Here’s how Canadians can navigate travel in the age of Omicron

After a sustained pandemic-induced dip in air travel, Canadians are slowly starting to board flights again. International arrivals are up compared to last year, Statistics Canada data shows, although still significantly below pre-pandemic levels.

While people are on the move, the country is staring down a sixth wave of COVID-19 infections — driven by the BA. 2 variant spreads and the lifting of public health measures.

System-wide decisions, from mask mandates to access to testing, have a significant impact on overall safety, said Dr. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) at the University of Saskatchewan. These policies also reduce the chance that Canadian travelers will take the virus elsewhere.

Yet travelers can still make the best of the tools at their disposal to keep themselves and others safe. Speaking to the Star, Rasmussen — who is about to attend a work conference in Portugal — shared her advice on how to navigate travel in the age of Omicron.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE

The most critical precaution is to be fully vaccinated and to get your booster, said Rasmussen.

“Vaccination remains the most central and important thing you can do to protect yourself against getting really, really sick from COVID but also actually from getting infected,” she said.

While there are increased breakthrough infections with Omicron, a third dose “really does boost up your resistance to infection significantly,” she added.

Next, do your homework — and think about those around you. While the COVID conversation has often “revolved around individual risk,” it’s important to consider who could fall seriously ill if you inadvertently expose them to the virus after travelling, Rasmussen said.

“For me, I live here in Saskatoon with my husband and my dog. Both of us are fully vaccinated and boosted. Neither of us are at high risk. I don’t have anyone in my family who is at high risk. So I feel pretty comfortable with the precautions that I’m using,” she said.

That risk calculation may change if you live with someone who is elderly or immunocompromised, she notes.

It’s also important to consider where you’re going, destination, and plan accordingly. With no mask mandates in place, Rasmussen won’t be going out for dinner during her layover in Toronto, for example. But in Portugal, there is access to rapid tests, a good health care system, extremely high vaccination rates — and hopefully lots of outdoor dining options.

Finally, Rasmussen recommends having an isolation and quarantine plan. Getting travel insurance is a wise idea, she adds, in case your stay is unexpectedly extended.

AT THE AIRPORT

Keep your mask on for as much of your journey through the airport as possible, said Rasmussen.

“The best results are going to be from an N95 or N99 respirator,” she said.

For those who can’t access those masks or can’t afford them, any type of mask is better than nothing, she said. But bear in mind that the sealed fit of an N95 ensures that all the air you’re breathing is filtered through the respirator — making it the most effective form of masking.

When eating or drinking, avoid large crowds of people where possible — especially because air filtration systems will vary from airport to airport, Rasmussen said.

ON THE PLANE

The good news is that modern airplanes typically have High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters that help mitigate aerosol COVID transmission. Cabin air is also typically renewed once every 2 to 3 minutes.

“A plane is actually one of the safer environments to remove your mask for brief periods of time even if you’re around a lot of people,” said Rasmussen.

But be mindful of the fact that air circulation and filtration systems may not be fully operational during boarding, she added; try to avoid eating and drinking until the plane has taken off.

“You can turn on your personal fan above your head at your seat, and that can increase the air circulation around you even more.”

With all that in place, Rasmussen feels comfortable taking her mask off when necessary to eat or drink, she said.

BOTTOM LINE

“A lot of this comes down to, get vaccinated and use common sense,” said Rasmussen.

“If the situation makes you uncomfortable and you think that it’s putting you at risk, don’t do it unless you absolutely have to.”

That said, some people will increasingly have no choice but to travel for work, or may choose to do so for personal reasons.

In these cases, remember that no one layer of protection is perfect. But combined, the available tools can significantly increase your safety, said Rasmussen.

“These approaches have been working for me — and are applicable to your daily life.”

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