As the Coronavirus pandemic After the fifth month of lockdowns and canceled events, the pent-up demand has put a lot of thought into the safest way to travel, among the options that make the most sense now. Condé Nast Traveler consulted medical, travel, and statistics experts to weigh the relative risks of traveling on commercial airlines, Amtrak, and private cars during this pandemic – and they largely agree on which choices are best.
It is worth noting that these recommendations assume equality between decisions. For example, some may not have the time to drive while others may not have the money to fly, and of course, taking a train from California to Hawaii is not an option. For travelers who can choose between three, the experts can help you decide which transportation method to use you feel most comfortable.
Travel or not travel
First things first: you need to determine who should travel and whether the trip is necessary at all. The World Health Organization offers detailed advice on “Essential Trips” and lists those who should postpone or cancel trips, including elderly travelers and those with chronic illnesses, underlying health conditions, and confirmed diagnoses of COVID-19. In addition, the Centers for Disease ControlTraveler Considerations – Coronavirus in the United StatesThe page states, “Traveling increases your chances of receiving and spreading COVID-19. People at higher risk of developing serious illnesses need to take extra precautions. “
“I think we are still learning a lot about this virus’s ability to transmit infectivity, and the spread of pre-symptomatic infection is daunting,” says Chris Hendel, a longtime medical researcher who works with the USC Gehr Family Center for Health Systems Science in Connection stands and innovation.
What follows are breakdowns that apply to all three travel modes: air, rail, and highway.
The advantages and disadvantages of air travel
The risk of virus infection when traveling by air begins at the airport. The CDC states on its website that “air travel requires time in security lines and airport terminals,” which “can put you in close contact with other people and frequently touched surfaces”. Once you’re on the plane, social distancing can be tricky. Depending on the airline’s policy. Overcrowded flights, where you may have to sit less than six feet for hours, can increase the risk of exposure.
But there is also good news. “Most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights because the air is circulated and filtered in airplanes,” said the CDC. That’s because the majority of the planes in airline fleets have high quality HEPA filters (highly efficient particle air) that can remove up to 99.999 percent of the particles in the air. This provides extremely effective, but not perfect, protection against viruses from the air. Close contact between people on board in the aisles or when boarding – especially if some aviators aren’t wearing masks – may mean exposure to the virus when passengers exhale and possibly also.
Add to these concerns that the U.S. Department of Transportation has not enacted regulations on commercial air travel across the country. In July, the DOT published a 44-page issue Set of recommendations For commercial air travel, but as these are only suggestions and are unenforceable, the country’s airports, airlines and passengers are left with a patchwork of different and ineffective opt-in rules. In practice this means airline Face Covering Guidelines vary and in some cases are not enforced. Members of Congress, flight attendant and pilot unions, and passenger advocates are calling on the DOT to produce consistent protocols and consumer reports started a petition that has more than 60,000 signatures.
