Is it safe to go to the beach in a pandemic? What you need to know

Is it safe to go to the beach in a pandemic? What you need to know

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Editor’s Comment – As the pandemic continues, CNN does not recommend that people engage in these activities. But if you go, there are ways to reduce risks. Of course, people with vaccines are at a much lower risk of developing and spreading coronavirus than people who have not yet been vaccinated. CNN medical analyst Dr. Leana Wen recommends approaching your activity decisions with that in mind.

(CNN) – With summer around the corner and more people getting Covid-19 vaccines, you might be asking yourself to go to the beach.

Even for people who have been fully vaccinated, ‘nothing will be 100% safe, just like a 100% risk’, ‘says dr. Leana Wen, medical analyst at CNN, an emergency physician and visiting professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. Beaches “however, are much safer than other environments because they are outdoors.”

Pictured is St. Kilda Beach in Dunedin, New Zealand. As the world slowly reopens, visiting beaches may be safer than traveling to indoor destinations.

Pictured is St. Kilda Beach in Dunedin, New Zealand. As the world slowly reopens, visiting beaches may be safer than traveling to indoor destinations.

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“We have not seen that (coronavirus) can be spread in the water,” said dr. Ada Stewart, a family physician at Cooperative Health in Columbia, South Carolina, and president of the American Academy of General Practitioners said. Whether you are on the beach or with a family or friends who have been fully vaccinated, Stewart added. What helps you reduce the risk is to relax in your own area.

Always follow local government, public health, and beach prescriptions, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The beach managers may need reservations or limited capacity. Also plan to arrive “swimming ready” by first showering and changing at home.
For times when you need to be closer to people – such as when visiting the toilet or concession stand – wear a mask, wear the disinfectant and wash your hands. The CDC has advised beach managers to ensure that there is enough equipment (such as chairs and other necessities) for visitors and that everything is cleaned regularly. However, bringing hand sanitizer and disinfectant or wipes will be helpful in cleaning equipment.
If you have to shower or rinse on the beach, try to physically walk away from others or go in if the environment is not crowded. Bring an extra mask if your first mask gets wet; according to the CDC, a wet mask is less effective. And do not wear your mask in the water, as a wet mask can also make breathing difficult.

Distance yourself – on land and in water – from people who do not live with you. Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated interiors.

Coronavirus usually spreads through respiratory droplets during close physical contact, so Wen is more concerned “about what happens when people leave the beach and eventually go to the bar.” Even if people are far away in places like bars and restaurants inside, it is still best to wear a mask if you might share air.

Plan ahead for refreshments, meals and drinks that you will enjoy – and where and how you will enjoy them – while you are there. Outdoor restaurants and bars are ideal, Wen said.

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