Merck Manuals Provides Answers to Common Questions on Safe Travel and COVID-19

Travel doctor sets the record straight on traveling during a pandemic in recent editorial

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Feb 19, 2021, 08:00 ET

KENILWORTH, N.J., Feb. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed how Americans approach travel both domestic and international. Many people have questions about when they can safely travel again in the wake of the pandemic and what steps they can take to minimize the risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19 during their trip.

In a new editorial on MerckManuals.com, Christopher Sanford, MD, MPH, DTM&H, Associate Professor, Family Medicine, Global Health, University of Washington, address five of the most common questions people have about traveling and COVID-19. He also details key steps travelers can take to protect themselves and their families.

1. Should I travel during COVID-19?

Generally, the answer is no. The recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is clear: Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. The safest thing to do is not to travel.

Yet it's important to find a reasonable middle ground between the risks of exposure to COVID-19 and the needs of your job and the risks of social isolation. When considering travel, remember that the biggest risk for contracting COVID-19 is being around other people. The more you can limit your exposure to other people, the better.

2. What method of travel is safest during COVID-19?

Is it safer to travel by car or plane? There are many factors to consider, but again the best indicator is the number of people you're exposed to on a trip. Prioritize travel options where your exposure to other people is limited and the people you are exposed to are distanced and wearing masks.

3. Are there additional precautions I should take?

The best precaution is to avoid travel altogether. But if you are going to travel, postpone travel if you're sick, even if it just seems like a "cold." Make sure you pack masks and hand sanitizer in addition to any medications you've used in the last year. Get the flu shot and other necessary vaccines – including COVID-19 if you are eligible.

It's also a good idea to have your medical insurance card on hand and consider supplemental travel coverage. For international travel, make sure you have adequate medical evacuation coverage.

4. How should I prepare for my trip?

If you choose to travel during a pandemic, your first step should be a lot of research. Travel restrictions change regularly, and many places require a negative COVID-19 test within a certain period of time. It's also a good idea to see a travel medicine doctor to talk through the specifics of your itinerary. Often, this can be done as a telehealth appointment unless vaccines or other in-office procedures are needed.

5. Is it safe to travel once I have the vaccine?

The vaccine rollout is slowly making things better, but COVID-19 is still very much a reality and a risk and traveling increases exposure to that risk. It's essential that everyone – even individuals who have been vaccinated – continue to wear a mask, wash their hands and social distance for the foreseeable future.

Read more about travel during the pandemic and other safe travel considerations in Dr. Sanford's editorial on MerckManuals.com.

About The Merck Manuals and MSD Manuals

First published in 1899 as a small reference book for physicians and pharmacists, The Merck Manual grew in size and scope to become one of the world's most widely used comprehensive medical resources for professionals and consumers. As The Manual evolved, it continually expanded the reach and depth of its offerings to reflect the mission of providing the best medical information to a wide cross-section of users, including medical professionals and students, veterinarians and veterinary students, and consumers. In 2015, The Manuals kicked off Global Medical Knowledge 2020, a global initiative with the goal to make the best current medical information accessible by up to three billion professionals and patients around the world by 2020. The Manuals achieved that goal, and today its medical information is available in more than 241 counties and in nearly a dozen languages. It's continuing its ambitious mission through outreach, education and creating new reliable medical resources. For access to thousands of medical topics with images, videos and a constantly expanding set of resources, visit MerckManuals.com or MSDManuals.com and connect with us on social media:
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About Merck

For more than 125 years, Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases in pursuit of our mission to save and improve lives. We demonstrate our commitment to patients and population health by increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, Merck continues to be at the forefront of research to prevent and treat diseases that threaten people and animals – including cancer, infectious diseases such as HIV and Ebola, and emerging animal diseases – as we aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

SOURCE The Merck Manuals