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Is It Safe To Travel During A Pandemic? A Mich Med Doctor Weighs The Pros & Cons

Payal Patel
Michigan Medicine
/
uofmhealth.org

It's what would typically be the busy summer travel season, but with COVID-19 continuing to spread and impact our lives, is it safe to do?

WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with Dr. Payal Patel, an infectious disease and internal medicine physician at Michigan Medicine, about the pros and cons of traveling during our current pandemic.

Dr. Patel says she would think twice before leaving on an extended trip or to travel right now due to COVID-19.  She says everything is a calculated risk leaving your home right now, and if you don't have to ride on an airplane, she advises against it unless you have to.  

Dr. Patel says if you must stay in a hotel, you can do it but prefers a short day trip where you can return home and sleep in your own bed at night.

If you're on the road, she suggests bringing your own hand soap with you and wash your hands as much as possible and try to get out of the public bathroom without touching anything on the way out.  She repeated the importance of wearing a mask, especially inside, and said remaining vigilant about these practices can decrease how much the infection is getting around.

Dr. Patel says if you must travel, try to stay outside as much as possible and eat outdoors as much as possible as well.  But, ultimately, she says staying home and staying safe is your best bet.

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— Lisa Barry is the host of All Things Considered on WEMU. You can contact Lisa at 734.487.3363, on Twitter @LisaWEMU, or email her at lbarryma@emich.edu

Lisa Barry was a reporter, and host of All Things Considered on 89.1 WEMU.
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