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

[Grateful head]

The survival rate for people under 70 who contract Covid is 99.98%. Staying locked in your home for months on end and destroying economies, possibly forever is not the answer. If you are still that scared and or high risk, stay home. May sound harsh but so is imposing restriction after restriction.

 

[apenland01]

The survival rate for people under 70 who contract Covid is 99.98%. Staying locked in your home for months on end and destroying economies, possibly forever is not the answer. If you are still that scared and or high risk, stay home. May sound harsh but so is imposing restriction after restriction.

The bigger question for some of us isn't catching Covid, but the requirements to return home in a timely fashion. I'm scheduled on a liveaboard in May and I'm not worried about catching Covid, but rather, getting home on time. I have no latitude returning home, so I'm likely backing out of my planned trip and eating the cost. I have until mid-March to see what the government is going to do, so I have my fingers crossed they ease the requirements to return home....

 

[gqllc007]

Like gqllc007, over this past year I have discovered you can limit transmission. My urgent care office evaluates and tests covid suspects and patients. But unlike him we struggled finding ppe. And yet with the simple precautions we were able to implement, most of our staff have remained covid free. So I know precautions do work. The problem is that few follow even simple precautions. Oh, by now most make a token effort, mask on chin or some such. But just sit outside your local hardware or grocery store and you will see why covid has run rampant across the states.

We struggled like mad men to get PPE.....we spent tens of thousands of dollars more than we normally do. We had to get our masks from a our county disaster program.....as you know gloves are crazy expensive right now

 

[uncfnp]

We struggled like mad men to get PPE.....we spent tens of thousands of dollars more than we normally do. We had to get our masks from a our county disaster program.....as you know gloves are crazy expensive right now

At the start of the pandemic I found a partial box of N95’s tucked into the back of a cabinet at the office. They were only 2 years out of date. I shared them around the office then 2 individuals in the community donated partial boxes they found in storage. My shield came from Harbor Freight. We didn’t even have many level one procedure masks. I rotated the same 3 N95’s for 3 months. Finally like you we were given gowns (mostly XL to XXL) and a variety of masks (poorly made and often smelling of chemicals). We are just now starting to get decent ppe stocked. I have yet to see any head coverings.

 

[Grateful head]

The bigger question for some of us isn't catching Covid, but the requirements to return home in a timely fashion. I'm scheduled on a liveaboard in May and I'm not worried about catching Covid, but rather, getting home on time. I have no latitude returning home, so I'm likely backing out of my planned trip and eating the cost. I have until mid-March to see what the government is going to do, so I have my fingers crossed they ease the requirements to return home....

I absolutely sympathize with you, I have a trip planned in March as well. The thread is “ can you travel responsibly” not “can you travel conveniently” but I absolutely identify with your dilemma.

 

[apenland01]

I absolutely sympathize with you, I have a trip planned in March as well. The thread is “ can you travel responsibly” not “can you travel conveniently” but I absolutely identify with your dilemma.

Actually, my dilemma relates to "responsibly" because I have a fishing partner counting on me to be there to finish our tournament season after a year of hard work and dedication. Also, my employer is depending on me to be there to serve my customers after burning my entire year of vacation time for the dive trip. That counts as responsibility to me, not just convenience....

 

[ibj40]

The survival rate for people under 70 who contract Covid is 99.98%. Staying locked in your home for months on end and destroying economies, possibly forever is not the answer. If you are still that scared and or high risk, stay home. May sound harsh but so is imposing restriction after restriction.

I’m 70, wife is 53.

We’ve canceled two trips in 2020, probably cancel the two we had planned for 2021.

I’m going by what Forrest Gump’s momma said: “Stupid is as stupid does”.

Actions which impose your selfishness onto underprepared populations are not appropriate.

 

[uncfnp]

I’m 70, wife is 53.

We’ve canceled two trips in 2020, probably cancel the two we had planned for 2021.

I’m going by what Forrest Gump’s momma said: “Stupid is as stupid does”.

Actions which impose your selfishness onto underprepared populations are not appropriate.

I have seen enough self-centered, selfish and ignorant behavior over the past year to last me a lifetime. A responsible traveller doesn’t even make it to my top 100 list.

 

[Grateful head]

I’m 70, wife is 53.

We’ve canceled two trips in 2020, probably cancel the two we had planned for 2021.

I’m going by what Forrest Gump’s momma said: “Stupid is as stupid does”.

Actions which impose your selfishness onto underprepared populations are not appropriate.

So what’s your answer, just sit home and rot? I personally know some people who are not at risk or I should say, not at high risk. They don’t go out, they don’t socialize, they don’t go out to eat and guess what.... they are depressed. It’s not normal to be anti social and not travel when you have been social your whole life. I could say those that impose your way of thinking are selfish. It’s also not to bring politics into this conversation when time and time again, we see the very same people of power who impose severe restrictions, break their own rules.

 

[Ghost95]

OP, good question. Unfortunately it is answered by more questions.

First, are you worried about catching COVID or are you more worried about transmitting COVID? It the real world, you should be more worried about transmitting it if you're concerned about getting back to "normal".

I travel to 3rd world countries quite a bit. Most of those countries have not been hit too hard by COVID but they are very reluctant to let you in if you haven't jumped through all the hoops. The last time I landed I was made to stand in a puddle of alcohol and get sprayed down by a guy in a bio-hazard suit. It was kind of surreal, but whatever.

For me, personally, to feel safe and responsible traveling, I limit my contact with other people while I'm at home. I use the masks, hand sanitizer, chicken blood, and a 4 leaf clover before I get on a plane.

Once on the plane, I keep the mask on, I wipe down the entire are around me with super anti COVID wipes, and I "DON"T TOUCH MY FACE!!!!" That last part is important.

Once you get to where you're going, that is not a reason to stop the wipes, chicken blood, voodoo. Do it all.

Masks are no more control than having to wear pants in a store, so just do it.

Just try and remember that if you bring a virus to a place you're traveling you could kill someone's grandmother, father, or mother. You don't really matter once you decide to travel, that's your choice and you accept the risks. Once you make the decision to travel, you are responsible for keeping others safe so don't be a di*k.

Once you get where you're going, stay away from others. There is really no need to go to a club or bar to socialize right now. I understand the desire to socialize, but it can wait.

So in answer to your question, Yes, you can travel responsibly. Many of the countries are desperate for you to come and spend money but that's not an excuse to be irresponsible with how you handle yourself. Go, be safe, and enjoy yourself. Be careful.

Have fun on your trips. Try an keep others safe and you'll be keeping yourself safe at the same time.

I hope you have a great trip. I would guess that with limited customers right now you might get great, personalized service too.