What’s the safest way to travel right now?

Planes, trains, automobiles — is one better than the other?

Welcome to Not a Doctor, the only newsletter about health and science that wants you to relax whenever and however you can!

I’m Melody Schreiber, a journalist and the editor of What We Didn’t Expect: Personal Stories About Premature Birth (out in November). I’m not a doctor, or a scientist, or really an expert of any kind. I just like to ask questions and try to find the answers to them.

🌡 🌡 🌡

I need a break. But is it safe?

You deserve a vacation. We ALL deserve vacations. If you’re lucky enough to have some time off and the resources to take a trip, you might be concerned about how to do so safely.

I was curious about this myself, so I wrote about it for The Washington Post — especially focusing on how to travel with kids.

If you have spent any time with kids, you know they can be downright gross, but that makes them excellent barometers for safety. If it’s safe for my kid, who recently LICKED THE FLOOR, then it’s probably okay for me.

So, here’s a little advice on different ways to travel. This advice is meant for longer-term trips — 15-minute bus rides, for instance, are probably just fine.

A few things to keep in mind

With public transportation, the longer you’re on it, the riskier it is.

First of all, you have more opportunities to be exposed. On a cross-country train trip, for instance, you’ll have three days of confined interaction with poor filtration and really limited distancing options. I do not recommend going on cross-country train trips right now!

Second, the longer you’re exposed to the virus, the sicker you could get. This is called the “infectious dose,” and the more you’re around it, the higher your odds of developing severe illness.

I would also avoid the bathroom if you can. No matter how you travel, try to stay away from busy public restrooms if possible.

Steel yourselves, because this part is gross: Fecal matter can contain the virus, and toilets aerosolize it — meaning there could be a cloud of poop virus floating over the toilet for a few minutes after every use.

Now, it’s not clear how infectious that poop virus is, but there was a cluster of cases in a Chinese apartment building where the only contact happened via an old, faulty plumbing system. So, I’d be careful.

I’m not saying “don’t go at all!” because everyone poops. However, try to choose a less-busy rest stop or restaurant. Give it a little time — at least 30 seconds — after someone leaves the stall before you enter it. And don’t take any bathroom breaks just for funsies; try to minimize them whenever possible.

Avoiding crowds when possible is also a great idea.

With all of these options, the same safety advice as usual applies: stay home if you’re sick; wear a mask; keep a six- to ten-foot distance; and avoid crowds, especially indoors, whenever you can.

For other practical tips on traveling, check out the Post piece.

Photo: Andy Mitchell

Airplanes

Airplanes actually have hella good filtration — the air is cycled out every three to four minutes, which is really impressive. And they use HEPA filters, which are top-of-the-line — they capture most virus particles.

The problem with airplanes is, you’re stuck in them for hours with the same people, and you can’t just move to a different seat (usually) if you’re a little too close for comfort. Even if the air is cycled every few minutes, if someone near you (three rows behind or in front of you) has the virus, it’s very likely you’ll get it. Wearing a mask helps, but it’s not foolproof.

Keeping a distance helps, and some airlines have been better about that than others — check before you book.

The other thing about flying: you have to spend some time in airports. Ugh! That’s always a pain in the butt, but now could end up causing you great pain elsewhere, too.

In general, I strongly recommend avoiding crowded indoor places whenever you can, and airports definitely count. Space out in the terminal, don’t get too close during the check-in line, don’t eat at indoor restaurants. Wash your hands, sure, but a bigger threat is being within six feet of someone else’s air.

Buses

Buses are basically the same as airplanes, but with MUCH worse air filtration. While an airline’s HEPA filter is 99.5 percent effective at catching viruses, a bus’s air filter is closer to 20 or 30 percent, Qingyan Chen, an engineering professor at Purdue University, told me.

He would much rather take a plane than a bus or the subway. And on long-range buses, you’re with people for a similarly long amount of time, often without the ability to open the windows.

Trains

Trains, like buses, have worse filtration than planes, and they often take longer to reach long-distance destinations.

As much as it pains me to say this, because I LOVE trains, I wouldn’t get on one right now. I’m even avoiding short-range trips on the metro, because they go underground and have terrible air circulation. (But I’m extremely privileged to have that option at all.)

Edit: See update in the comments about traveling via Amtrak.

Cars

If you have been living that car-free life, I’m deeply sorry. Cars are going to be your best bet for traveling safely.

They allow you to keep a distance from any strangers, except for fleeting interactions at gas stations, and they allow you some flexibility on when and where you stop for breaks — unlike bus stops and airports.

I offered a few tips for road trips in a previous update if you’d like a refresher.

If you don’t own a car but you still want to get out of town, I believe renting one is pretty low risk; you might just want to step out of the car while the A/C runs and the doors are open to air it out for a bit.

🌡 🌡 🌡

I hope this is helpful; please leave a comment if there’s something I’ve overlooked or something you’d like clarification on.

Next, I want to talk about destinations — how worried should you be about catching Covid from doorknobs? If you’ve booked a trip already, are you familiar with their mask mandates?

If you liked this post, don’t forget to hit the little heart right below these words. And if you know someone who might appreciate this newsletter, please forward it to them!