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As we enter the second year of the global pandemic, we have become accustomed to certain changes in our daily lives. Dining out in a restaurant can involve a tent and heat lamps, doctor’s appointments are made through telemedicine apps, and the days of you pushing your way through a mall are over. Now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has another addition to the growing list of lifestyle changes: Starting Tuesday, you’ll need to provide proof of a negative COVID test before returning to the United States. from any international destination. .
“If you plan to travel overseas, you will need to take a test no more than 3 days before traveling by air to the United States (United States) and show your negative result to the airline before boarding. your flight, or be prepared to show recovery documentation, ”reads the new policy, which was posted on the CDC’s website on Jan. 23.
Under the new policy, airlines must refuse to board anyone who does not provide a negative COVID test result. This could very well disrupt travel plans for some, but should help minimize potential exposure for passengers, as well as the general public.
According to David Cutler, MD, a family physician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., The CDC’s new policy came not a moment too soon. As he explains, “the recently increased ability of COVID to pass from person to person makes air travel and all activities more risky for contracting this disease”.
Longer flights already present a risk that experts consider incalculable at the moment. Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), said in a recent interview that shorter flights may be safe due to the use of the HEPA filter for “flights of modest duration” , but for long international flights, “all bets are off. “
“It’s impossible to say how safe air travel can be,” admits Cutler. “It’s important to recognize that anyone around you can pass COVID to you. And you can pass it on to others.”
If you must fly, read on for expert advice on how to do it in the safest way possible. And for masks you shouldn’t wear in flight or in any other situation, check out The CDC Warns Against Using These 6 Face Masks.
1
Avoid theft if you have symptoms.
Just because you get a negative test doesn’t mean you are in the clear. If you have any of the typical symptoms of COVID, you should seriously consider postponing your flight, even if your test has not confirmed your case.
According to the MD Anderson Center at the University of Texas, rapid antigen tests are less accurate than PCR tests at detecting the virus. And while the CDC doesn’t require any particular type of test, the three-day window will mean most travelers will use rapid tests, which can provide results in as little as half an hour, rather than the two to five. days it takes. to get the results of the PCR tests.
“To some extent, you sacrifice precision for speed. By their very nature, antigen-style tests are not as sensitive as they require a greater amount of virus present to be positive, ”explains MD Anderson’s website. “Someone who tests positive with this type of test should be treated as infected with COVID-19, but a negative test is less reliable and may need to be confirmed.” And for more regular COVID updates, sign up for our daily newsletter.
2
Be vigilant before boarding.
According to Cutler, the risk of flying isn’t limited to your flight time. “The risk of air travel also includes the risks of transport to the airport,” as well as time spent navigating airport lines and crowds, he said.
“It is impossible to measure the risk you might be exposed to in these overcrowded and uncontrolled environments. This is why travel causes transmission of COVID and why one of the first steps in controlling the pandemic was to limit travel to countries, which effectively reduced the number of cases and deaths, ”says Cutler . And to learn more about how COVID spreads, find out why you’re more likely to get COVID from someone who does it than from a cough.
3
Take precautions when using the airport washrooms.
Cutler also suggests using extra caution if you must use the restroom at the airport or onboard your flight. These are high traffic areas that often have questionable ventilation, and while most airports have stepped up their cleaning regimes amid the pandemic, bathrooms can still pose an increased threat to travelers.
If you use the toilet, be sure to wear your mask, limit what you touch by using clean paper towels to operate faucets and doors, and then wash and sanitize your hands thoroughly afterward. And for one thing you don’t have to do anymore, check out The One Thing You Can Stop Doing to Avoid COVID, CDC Says.
4
Wear a medical grade mask and face shield.
While aboard your flight, Cutler explains that your primary concern should be mitigating the risks of those sitting closest to you. “The ventilation systems of commercial airliners contain HEPA air filters which effectively remove almost all virus particles,” explains Cutler. “Several small studies have confirmed that the majority of the risk in theft comes from the people around you immediately.”
Fortunately, you can reduce this risk by preparing with the right equipment and optimizing ventilation. “This risk can be minimized by wearing an N95 mask and face shield. You should also turn your air blower up to push out as much clean air as possible,” advises Cutler. And for more on mask safety, know that if you always do this, your mask is not protecting you, according to the study.
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