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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (March 24, 2020)
PAGE 6, CORONAVIRUS - Just the facts MARCH 24-25, 2020 CORONAVIRUS: JUST THE FACTS | WORLDWIDE IMPACTS Map of the COVID-19 outbreak as of March 13, 2020. TIVE REA NS MO COM C Traveling During the Outbreak Travel has been banned in multiple countries affected by COVID-19. People throughout the United States have seen major delays in domestic travel, with airlines cutting back on the number of flights. If you still need to travel for work or family reasons, there are many things to consider before buying a plane ticket or loading up your car for a road trip. BE SMART One of the first things you should ask yourself is whether COVID-19 has been spreading where you’re going. If the answer is yes, you may be at high- er risk of exposure if you travel there. Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 may increase in crowded settings, which is why all major leagues in professional sports have delayed or suspended their sea- sons. This is especially true for partic- ularly closed-in settings with little air circulation if there are people in the crowd who are sick. Similarly, strong consideration should be given to avoiding travel if COVID-19 is spreading where you live. You should avoid the risk of passing COVID-19 to others during travel, par- ticularly if you will be in close contact with older adults or people with severe chronic health conditions. WHAT’S YOUR RISK LEVEL? Older adults and people of any age with serious chronic medical condi- tions, such as heart disease, lung dis- ease or diabetes, are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19. The CDC recommends that travelers at higher risk for COVID-19 complications avoid all cruise travel and nonessen- tial air travel. WHAT IF YOU’RE EXPOSED? If you have close contact with someone with COVID-19 during trav- el, you may be asked to stay home to self-monitor and avoid contact with others for up to 14 days after travel. If you become sick with COVID-19, you may be unable to go to work or school until you’re considered nonin- fectious. Consider these possible fac- tors when traveling, as being exposed to the virus can have a big impact on your daily life or halt your profession- al capabilities. Depending on your unique circum- stances, you should be open to delay- ing or canceling your plans.
