The Role of COVID19 Testing For Travel

Our last Thanksgiving as a whole family. November 2017

I lost my father to cancer in 2018. After that loss, I vowed to see my mother, who lives in Texas, as often as possible. For 2020 my sisters and I had planned an Alaskan cruise with my mother. I had planned to go visit her for a couple of weeks in Texas in the spring and fly her to Culver so she could spend a week of the glorious Lake Maxinkuckee summer with us. As with many families, this little pandemic changed our plans.

With the increased number of cases in Marshall County and my almost daily exposure to COVID positive patients, we made the decision not to travel to see our families this holiday season. Chris and I are not prepared to lose another parent. The vaccine availability has also given me hope that the end of the pandemic is near. Once my mother and I are both fully vaccinated, you can bet I will get on a plane to go see her.

I also realize there is a great amount of privilege that goes with my plan. As a physcian, I was one of the first people in Marshall County to be vaccinated. I have been able to assist my mother in navigating the complex health care system so she can get the vaccine as soon as it is available to her Tier. My mother is healthy for her age, and I have no reason to believe she will not be around in a few months to wait until we are both vaccinated against COVID before we see each other again. 

At Culver Pediatrics, we completely UNDERSTAND that every family’s situation is different than ours. We want to make sure that families who choose to travel or get together this holiday season do so as safely as possible.

Here is a summary of the CDC domestic travel recommendations:

Don’t travel if you are sick or test positive for COVID-19. Don’t travel with someone who is sick.

Isolate yourself for 14 days prior to travel by avoiding non-essential gatherings.

Get your flu shot at least 2 weeks prior to travel.

Consider testing

Testing could improve traveler safety.

The safest thing to do is to stay home, but if you do decide to travel, testing can help you do so more safely. You and your travel companions (including children) may feel well and not have any symptoms, but you can still spread COVID-19  to family, friends, and your community after travel. Testing does not eliminate all risk, but it can help make travel safer.

• If you are traveling, consider getting tested with a viral test 1-2 days before your trip. Also consider getting tested with a viral test 3-5 days after your trip and reduce non-essential activities for a full 7 days after travel, even if your test is negative. If you don’t get tested, consider reducing non-essential activities for 10 days after travel.
• Keep a copy of your test results with you during travel.
• Do not travel if you test positive; immediately isolate yourself, and follow public health recommendations.

At Culver Pediatrics Center, we have rapid COVID Testing available to meet your travel and family gathering needs. Even if you test negative for a pre-travel test, when you meet with friends or family outside your household you should still follow precautions like wearing a mask, distancing as much as possible, and frequent sanitizing of hands and touch surfaces.

We aim to be the best pediatric practice in the state of Indiana. If your child is not yet part of the Culver Pediatrics family, sign up in the email opt-in below to learn more about our boutique pediatric services. 

Resources:

CDC Domestic Travel Guidelines