TRANSFIGURATION PARISH
NURSE PROGRAM

Pat Hebert, RN, MA, Faith Community Nurse
(518) 753-4554 ext. 13  
p.hebert@transfigurationparish.net

Our mission is to model the healing ministry of Jesus Christ.

Our Goal is to promote health & wellness within the values, beliefs, practices of our faith community

Nurses’ Note:
 

Health Tips

Coronavirus  Tips  for  Travel. 
Whether for a vacation, work or another matter, traveling is still happen- ing across the country via all the usual methods. Some means of trans- portation have higher risks than others and there are many other factors to consider when hitting the road. But, says pulmonary and critical care physician Joseph Khabbaza, MD.., there are still ways to plan for safe travel. "By following the guidelines and precautions as they've been laid out over the past several months, like social distancing and wearing masks, it's possible to have safe travel experiences," he says 

1. Consider where you're coming from. First, be sure to be aware of what the COV D-19 levels are for the community in which you live. Because of the risk of asymptomatic spread, you could carry the virus from a high-spread location to a low-spread location.
2. Consider where you're going. Just as you want to know the levels of spread where you live, you need to know what the COV D-19 levels are like where you're going. f they're particularly high or have seen a sharp rise recently, reconsider your visit. You'd be traveling into a hot zone that will put you at greater risk of catching the virus.
3. Check travel restrictions. Many states and local governments have also implemented travel restrictions that may require a quarantine period once you arrive so be sure to check your destination's guidelines. Like- wise, check the guidelines for your home locale because your destination may be on a travel restriction list requiring you to quarantine when you get back, which has additional logistical consequences. The same goes for international travel since many countries have put heavy restrictions on accepting visitors from the nited States due to our high caseload.
4. Car trips are best. f you're up for it, hitting the road in your car is best, especially when limiting your passengers to those in your immedi- ate circle, like family members. Just be sure to clean and disinfect your car thoroughly before, during and after your trip. Designate a low-risk person to be the gas-pumper and food-runner for most stops; this helps limit the exposure of everyone in your traveling party. Just make sure anyone who leaves the car wears a mask and washes their hands before returning. And, for good measure, take the time to wipe down and disinfect the car again after longer stops. While wearing a mask in the car isn't as imperative if you're traveling with members of your household, consider wearing them if you're traveling with people from outside that circle or people who are at high-risk.
5. Staying safe on planes. Not every trip can be handled by car, of course. And with airlines offering deep discounts to encourage people to fly, it can be a much cheaper option. But there are still risks involved, particularly in terms of contact before and during the flight. While there may be fewer people flying these days due to the virus, you'll still find yourself in security and boarding lines as well as potentially crowded seating areas. Be sure to follow the standard protocol when in these situ- ations as much distance as possible, wear a mask and wash your hands after. As for the flight itself, most airlines are disinfecting planes and taking distancing precautions. And airplanes use circulated and filtered air from outside to help keep air in the cabin scrubbed, lowering the chances of the virus spreading. Just be sure to wear a mask, even if the airline you're flying doesn't require it. "Flying can be done safely," says Dr. Khabbaza. t's simply up to you to determine your risk factor. "Whether or not you choose to fly should be based on your own consid- erations of what risks you're willing to tolerate, including COV D-19 rates both at your destination and where you're traveling from.