The outbreak of COVID-19 has made a mess of all of our lives. You probably have been putting a lot of your individual needs and wants aside to stay at home to help protect others and flatten the curve for medical personnel on the frontlines. With restrictions in many states easing up and summer on the horizon, you might be thinking it’s about time for a road trip.
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“Though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people restrict car travel to essential trips only, folks are ready to skirt the rules a little,” according to Huffington Post senior lifestyle reporter Brittany Wong. “About one in three Americans are planning to take a road trip this summer, according to a recent survey conducted by travel app GasBuddy.”
Although it is technically possible to take a road trip, it won’t resemble your past trips. You need to make adjustments that will prioritize your health and the health of others.
“Consider taking a shorter trip. If it’s longer, plan the trip to a T,” writes Wong.
Every mile you go increases your chances of contracting the virus because you’ll be exposed to more people and more places, she warns.
And that includes public restrooms. Since gas stations may be your best or only bet, Wong suggests bringing along your own soap and toilet paper in case the bathroom is out of those essentials. If you have hand sanitizer, bring it and use it, too. When fueling up, use gloves and then throw them away in the trash.
Since different states are following different rules during this health crisis, you’ll need to find out what the restrictions and recommendations are along your route and at your destination.
“Federal law cannot bar you from traveling to another state, but local authorities can require self-quarantine for as long as 14 days once you arrive,” according to Wong.
Even if your heart is set on a specific place, you need to stay flexible and put your health first. You might have to consider Plan B if Plan A is too crowded, she warns.
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If a road trip is on your summer to-do list, these tips will help make it a safer journey.
DeAnn Owens is a Dayton transplant by way of the Windy City, yet considers herself to be a California girl at heart even though she’s only visited there once. To get through the dreaded allergy season unique to the Miami Valley, she reads, writes, complains about the weather, and enjoys spending time with her husband, two sons, and their newest addition, a Boston terrier puppy that is now in charge of all their lives. In the future, she hopes to write a novel and travel through time. See more articles by DeAnn.