For the few people planning to travel this Thanksgiving, the majority are traveling by car. That’s likely to involve a pit stop at a toll road service area, depending on the distance or time.
In the age of the coronavirus pandemic, how risky is it to stop for a snack or a restroom break? We asked a public health expert to rank the risks, reasons and precautions travelers can take when they take a break.
One advantage travelers have is that experts know more about how the coronavirus is transmitted than they did at the beginning of the pandemic in March, said Dr. Melissa Perry, professor and chairperson of the Environmental and Health department at the Milken Institute of Public Health at George Washington University.
The main way COVID-19 is transmitted is through airborne particles, which makes wearing a face covering in public essential, she said. The New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway require masks to be worn in its service areas, said Tom Feeney, a Turnpike Authority spokesman.
“Social distancing is encouraged. The indoor seating is at 25% of capacity. And there is hand sanitizer available,” Feeney said.
The best rule to reduce the risk of getting the coronavirus is to follow the 3 tenants of prevention: maintain a six-foot distance from other people, wear a mask and wash or use sanitizer on your hands, Perry said.
Let’s go to the service area and see what’s low and high risk.
Door handles are a surface many people are touching. What makes this risky depends on what you do after you touch the handle, Perry said.
“The jury is out on how long it lingers on high touch surfaces, that’s why we encourage people to wash or sanitize their hands,” she said. “Also avoid touching your face.”
Despite what most people might consider the ick factor, the restroom isn’t the festering pit of germs one might think. One reason is because public facilities have increased cleaning and sanitizing protocols, Perry said.
A contractor operates the service areas for the Turnpike Authority and has enhanced its cleaning and disinfecting procedures, Feeney said.
“You won’t encounter the virus in that short time,” Perry said. “Using the restroom is low risk, if you follow the precautions.”
Many public restrooms feature no touch activated sinks, soap dispensers and hand dryers, eliminating those high traffic touch points, she said. People also are at the best place to kill the virus – a sink with soap and warm water.
“Wash your hands well with soap and warm water,” Perry said. “Washing your hands will kill most bacteria and viruses.”
This is low risk because the average can of soda, or bag or box of snacks is not likely to transmit the coronavirus, Perry said.
People were wiping down groceries in the beginning of pandemic, but experts are more knowledgeable now about how the virus is transmitted, she said.
This is high risk, not because of dirty dollars and cruddy coins, but because of person-to-person contract, Perry said.
“I don’t think there is any data to say cash is a cause of virus transmission. It’s coming in contact with other people,” she said.
Stores and restaurants have gone cashless to avoid that contact between people.
Eat or drink it in your car or outside, with social distancing, Perry said.
“It’s much better (outside) because of air flow. Fresh air helps a lot,” she said.
Should you wear gloves? Carrying a small container of sanitizer is better than carrying a fist full of gloves.
“I’d advise leaving gloves for those on the front lines and maintain hand hygiene,” Perry said.
And of course, the best advice is not to go out in public in the first place if you feel sick, she said. Stay home and consult a doctor.
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Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com.
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November 27, 2020 at 11:00PM
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Stopping for a break at a N.J. rest stop? Here’s how you can make sure you stay safe. - NJ.com
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