With many families’ spring break plans canceled in 2020, and after this turbulent past year, it’s safe to say students are champing at the bit to have some rest and relaxation time.

Even though travel isn’t totally banned this year, the Centers for Disease Control is still recommending no travel.

However, school nurse Mrs. Marianne Vogt ‘86 provides tips and precautions for the families who are taking a vacation. Vogt said, “Of course it’s a big thing for everybody to do spring break. I think we have to use a lot more precautions this year as far as where people want to go and just to be sure they’re keeping with all the Covid precautions like wearing masks and keeping their distance.”

She added that you should continue with the same precautions, especially in the high-risk Covid states. Some tips she gave for travelers are to wash your hands often and sanitize, order or pick up groceries instead of shopping in the store, order carry-out from restaurants instead of dining in and continue social distancing.

Vogt said, “I would advise against international travel. And if anyone does go to Mexico or the Caribbean (for example), they would have to do a two-week quarantine when they return. That’s actually a state rule now. Cathedral decided we’re definitely enforcing (that ruling) if you go out of the country. Mexico is in a horrible Covid situation right now, even though some of the places (there) might be way better than us, it’s still the travel (aspect. If you are traveling) within the U.S., use the same precautions you would use here. If you go out of the U.S., you would only be allowed to do virtual when you come back.” 

She added that going to the airport and boarding planes are the places where a person might be at higher risk of getting exposed to the virus, “Be extra careful at airports, (and) wash your hands. I think the airport is more dangerous than an airplane, so wear your mask. The CDC has now (suggested that) double-masking helps more. I feel like in an airport I probably would double-mask if I wanted to be really safe.”

Vogt would advise students not to vacation with other families, “I know a lot of people go on spring break with six or seven different families and things. So, if they’re not people you’ve been around all the time like that, that’s another way where you just opened yourself up to a lot of people versus just sticking with your own family. Opening up your bubble of people on spring break and just acting like Covid is not there, you’re probably going to expose your group because you’re around so many other people at once,” she said. 

Vogt added that despite the CDC’s anti-travel stance, she feels it could be good to have some relaxation time after this turbulent year. Vogt said, “I think going out on a beach and getting some sunshine is really good for people, just do it in a safe way.”