Updated: May 9, 2022
I know we’re all over COVID but even still, I wouldn’t go anywhere where there aren’t a lot of hospital beds, regardless of whether there’s a pandemic going on or not. What happens if you get in a car accident or have a heart attack?
So how do you find out what local hospitalization numbers are in the destination you’re traveling to? There are a few ways:
1. Use Google
Google the destination and the word “hospitalizations” or “COVID rates”. I just did that with NYC and the New York City Health website came up. It shows that case numbers are increasing but hospitalizations are stable and deaths are declining.
2. Read The Local News
Check the local newspapers or TV station websites and see what their top stories are. When my family and I were thinking of going to Honolulu in August 2021, I checked KHON’s website (Channel 2 news) to see their top stories. The first was: We’re closer to the point where we will run out of capacity’: Hawaii health officials urge no gatherings. One of the quotes in the story was from the Healthcare Association of Hawaii president stating, “We’re getting closer and closer to the point where we really will run out of capacity in the state.” Gulp. We postponed that trip and went in early March when cases/hospitalizations were low.
3. CovidActNow.org
This brings me to my go-to website for checking hospitalizations and case numbers. COVID Vaccine & Risk Tracker – Covid Act Now. Just type in the destination (city, county, state or zip). Back in June 2021, I put in Port St. Lucie and as you can see from the screenshot below, they were disastrous.
I wouldn’t have gone to Florida if they paid me during that time. So I just put in Fairfield County, CT where I grew up and am planning on taking my kids soon and although cases are up, hospitalizations are down. See screenshot below.
I know people want to travel and they are. TSA checkpoint numbers are close to pre-pandemic levels. I’m one of them and I think if you’re fully vaccinated, don’t have any pre-existing conditions and don’t live with anyone who is vulnerable, like those with health problems, then go. Just be sure to ask your doctor and follow the guidelines.
If you want to be extra cautious, I would wear a solid mask, bring a portable HEPA filter, avoid crowds, don’t eat indoors and try to fly first class to have fewer people around you.
Another resource: CDC COVID Data Tracker
Good for you for standing up for public health and people instead of the Almighty Dollar!
Thank you for your comments regarding travelling to Hawaii right now. I’m a resident of Maui, and I can tell you, our local population is feeling extremely stressed right now. Our hospital is at capacity and infections are on the rise, seemingly uncontrolled. Our small, very remote, communities in Hana, Molokai and Lanai are starting to have clusters in their communities as well, which is really scary as they have no long term acute care available to them.
Residents have been asked to hunker down, stay home, don’t gather and “do our part” while tourists keep flocking here unabated, large gatherings, packed resorts/beachs. Many of us are feeling upset and angry, trying to protect our families the best we can when many work in the hospitality industry.
Now is not a good time to visit and expect to feel the “Aloha Spirit” from us.
You mention clusters and infections that are uncontrolled. Perhaps if people vaccinated as we are required to before we visit your island.
Just for your information , hawaii has the 3rd highest rates of vaccination in the country. We were doing great with that. This latest surge has shaken us all
Hoping you don’t read this or see this as one of those crazy anti-vaxxer comments but….
We got back from our other home in Hawaii couple of weeks ago – Big Island. More crowded THAN USUAL. (Generally not crowded.) Yes, but had no problem with rental car or going out to eat or going grocery shopping or even going to a few “tourist” stops. Generally, as we’ve been going to our home for many, many years we only go to tourist stuff when we are showing someone around-that was the occasion this time. Traffic, etc. extremely mild in comparison to our home near beach in So CA.
At same time, we heard mayor’s of two islands- Maui and Hawaii voicing complaints of locals, which amounted to, “….we want tourist $$ but not the tourists.” The mayor of Maui went so far as to tell airlines to quit bringing people. There was NO SURGE in Covid. Alas, the airlines kind of laughed. As you may know, the Mayors of the Islands are quite powerful. Two weeks hence the Islands announced, HUGE SURGE Remember this was while mainlanders were not allowed to come unless fully vaccinated. I wonder about credibility of Island reports.
The Hawaii news is very sad indeed. I spent the months of November, February and April on the big Island and was happy to see all the precautions in place and that everyone was mask wearing, social distancing and eating outside. Thanks for the links. I plan on spending Oct and Nov back in Hawaii even if it’s hunkering down. I won’t be part of the problem.
If only the airlines would listen – they are sticking to non-refundability, even to crazy high covid states, including states asking people to stay away (Hawaii). While many are allowing credits vs cancel, given COVID, not sure we’d use credits this year.
Do you see this changing and bringing back more cancellation/refund options if covid continues this trend?
Johnny Jet has been overreacting nonstop since the start of the pandemic. Remember, WE WILL NEVER HAVE ZERO COVID. It WILL become endemic like the flu or common cold. It will NEVER go away completely.
Also note that vaccination rates are not that high in the US. So go get your vaccine and grow up and move on with life. Or how about we just stop giving people their welfare check until they get vaccinated?
There is a certain percentage of our population who REFUSE to move on and are totally ok with destroying our culture, politics, economy, and mental health over this virus.
Get vaccinated. MOVE ON.
Great info. I respect those in Hawaii who would like a break from tourists. Totally understandable. I’d rather not be part of a problem and appreciate your insight.
Thanks for the information and thoughts. Ignore comments that contain all caps.
Covid is wild in Hawaii. Johnny is right. Don’t plan to go to Hawaii for the next few months. Think of cancelling your trip. See you next year.
Get vaccinated, Wear a mask indoors and in crowded outdoor places, social distance, and please don’t come to Hawaii now. Our hospitals are full. Our health care system cannot handle this many sick people.
And NO, it is not like the flu. You don’t have to get this. Just use precautions, commons sense, stay away from all crowds, and get vaccinated. Flus and Colds do not do this to our hospitals.
The Delta variant has been a game changer. The virus has mutated, obviously causing many breakthrough cases which are outsmarting the vax. Please don’t give up hope! There are prescription medications and nutritional supplements such as zinc, quercitin, Vits D and C, that generally work well if taken within the first few days of symptoms. These treatments, in combination with certain antibiotics, blood thinning meds, prednisone and others, which have all undergone multiple world wide studies, are proving to be helpful. I have first hand experience with the benefits of early treatment. Florida is setting up monoclonal antibody clinics throughout the state because the med has been documented to reduce the symptoms and viability of the disease. It is very disappointing that the CDC isn’t encouraging use of these meds in the early stages and is relying only on the vax, which we now see isn’t foolproof. Often, if you wait until a patient turns blue and has respiratory issues, it is too late.
Johnny, thanks for continuing to post. I really appreciate your opinions . Hoping your dad makes a full recovery soon!