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COVID-19 In March 2020, COVID-19 turned the world upside down. During the rush to return to Canada (and hopefully, safety), few snowbirds gave any thought to where they would be next winter. Now, after months of social isolation, many are no doubt wondering whether it will be possible (or advisable) to make their usual trip south. Those willing to brave the risks may be wondering how to protect themselves from COVID-19 during their journey. Typically, about half of snowbirds travelling to the U.S. fly to their destination, while the other half drive. Assuming that the U.S.-Canada border is consistently open by October or November, travellers will need to decide between these two alternatives. For many, safety will be the primary (and possibly overriding) concern. Flying versus driving Both air and ground travel involve some risk of coronavirus infection. Airline passengers will spend hours in a small, enclosed space, surrounded by other people who are closer than the minimum six-foot distance recommended by health authorities. They will also need to share washroom facilities. Road travellers may feel safe when insulated in a vehicle but, when emerging to refuel, make purchases and especially to use public restrooms, they too run the risk of becoming infected. At the moment, it is not possible to quantify the risk of developing COVID-19 for either air or ground travel, let alone compare the two. However, snowbirds who take the “groundhog” approach have definite advantages: less financial risk, greater flexibility and more control. A sudden border closure, or being unable to board a flight means that air travellers may have to deal with additional booking fees associated with rescheduling, difficulty in obtaining cash refunds and the possibility that trip cancellation and interruption insurance may not reimburse stoppages or delays related to COVID-19. Drivers and their passengers do not share these concerns because they control both the means of transportation and their travel schedule. And, because they aren’t limited to carry-on luggage, road travellers have more leeway to bring with them the quantities of hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes and any other cleaning and sanitation supplies which they feel are necessary. Public washrooms and COVID-19 transmission Coronaviruses are most often transmitted fromsomeonewho is infected to anuninfected person nearby. This is why social distancing (remaining at least six feet away from anyone who is not part of your household) is so important, and the reason that the risk is increased in crowded settings (such as in a shopping mall or on public transit) or in large gatherings (movie theatres, sporting events). Touching something previously touched by an infected person and then touching your mouth, nose or hands is another way in which the virus is transmitted; this is one reason that frequent handwashing is recommended as a way of reducing transmission. Some features of public washrooms, including those at interstate rest areas, act to increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Public restrooms are enclosed spaces, often crowded, where people are frequently less than six feet apart. Other factors contributing to this increased risk are inadequate hand hygiene (see “Hand hygiene fail”) and poor sanitation design. Droplets of the coronavirus causing COVID-19 remain in the air for up to three hours after a toilet is flushed. A lid can help contain these droplets. Unfortunately, lidless toilets are a feature of many public washrooms. Hand hygiene fail Coronaviruses are easy to kill. Washing hands with soap and water or rubbing hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer are both effective at eradicating the virus and reducing the risk of transmission. Unfortunately, many people skip this simple step. One 2009 study found that only 31% of men and 65% of women washed their hands after using a public washroom! : Know where you “go” when you’re going south for the winter How to stay safe – and sanitized – on the road this fall by Alexis Campbell 40 | www.snowbirds.org

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