Traveling This Summer? Plane, train, and bus travelers still need to wear masks, even if they are vaccinated.
Whether staying in town and just getting back to work and some semblance of ‘normal’, or planning a much-needed getaway, do not forget to pack your respirator. The consequences of not wearing one may be costlier than you think, and who knows when product shortages are going to hit face masks again.
Travel is Taking Off Again
Businesses are ordering workers back to the office. As stimulus and unemployment benefits end more will eventually need to pack back into buses, trains, and planes to return to working. In fact, 47 out of 50 corporations had told airlines they will resume flying this year according to the Wall Street Journal.
Even though business travel may not return to previous normal levels for a while, leisure travel is booming again. Orlando’s International Airport alone reported 360,000 passengers departing between May 27th and June 1st. A 500% increase from last year. With international flights preparing to start up again, and domestic lines increasing their number of weekly flights between states, those figures are likely to explode over the summer.
Airbnb has said it is desperate for millions of more hosts to handle demand for this summer.
While RVing has rocketed to being a popular choice for travel, shortages of units, and skyrocketing RV and trailer costs are making it one of the more expensive ways to travel this year. While the idea sounds great, most travelers are not cut out for dozens of hours of driving, towing huge trailers or dealing with the messier side of cleaning out the facilities.
While vaccination levels in the US have remained far lower than the government was pressing for, the more vaccinations that happen, the hope is more will open.
Even without them much of the US and world has been opening for travel again. Parts of Europe have even been reportedly opening. While those looking for the peace of mind of staying closer to home may find Mexico, Hawaii, Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands all options according to The Pints Guy.
Others are looking forward to getting back to cruises. Though if you have enough money, it seems you can charter a yacht or private flight just about anywhere you want to go on the planet. Or, if you are Jeff Bezos, even off planet.
Wherever you are dreaming of going, you deserve it. There is no telling how long this current freedom is going to last. Just be safe. Know the rules for showing proof of the right vaccination, getting pre and post travel COVID tests, quarantine on both ends of your trip, face mask rules, and where you are allowed to stay.
Do Not Forget to Pack Your n99 mask
Even in the United States, which is considered one of the lowest risk countries, and most open, face masks are mandated on public transport, buses, trains, and planes. Some individual states are still incredibly strict on travel.
Even if traveling from or passing through many free states like Texas and Florida, you do not want to arrive to wherever you have paid for your vacation to find masks are mandatory, and you cannot find one to buy locally.
The Penalties for Not Wearing a Mask Are Still Severe
Wearing face masks on public transportation is not just a CDC recommendation, it is a federal mandate. The FAA also has a ‘Zero Tolerance Policy’ towards those refusing to wear masks on airplanes.
This means you could not only face tens of thousands of dollars in fines for forgetting your mask but may also face jail time.
Besides, who wants to be yanked off their flight, or hauled away by the TSA security agents, and spend the vacation they paid for in a cell or court instead? However, you feel about masks, it just is not worth it.
This applies even for fully vaccinated travelers.
Individual states also have their own rules for non-vaccinated, partially vaccinated, and fully vaccinated individuals. You might be surprised at the places you are required to wear a mask even if fully vaccinated. Michigan includes one of those that continue to have strict rules, even outdoors.
Travelers landing in other countries can find they are in serious legal problems and end up staying in foreign jails, even in unwittingly breaking the rules.
Why Wear a Mask?
Even if you have been the most outspoken anti-masker and anti-vaxxer over the past year there are good reasons to keep wearing n95 mask, and to ensure you have plenty handy. Comparing masks is mandatory to make sure you buy the one that fits you.
Even in seemingly open places like Florida some hotels will still require you to have a mask.
It is also important not to be lured into a false sense of safety with rumors of many people getting vaccinated. According to the New York Times, on a national level the US has given 97 vaccines per 100 people. Though, if you dig into the data, some areas still have low single digit percentages of the local population vaccinated.
Fake or falsified vaccine passports are also becoming a thing. You cannot just assume you are safe because you think everyone else is vaccinated.
At least tens of thousands of people have tested positive for the coronavirus even after being fully vaccinated. New variants like the Delta plus variant are proving even more contagious and moving fast. Even in unexpected places, like Mississippi.
Even if being vaccinated may save your life, even if you are infected, you can still be a carrier and infect others who have not been vaccinated, including young children. It is not about us, but not having to live with infecting those that we love and care about, and the potential outcomes of that.
Plus, if cases begin rising again it is quite likely we will be locked down again, and travel will be shut off. It is unlikely to recover from a second round. So, if you do not love being locked down, and want the option to travel when you need to, it just makes sense to wear a mask. At least in these recommended travel settings.
What Face Masks to Wear
Traveling may demand better quality and different types of masks than you may get away with elsewhere. You can bet you will get some of the wrong attention wearing a bandana or ski mask and sunglasses at the airport or train station.
What the CDC recommends for all situations is at least a NIOSH approved N95 dust mask. This is even more important in travel situations.
You will want to have a number of these N95 dust mask on hand. They should be changed regularly, and they will constantly get dirty traveling.
Be sure to be ahead on your supply needs, as who knows when current shortages on all types of other products may roll over to masks. Which is especially likely in the case of a new surge in cases or emergence of a new virus.
Summary
Face masks are still mandatory on buses, trains, and airplanes. More places are hiring and opening for travel this summer. Get out there and explore. Just make sure you know the rules, stay safe, and have plenty of face masks with you.