and objects in bathrooms (when you’ve got the option to).
Bathrooms are a high-risk area for many different pathogens, including bacteria and COVID-19, Dr. Cawcutt says.
The likelihood of this depends on factors like ventilation.)
Just do your best to limit what you touch, and wash your hands immediately after using the bathroom.
There are other options for people who dont feel comfortable using a public restroom.
(We all have different amounts of risk that we are willing to take.)
Look for private, safe areas and ask your family to keep watch if possible.
Stick to take-out meals or bring your own food.
Dr. Swartzberg suggests opting for takeout instead ofin-restaurant diningto avoid the number of people youre in close proximity to.
(Some restaurants have added enclosed outdoor seating, such as tents.
This restricts airflow and is not as safe as outdoor dining,The New York Timesreported.)
However, eating your ownprepacked foodis the safest option, Dr. Cawcutt says.
The more time youre around other people, the higher the COVID-19 transmission risk.
Ask about cleaning strategies in your hotel or Airbnb.
Also, ask if they disinfect the rooms, she says.
As always, wash your hands immediately after touching things in the lobby or other shared spaces.
(And many hotels have morestringent cleaning standardsbecause of the coronavirus.)
Ultimately, even road trips arent completely safe during COVID-19no matter how many precautions you take.
This story is presented by Volvo.
