Traveling P.C. (post-COVID)

Thoughts & advice following my first big trip since the start of the pandemic

I am back — from my travels & to writing/providing public health updates.

There is so much to catch up on…. vaccines for kids under 5(!!!!), new variants, new vaccines, monkeypox, and changes in reproductive health care. Get ready for a flurry of posts, but first let’s talk travel in the midst of COVID (as case counts decrease in the US, but increase globally).

I recently arrived home from my first big trip — travel by airplane, bus, and train, getting through customs, international hotels, and crowded tourist attractions — since the pandemic started (PC (post-COVID) — quick note: post-COVID does NOT mean the pandemic is over, but it was my first trip since the pandemic began). And for those of you who haven’t been following along as I planned for traveling in the midst of a pandemic, I was in Israel for the first two weeks of June with the Jewish National Fund-USA.

And the trip was amazing.

Highlights include — floating in the Dead Sea, walking through the tunnels under the Western Wall, and visiting the Arava Institute. The food was amazing. As was visiting the Galilee Medical Center.

Floating in the Dead Sea — one of the craziest experiences of my life. Loved it!

The wonderful food! (Top left moving clockwise) Mahalia (milk pudding) with berries, crushed pistachios, toasted coconut, and rosewater; coffee smoothie; cheese & fruit plate, toast with za’atar, and (not seen) local wine; and hummus & pita, tomato salad, and beet salad.

Signs at the Galilee Medical Center. The translation is — “a person is a person to a person.” This is the hospital's motto. And the stories of how the medical staff here have cared for their enemies touched me deeply (will share in a future post).

Reflecting on the trip as a whole and writing about it will take some time. I promise to share thoughts, reflections, lessons learned, and (more photos) in future posts.

In the meantime, I have a lot to say about traveling in the midst of a pandemic (and on the verge of a second global health emergency, monkeypox). As I wrote previously, keeping up with COVID guidelines and requirements was/is a full-time job. In the weeks leading up to my trip, Israel changed its COVID protocols, dropping the requirement that every individual entering the country produce a negative COVID test. I did however have to provide proof of vaccination (primary series + booster). And complete a health form online prior to my departure for Israel.

Upon arriving at the airport in Pittsburgh, a United Airlines staff member checked my vaccine card and ensured that I had completed the online health form.

That was the only time in which I had to provide proof of vaccination.

Security for passengers into Israel is intense — all of my belongings were searched twice, everything was screened for explosives, and I was personally searched twice before boarding the plane. However, no additional COVID checks were in place.

MASKS — masks were NOT required anywhere except during my visit to the Galilee Medical Center. I choose to wear my mask in the airport, on the airplane, and in crowded indoor tourist attractions (like Yad Vashem, the Western Wall indoor tour, and the light rail in Jerusalem). Why did I mask? To reduce my exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In crowded indoor spaces (especially those with lousy air circulation), a well-fitting mask reduces exposure to the virus. Is it perfect protection? No, but it does reduce the risk. And I wanted to reduce my risk for two reasons. First, I didn’t want to get sick while traveling. I didn’t want to miss a moment of my trip. Second, I wanted to be sure that I would break the chain of infection; meaning that I wanted to be sure I wasn’t asymptomatically spreading the disease in crowded public spaces. Masks provide protection for me and reduce asymptomatic spread.

At this point in the pandemic, I am only masking in crowded indoor spaces.

About halfway through my trip, US travel policies changed. A negative COVID test was no longer required to return to the US. For me, this meant that I did not have to provide proof of a negative COVID test to board the plane in Tel Aviv to fly back to the US. This change highlighted two things for me — first since no one was required to show a negative test result a sick individual could board the plane. For me, this means that masking is even more important on planes and in the airport. Second, there is a need for airlines and travel agencies to allow travelers to reschedule when sick. As things are right now a sick traveler is motivated to travel while sick (and spread illnesses to others) because fees to reschedule and non-refundable tickets are high and common. There is no incentive to stay home while sick (especially when expensive trips have been purchased and cannot be rescheduled/refunded). Policy changes are needed so sick individuals are encouraged to delay travel to recover themselves (read: not travel while sick) and stop the spread of disease to others.

Sweeping changes are needed to slow the spread of disease and improve individual and community health.

If you are planning to travel this summer you must —

1. Have a plan for staying up-to-date while you are traveling. This means you need to have access to the internet while away because keeping up with policies (and policy changes) while traveling is a necessity. Websites to follow include CDC and the State Department.

2. Continue to pack a mask(s). Wear your mask in crowded indoor environments, including public transportation.

While mitigating COVID exposure while traveling is important, I hope you will all enjoy your travels this summer as much as I enjoyed my trip to Israel. After two years of COVID, I am grateful to be vaccinated and healthy, and able to travel.