Memorial Day road trip? Travel safely with these expert tips in the age of coronavirus
If you plan to hit the road for Memorial Day, there are some factors you may want to consider for traveling in the age of COVID-19.
Health officials say the best way to stop the spread of the disease is to stay home. But some people may not be able to stay in their communities or may look past the possible risks.
So how can you do a road trip safely?
Before traveling
While planning to get behind the wheel, it’s a good idea to research and evaluate the conditions in your area and the place you’re visiting, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Even on familiar routes, it can be possible to run into limited rest stop hours, automated toll booths or 14-day stay-at-home requirements during the pandemic, according to AARP and the CDC.
It’s also possible to be exposed to or spread the coronavirus while traveling through rest stops and other transportation venues, the CDC says. Health officials say anyone who thinks they have COVID-19 or have been near an infected person in the past two weeks should not go on trips.
People should also consider whether they will travel or be in close contact with someone who has a higher risk of getting seriously sick from the coronavirus, such as older adults and people with underlying conditions, the CDC says.
While packing, travelers may want to include medicine, food and water in case stores are closed. Health officials also recommend bringing along hand sanitizer and cloth face coverings.
During the trip
Travel experts think the coronavirus will deter people from taking trips around Memorial Day, typically known as the unofficial start to summer vacation plans.
“With social distancing guidelines still in practice, this holiday weekend’s travel volume is likely to set a record low,” which was set during the Great Recession in 2009, AAA said earlier this month.
AAA also predicts drivers who venture out will see the lowest Memorial Day gas prices since 2003, recently reporting an average of $1.87 per gallon nationwide.
But “making stops along the way for gas, food, or bathroom breaks can put you and your traveling companions in close contact with other people and surfaces,” which are potential ways the coronavirus can spread, the CDC says.
Getting gas means you may have to encounter a germ-covered pump, so tips from the CDC include using “disinfecting wipes on handles or buttons before you touch them” and later applying hand sanitizer.
Inside public restrooms, doctors recommend people maintain their distance from others, wash their hands for 20 seconds and use paper towels to turn off faucets, McClatchy News reported.
At the destination, people may want to consider using disinfectants to wipe down hard surfaces at hotel rooms or other accommodations.
This story was originally published May 22, 2020 at 10:47 AM with the headline "Memorial Day road trip? Travel safely with these expert tips in the age of coronavirus."
