The coronavirus has changed the world as we know it, especially when it comes to traveling both domestically and internationally. According to the U.S. Travel Association, the likelihood of an American taking a domestic leisure trip decreased over 40% in the first few months of the pandemic. But over a year later, how have things changed? With the increasing distribution of vaccines across the country, the CDC predicts that the number of U.S. COVID-19 cases will decline dramatically by the end of July. Many students, along with their families, have taken advantage of these seemingly safer conditions to travel, especially over Spring Break.
Within the Saline community, a number of families traveled out of state to visit relatives, compete in athletic tournaments, or simply enjoy time off of school and work, all while complying with safety regulations set by the CDC. One Saline High School student who traveled to Delaware to compete in a sporting event remarked that their family spent “a lot less time at rest stops” to stay safe. Moreover, while their sports team required masks while playing, several of their opponents’ teams did not have the same restrictions, which was “difficult to adjust to.”
Another student shared their experience traveling to Florida over Spring Break. Their family drove there in fear of the possibility of catching COVID on an airplane. When they arrived at their destination, they visited Disneyworld for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. While the theme park was notably less crowded and bustling with energy than what it would normally be, the student reported that “it was really interesting how it still felt like a similar experience.” Thanks to the hard work of the park’s employees and essential workers, the magic of Disneyworld was still strong, a source of comfort for many citizens—young and old—who have struggled under the pandemic.
But of course, many people chose not to travel altogether, instead staying home or enjoying the local outdoors over Spring Break. “We just didn’t want to risk it, especially since no one in our family was vaccinated at the time,” one student says. The vaccination process is another new variable that has changed the effects of the virus, and with the CDC announcing that those who are fully vaccinated will not have to wear masks in most outdoor and indoor situations, many have questioned whether the virus is finally going away for good. However, it is clear that COVID-19 is still devastating other parts of the world, such as India. As a community, we must continue to properly wear masks, participate in social distancing, and follow government regulations in order to keep ourselves and those around us safe.
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