Recently, the U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has uploaded a new set of guidelines for the prevention of coronavirus infection during travel and other activities for summer. At the start of this month, the agency had given instructions on safe community gatherings and events.
Although the health agency has been constantly uploading new sets of instructions every few weeks since the beginning of the pandemic, many people have reportedly stopped following them after the end of the lockdown. Therefore, the new set consists of guidelines for both people who are traveling or going to an event as well as those who are organizing the gathering or hosting people.
In addition, the set also focuses on how certain activities during the summer break may be riskier in comparison with others. The location and place of the event or activity are also equally important and people who are more vulnerable to the coronavirus infection such as older adults and those with underlying conditions may easily contract the virus there.
According to health experts, the new instructions are mostly based on guiding people on how to stay safe as well as how certain activities they may choose to engage him may put them at a higher risk of catching the coronavirus infection even if they follow all preventive measures.
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For instance, going to big gatherings that last for a long period of time is likely to be hotspots for coronavirus transmission. This is because it is often difficult to practice social distancing in large crowds. A big number of people also mean that there is a higher risk of coming into contact with an asymptomatic coronavirus patient.
In comparison, smaller events for a shorter time span are comparatively safer. However, the CDC still recommends virtual meetings and events to be the ideal option even after the end of lockdown.
Similarly, the place of the event or social activity taking place also plays a fundamental role. It is up to the states and municipalities to impose stricter rules in areas with a high number of coronavirus cases to lower the transmission rate. Gatherings at such places usually have also additional restrictions.
Additionally, gatherings that include people coming from different areas of the state or country are also likely to have a higher rate of coronavirus transmission. Being a part of an event in a riskier area or an event including people from different states in much more dangerous than having dinner with neighbors.
For traveling, the farther the destination, the higher the risk of contracting the coronavirus. This is because long travel usually requires the use of public transport, where social distancing is difficult, for a longer period of time.
Secondly, there is an elevated risk of coming into contact with not only an infected person but with infected surfaces at places visited during the travel or the place booked for staying. Make sure to follow all preventive measures with extra precaution while traveling.
Upon potentially coming into contact with a person with the coronavirus infection or developing similar symptoms, delay any plans immediately. The CDC recommends staying in quarantine for at least fourteen days to avoid further spread of the virus.
For organizers and hosts, it is also important to inform people prior to the event to stay home in case they have symptoms as well as arrange in accordance with the guidelines so that social distancing can be safely practiced.