Spread your Wings (Carefully)
MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH UPDATE
One of the hardest things about the pandemic is the loss of control over our lives. Time is at once choppy and amorphous. Do we even need a hyphen in the phrase “work-life balance anymore?” It’s now just “worklife”—as Mondays roll into Saturdays and into Mondays again.
We need a break, a change of scenery. Even a new Netflix password just for kicks.
It’s a low bar.
And it’s summer! Time for ice cream, swimming pools, and TRAVEL. We talked about road trips earlier this week, and I encourage you to try it.
But what about flying? Is it safe? Is it worth it?
The biggest potential problem with flying—or traveling by bus or train—is sitting within six feet of an infected person (who may not even feel sick).
Recall that your risk of infection is determined largely by the DURATION of time you have been exposed and the AMOUNT of virus-containing droplets in the air (both of which are informed by the PROXIMITY of the infected person to you).
Of less—but not zero—concern is transmission of virus via surfaces like the bin that carries your purse through the security belt, the door handle to the airplane restroom, or the fold-down tray table at your seat. It is possible, for example, that the presymptomatic occupant of the seat before you sneezed on the tray table, the tray table wasn’t cleaned, you touch it, then touch your face, and you get sick (5-14 days later). But there are ways to avoid this scenario, starting with our good friends Clorox and Purell.
Also of less concern is the air circulation in airplanes which, when combined with good HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filtration, is quite good. But still, even the sick person seated 20 feet behind you has to sashay by you on the way in and out.
Another consideration is the COMPLETE loss of control when you fasten your seatbelt and prepare for take-off. Unlike your ability to walk out of a crowded supermarket, there’s no turning back once you’re at 10,000 feet and your row-mate tears off his mask and starts hacking away. And for those of us already anxious about mundane issues like the future of humankind, any added vulnerability might push us over the edge.
So when pondering this decision, it’s time to revert to the good old risk/benefit ratio analysis: what is the value of the proposed activity to me, what are the risks I am putting on myself and others, and how can I mitigate them?
First, consider not flying. Haven’t you always wanted to drive cross-country with four other family members, a dog with eczema and bad bladder, and a box full of peanut butter crackers?
Ask yourself: How much does this flight mean to me? What is the alternative and is it safer?
But if you do end up flying, consider some ways to mitigate risk:
Learn what the airline’s policy is on seating. Are they limiting capacity to allow for distancing between passengers?
Check all items when possible—carry on as little as possible to avoid touching surfaces.
Bring hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes to wipe down the tray table, seatbelt, and any other high-touch surface.
Wash and sanitize your hands often and avoid touching your face.
Wear a mask at all times.
Pick a window seat if possible, because you’d rather fall asleep against the (self-sanitized) wall next to you than the sneezing dude in the middle seat. Against the window you will also avoid the traffic from people up and down the aisles.
Try to stay put while in flight!
Many of my patients are asking if they should get tested for COVID-19 upon arrival at their destination and before mingling with loved ones.
The answer is no. Remember that the incubation period is approximately 5-6 days, so getting a test upon arrival wouldn’t tell you anything about your exposure on the flight. And even if you wait 5-6 days for a test, it still isn’t that useful because of the false negative rate of the tests and because it can take up to 14 days after exposure to get sick.
So what do you do when you want to see family and you’ve made it all this way? Ideally you’d quarantine for 14 days to reduce your chance of transmitting the virus to others, particularly if you are going to be around older or high-risk people. But, once again, you have to use your judgment—and the MOSH PIT rules—to make smart decisions based on your specific situation.
In truth it is the same sort of risk assessment that you conduct whenever you go out in your car, on a bike ride, or for a walk in the city. You need to apply appropriate safety measures and common sense.
And if you are feeling short on common sense right now (like your BRAIN is on airplane mode), you are not alone! It’s hard enough knowing what socks to wear not to mention whether an airline has your best interest in mind. For any tech-savvy kids out there, this is your moment to invent the magic carpet!
I will check in tomorrow and am already looking forward to the weekend.
Programming note: Join me TOMORROW at NOON with BBC’s Katty Kay on Instagram Live for a news roundup. Bring your questions! I hope to see you there.