COVID-19 and Traveling – What You Need to Know
Submission Note: The COVID-19 situation remains fluid. This article reflects information known at the time it was submitted to The Boca Beacon.
The U.S. Centers for Disease & Prevention (CDC) recently released new guidance on domestic travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the air quality on a commercial airliner is quite high, with the air volume in the cabin being completely refreshed every two to four minutes, travel to and from the airport and time spent within the airport increases the chance of spreading and getting COVID-19.
Here are the current basics for travels of any kind.
Before You Travel
- Do not travel if you are ill or with someone who is sick.
- Do not travel if you were exposed to COVID-19 within 14 days of travel.
- Consider getting tested with a viral test 1-3 days before your trip.
- Find out the activity level of COVID-19 at your destination as well as all planned travels stops along the way. You can access the latest COVID-19 statistics on Florida Department of Health’s website.
- Plan to wear a mask and carry with you – and use – hand sanitizer.
When You Travel
- Keep in mind that travel of any type increases the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19.
- Wear a mask over your nose and mouth when in public facilities.
- Where possible, avoid close contact, adhering to the six-foot distancing recommendation.
- Avoid unnecessary touches and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol.
After You Travel
- Talk to your Clinic physician about your options.
- Consider getting tested with a viral test 3–5 days after your trip and reduce non-essential activities for a full 7 days after travel, even if your test is negative.
- If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected.
- If you don’t get tested, consider reducing non-essential activities for 10 days.
- Also, to protect others from getting COVID-19, take these actions for 14 days after you return from travel:
- Stay at least 6 feet from anyone who did not travel with you, particularly in crowded areas. It’s important to do this everywhere — both indoors and outdoors.
- Wear a mask to keep your nose and mouth covered when you are in shared spaces outside of your home.
- If there are people in your household who did not travel with you, wear a mask and ask everyone in the household to wear masks in shared spaces inside your home.
- Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.
- Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness.
- Watch yourself for symptoms of COVID-19 and take your temperature if you feel sick.
More Recent Healthcare News
Ask a Nurse: Celebrating the Spirit of Care
May 8, 2025Every year from May 6 to May 12, organizations across the country take time to honor the people who are truly at the heart of patient care: our nurses. National Nurses Week recognizes the vital role nurses play in the lives of patients, in community well-being, and in the overall health system. At the Boca […]
With the ceremonial turning of dirt, the Boca Grande Health Clinic has officially launched the construction of a new facility designed to better serve the Island’s healthcare needs—today and well into the future. The Clinic of the Future project is being developed in two phases to allow care to continue uninterrupted during construction. The first […]
Help us Celebrate the People Who Keep the Clinic Running
April 18, 2025Healthcare is personal. It’s built on trust, consistency, and people who care—not just in the exam room, but in every part of the experience. At the Boca Grande Health Clinic, we’re fortunate to have an administrative team that lives those values every day. With National Administrative Professionals’ Day coming up on April 23, we’re taking […]
Ask a Doc: Managing Stress in a Stressful World
April 12, 2025Lately, it feels like stress is simmering just below the surface for many of us. Whether it’s navigating the long road of post-hurricane recovery or simply trying to keep up with our day-to-day affairs, it’s understandable to feel stretched. Add in the swirl of national news and uncertainty, and it’s no wonder that Google searches […]