Traveling during Covid

[Nocillo]

Hello all! I’m thinking about doing something completely out of character by traveling to Florida during a really bad outbreak of Covid there. We’re trying to move there and I’m getting so impatient to get there and look for a town and a house. After sitting around all last year, I feel like I need to do something to live my life , especially since my current meds are working well and I’m not in pain. I have purchased a very good air cleaner for the hotel room and will wear masks and a shield and gloves and eat in the room with a kitchenette. I’m planning on sleeping in a mask too. Am I insane? I really feel the need to live if I’m alive! A move would be a new adventure for me and I really need one. Any other ideas would be welcome!

[blms]

Well Florida is blowing up but I think the plane/airport thing is a bit more secure than it was a few weeks ago. I do NOT think there is any reason to sleep with a mask plus you need good oxygen. I d say go for it.

[blms]

Where r you looking in Florida

[Nocillo in reply to blms]

Probably the west side of Orlando somewhere. I don’t want to be too far from Moffitt cancer center in Tampa and my daughter has a friend in citrus county. I’d prefer to be near the beach but husband and daughter want more inland. Thanks for your response!

[blms in reply to Nocillo]

My sister lives in the Villages and LOVES it! So many activities or not depending on your preference!!! A bit southwest of Orlando

[Hidden]

Are you fully vaccinated? As of when?

[Nocillo in reply to Hidden]

Yes as of May and I’m getting a third shot soon.

[Hidden in reply to Nocillo]

Glad to hear that!

With that in mind, here are my 2 cents based on my understanding of the science. We still have fully masked requirements for air travel and the well performing air filtration system on planes. Since then, we’ve not seen any major covid outbreaks from air travel. So that is a trip I would be comfortable taking.

I personally would be extra careful in covid hot spots like Florida, especially counties with low vaccination rates. I would focus on outdoor dining with good air circulation.

I would only consider indoor restaurants as a last resort. Even then, I’d look for restaurants with high ceilings, good air circulation, reduced capacity, or socially distanced table seatings. We’ve learned that venues without these conditions are higher vectors for transmission.

Even though you are fully vaccinated, the delta variant — and any successor variants that will likely occur due to inadequate vaccine rates - are concerns.

Yes, the breakthrough rate is low for fully vaccinated people. But who wants to worry about being unable to find proper medical care in areas where hospitals have less and less capacity due to covid surges? Especially when we have low white cell counts etc related to our medication

It’s like wearing your seat belt. Yes, we don’t always like having to do so. But the risk of injury from even a low speed collision is real so we exercise caution. Wear your seatbelt. Wear your mask when indoors. Avoid super crowded indoor venues.

Good luck.

[Nocillo]

Thanks so much! I will likely avoid all restaurants and we’ll be driving ourselves.

[JKMS]

I live in London which has had a very high rate of covid and flew to Barcelona a few weeks ago when cases were increasing and travelled around that area via trains and taxis and planning another trip overseas in a few weeks. I act very much as normal which I think helps with trying to live life as it should be lived without this disease. I did catch covid last year (shortly after lung surgery 🤦🏻‍♀️) but had no symptoms so maybe my lower concern levels have been driven by that. I also took the vaccine mainly to make travel easier. I hope you have great time in Florida!

[Beryl71]

Good luck , I certainly understand the break out feeling! X

[AvidBooklover]

I have friends in FL who all have "conditions," and three have gotten Covid after being double vaxed, but none had more than a cold and all recuperated at home.

A friend in the UK who was double vaxed and is undergoing chemo for a recurrence of lymphoma caught it in the hospital and said he just had a cold for a week.

A friend in LA and his wife both got Covid after double vax and again just colds. So I would say, be careful, but know from what I have heard, if you are double vaxed, not the worst.

BTW I had Covid in Mar 2020...bad cold with high fever and could not care about eating. Was wiped out for two weeks, and except for one day in bed, I worked some every day even doing 3 on-air interviews. Never felt need for hospital. Did stop Ibrance for a week. So this is all anecdotal, not just what is on the news, which I really think is to encourage non-vax to do it!

And I agree with whoever said, skip the mask in your room! Enjoy your trip!

[Nocillo in reply to AvidBooklover]

Thanks for the info!

[SpongebobMom]

FLs number are high becaue everyone in "closed down" states is here! Typical summers show a decrease in people than compared to the winters...not this year.

Just take logical steps in protecting yourself. Come & visit & have a great time.

[Nocillo in reply to SpongebobMom]

Thanks!

[Bettybuckets]

I hear that trh villages has a high percentage of vax. That would be reassuring to live amount thr highly vaccinated.