LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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THE OUTBREAK OF AND response to COVID-19 has affected our lives, our livelihoods and the economy at the local, national and global levels. And it has had a profound effect on the travel industry.

Visiting New York City in December has become an annual tradition for me. Before I got married, I’d travel from the Washington, D.C., area with my friends, shopping at outdoor holiday markets and seeing Broadway shows. Once I met my husband, we would visit Rockefeller Center, hang out with college classmates and hit legendary venues, like Junior’s Cheesecake in Brooklyn.

As we grapple with the unprecedented scope of this pandemic, many events, festivals and celebrations have been suspended or canceled. Many people have delayed or altered their travel plans . However, I’m encouraged to know that some traditions, such as the elaborate holiday-themed retail window displays, will continue this year. Restaurants have expanded outdoor dining options, and artists have taken to the streets to share their talents. As usual, New York serves as an example of America’s resilience. Across the country, businesses that provide lodging, food and transportation are starting to reopen with varied stipulations and baseline measures that aim to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

The USA TODAY Network is committed to providing timely, engaging and accurate information in our coverage, but given

Issue Editor Tracy Scott Forson with Santa in New York City in 2016, before social distancing

MICHAEL FORSON

the evolving nature of this health crisis, we realize that there will undoubtedly be changes to the accessibility of many of the locations, venues and services mentioned throughout this publication. Please check with businesses for the latest updates.

We also know that the travel and tourism industry is resilient. It has rebounded from natural disasters, economic recessions and other crises before, and while this pandemic is uncharted territory, it is our hope that national and international exploration will resume soon. For now, we will continue to look beyond today and provide you with the amazing sights, sounds, tastes and experiences that await.

In the meantime, go ahead and ask Santa for a COVID-19-free 2021.

Tracy Scott Forson Issue Editor

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UP FRONT | TRAVEL

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Germ-Free Journey

Be cautious of coronavirus during your travels

By Curtis Tate

RAVEL IN THE MIDDLE of a global

Tpandemic presents challenges, with each activity carrying its own level of risk for contracting the coronavirus.

Dr. Joseph Khabbaza, a pulmonary and critical care physician at the Cleveland Clinic medical center, says many of his patients have questions related to travel activities.

“Every industry has interventions in place to make things safer,” he says.

The Cleveland Clinic has been helping United Airlines develop its coronavirus mitigation policies, including requiring face masks, installing touchless kiosks and encouraging physical distancing.

“Companies are bringing in outside health experts,” Khabbaza says. “That can be a little bit reassuring.”

Khabbaza, who recently took a 500-mile road trip with his family to New York’s Long Island, offered his thoughts on the relative risks of different travel activities and best practices.

PLANES, TRAINS AND BUSES

In spite of all the precautions now in place, Khabbaza says flying offers the most potential for exposure because of the nature of how planes are configured.

“You’re in relative closer proximity to people you don’t know,” Khabbaza says.

Surface transportation presents similar challenges, he adds.

“Distancing isn’t always possible to the extent you’d like,” he says. “That’s not going to go away as long as the virus is around.”

Like the airlines, train and bus operators are requiring passengers to wear face masks. They’re also promoting physical distancing when possible and cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces more often. ROAD TRIPS

Take precautions every time you step out of the car, whether for gas, food or a rest break, Khabbaza advises. Use hand sanitizer every time you’re at the gas pump and avoid using your phone while you’re doing it.

Adults and older children can visit convenience stores and eat in restaurants, says Khabbaza. With younger kids, take them to the restroom and then back to the car to eat, he suggests. That minimizes exposure to surfaces and items where infected droplets may have fallen. CRUISE SHIPS

Although cruise ships were some of the original hot spots for the coronavirus, Khabbaza says when they resume sailing, their risk should be lower as long as passengers and crew members adhere to precautions cruise companies are putting in place.

“It involves buy-in from everyone,” he adds.

Cruise ship passengers can stay separate from other groups on the ship by remaining in their rooms. Common areas of the ship offer space for distancing, and outdoor activities are inherently less risky for disease transmission, Khabbaza explains.

The elimination of buffet food service, a move under consideration by multiple cruise lines, would remove a point of potential transmission not only for the coronavirus, but also for the foodborne illnesses that have long plagued cruise ship operations, Khabbaza notes.

GETTY IMAGES

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