Is it possible to travel responsibly (during a pandemic)?

[drrich2]

The problem that keeps coming up is that it's not really a question of can one travel 'responsibly' or 'safely' in a pure sense during the pandemic. The real question is whether one can travel responsibly/safely (for self and others)...enough. We're never all going to agree on that, and it's hard to argue for an objective standard because we don't have reliable, credible numbers as to the risks involved.

I've had both shots of the Moderna vaccine; if I wear a mask and socially distance to the extent reasonably possible, and decide to do a 1-week Cozumel trip next week (sadly, ain't happening), what are the odds I'll acquire the virus and infect one or more others with it? Spread a more dangerous variant to a place it wasn't already present?

Richard.

 

[scubadada]

The problem that keeps coming up is that it's not really a question of can one travel 'responsibly' or 'safely' in a pure sense during the pandemic. The real question is whether one can travel responsibly/safely (for self and others)...enough. We're never all going to agree on that, and it's hard to argue for an objective standard because we don't have reliable, credible numbers as to the risks involved.

I've had both shots of the Moderna vaccine; if I wear a mask and socially distance to the extent reasonably possible, and decide to do a 1-week Cozumel trip next week (sadly, ain't happening), what are the odds I'll acquire the virus and infect one or more others with it? Spread a more dangerous variant to a place it wasn't already present?

Richard.

Small, but some, risk

 

[MichaelMc]

it's hard to argue for an objective standard because we don't have reliable, credible numbers as to the risks involved.

I quoted above the guidance from the US organization of experts in this field. I would take that as our best cut at an objective standard. Each of us assuming we can be better experts is a big stretch, assuming I have not missed one of us having the qualifications and data that they have.

Small but some risk * many = disease and mutation spread in a pandemic.

 

[Dan]

The good news is you keep getting a negative test.
The bad news is that you can still be infected for the majority of the days in each month, and not know it.
The monthly tests are NOT proof that you unable to give someone else the virus, unless you take the tests every 2-3 days.

I have enough practice in wearing mask, self distancing, washing hands, not going to the bar or party, restaurants and only meet with family & (3-4) close friends, that I know that they are as careful as I am, for the whole 10 months. None of us has positive COVID-19. I see no reason that I will get infected if I follow the guidelines. It’s not that hard. You just have to be very disciplined about it.

Also after traveling I self-quarantined for 2 weeks before meeting my family & those close friends. It is working fine so far. I have 9 more dive trips this year. I sure don’t want to contract the virus.

 

[MichaelMc]

The CDC guidelines are to avoid travel.

The steps for those that must travel, and do not answer yes to those questions (such as hospitals overwhelmed or travel by bus, train, or air), are what you are following for recreation.

Those are very different things.

 

[Blackcrusader]

No matter how careful you are you can contract the virus. I will not travel overseas for the foreseeable future and I normally dive in the Philippines Thailand and Indonesia and those three countries are best avoided for the time being. I was supposed to go to Bali for 3 plus weeks last March but doubt I will be diving there before mid year 2022 at best. This summer coming up I will be doing 3 - 4 dives a day for a few weeks with a dive partner in Taiwan when he is not teaching. Government school teachers are not allowed to travel abroad during the pandemic. Taiwan has had less than 1000 Wuhan Virus cases since December 2019.

As of today of the 924 confirmed cases, 809 are imported; 76 are indigenous; 36 are naval crew members aboard the Panshi fast combat support ship; 2 are infections on an aircraft; 1 case has unknown sources of infection; and 1 case (Case #530) has been removed (Case #530 is not assigned to any patients). Of the confirmed cases, there have been 9 deaths, and 843 patients have been released from isolation, with the other 72 patients remaining hospitalized in isolation.

 

[tursiops]

I have enough practice in wearing mask, self distancing, washing hands, not going to the bar or party, restaurants and only meet with family & (3-4) close friends, that I know that they are as careful as I am, for the whole 10 months. None of us has positive COVID-19. I see no reason that I will get infected if I follow the guidelines. It’s not that hard. You just have to be very disciplined about it.

Also after traveling I self-quarantined for 2 weeks before meeting my family & those close friends. It is working fine so far. I have 9 more dive trips this year. I sure don’t want to contract the virus.

I agree. You are doing everything "right." But it is not a guarantee, it is just risk reduction.
Grocery stores, gas stations, mail deliveries, taking out the trash and bringing the can back into the garage...lots of little ways to trip you up.
And, you are choosing to follow the guidelines that are convenient to you. Only meeting with close friends...and who are THEY meting with?
N95 mask? Probably not. Doubled up cloth masks? Maybe.

 

[GJC]

I don’t have COVID-19 to giveaway. So, why should I not travel?

Tested for the virus every month and kept getting negative.

Daily testing of everybody in the White House didn't prevent it from getting in.

 

[tursiops]

Daily testing of everybody in the White House didn't prevent it from getting in.

They said they were testing. There is no evidence they actually were. After all, why test for something you think is harmless?

 

[Dan]

I agree. You are doing everything "right." But it is not a guarantee, it is just risk reduction.
Grocery stores, gas stations, mail deliveries, taking out the trash and bringing the can back into the garage...lots of little ways to trip you up.
And, you are choosing to follow the guidelines that are convenient to you. Only meeting with close friends...and who are THEY meting with?
N95 mask? Probably not. Doubled up cloth masks? Maybe.

I’m on my 2nd pack of KN95 masks, not those useless bandana-like masks. Got too much investment on these dive trips.