The Grandparents Want To See You. Is It Worth The Risk In A Pandemic?

Health Risks

Raveena Koular, an epidemiologist, highlights the importance of assessing health risks when visiting elderly relatives during the pandemic. She emphasizes the need for precautions like wearing masks, maintaining physical distance, and getting tested for COVID-19 before visiting. Koular warns that even with a negative PCR test, one must remain vigilant for symptoms, as false negatives are possible 1.

If you are displaying any signs and symptoms, sureness of breath, you have a fever, you have a dry cough, you have a weird taste in your mouth, a taste disturbance, do not go and visit your family member.

--- Raveena Koular

Allison Aubrey adds that chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease significantly increase the risk of severe outcomes from the virus, making it crucial to consider the health status of those you plan to visit 2.

   

Travel Safety

Traveling safely during the pandemic requires careful planning and consideration of various factors. Allison Aubrey suggests using tools like globalepidemics.org to assess the COVID-19 risk levels in different areas before traveling 3. Raveena Koular advises opting for road trips over air travel to minimize exposure to the virus, as airports and airplanes present numerous contact points with unknown individuals 4.

Traveling by car is a much safer route to go.

--- Raveena Koular

Additionally, Koular stresses the importance of maintaining physical distancing and hygiene practices, even when staying with family, to reduce the risk of transmission 3.