Their skepticism has to do with data—or the lack of good data, for that matter—on how frequently Covid has been transmitted on flights. What we do know is that in mid-April the CDC announced new evidence that keeping middle seats open decreased exposure risk by half. That figure is based on an analysis of pre-pandemic viral transmission on planes and doesn’t account for the use of masks.

Ultimately, if you’re going to be in a crowded space with strangers—and you don’t have the assurances of testing or vaccine requirements—airplanes and trains are a relatively safe bet. The air in planes produced by Boeing Co. and Airbus SE is exchanged every two to three minutes; Amtrak says its trains cycle air 44 times every hour. On a bus, you may be able to open windows.

But no system is perfect when you’re within 6 feet of others for an extended period of time, and reducing the duration of these exposures is key if everything else remains constant. Bottom line: If private travel is not an option, just get there as quickly as possible.

What precautions should I take when flying?
I also asked about double-masking, wiping down seats, and wearing a face shield—things I know many travelers had already been doing in their pre-vaccinated days. “Transmission from surfaces is much slower than we thought,” Talaat says, citing recent updates from the CDC and adding, “I don’t think you need to wipe down seats.”

All three experts see value in wearing a face shield—the plastic visors meant to prevent respiratory droplets from reaching your eyes. “The opinions on this wax and wane,” Weisenberg says. “There has been some data that they do decrease risk. It’s incremental. It’s not unreasonable.”

More ample data show the benefits of wearing a single N95 mask throughout as much of the flight as possible. Double-masking, the experts agree, is useful only if you don’t have an N95 or another high-quality mask; the practice of placing a cloth mask over a surgical one creates a better seal around the sides of your face.

Where risks crop up is when the mask needs to come off—say, for meals. “If it’s a short flight, suck it up and don’t eat,” advises Talaat. “Otherwise, do your best to avoid eating at the same time people around you are eating.” You can also get ahead of in-flight meals by filling up at the airport, so long as you find an uncrowded area to do so and avoid the busy food court.

“There has been some data that [face shields] do decrease risk. It’s incremental. It’s not unreasonable.”

Speaking of airports: It’s impossible to know how crowded they’ll be, or how long you’ll wait at customs and border patrol if you’re traveling internationally. These may be high-stress touch points and are unavoidable.

“A lot of travel medicine websites and the CDC have emphasized trying to complete as much of the bureaucracy of travel online before getting to the airport—checking in online, whatever you can accomplish,” says Caplivski.

One easy thing: Keep a pen in your carry-on. You don’t want to crowd around airport tables looking for ways to fill out traveler information forms.

Which activities are safe once I’m there?
My most burning question to the experts was a hedonistic one: Is it safe to get a massage? Yes, they all said, particularly if it’s outdoors and everyone wears a mask. (The knots in my shoulders loosened at the mere thought of it.)

Likewise, that other vacation imperative: the pool. “Swimming is relatively safe because of the chlorine,” Talaat says. “Think about it: Chlorine is closely related to bleach. It’s there to kill germs and prevent infection.” (Even saltwater pools have chlorine in their filtration systems.)