Daviewolf83 said:
I may be in the minority, but I would be okay flying now. However, I would only fly on an airline that is reserving the center seat. I will also gladly fly after getting the vaccine with no issue on how crowded the plane may be.
I have two friends (husband/wife) that flew during Christmas break and they were fine. They both got Covid a couple of weeks after flying. The wife is a high school basketball coach and she got it from one of her players. Most of her team go it as well from the player. She ended up giving it to her husband. She only had mild symptoms (headache for two days and loss of smell/taste - no other symptoms). Her husband had what he described as the sniffles for four days. Neither of them ran a fever. Both are in their mid-50s and are in relatively normal health (both are former college athletes - husband coaches high school baseball).
Obviously, I flew back in October (I guess during the seasonal dip). It was what it was, a little odd. Other than being mindful when we got back, it was a means to an end.
Just like anything else. Know your risk. Be mindful of how you are feeling. Take appropriate precautions.
My nephew flies a couple times a month for hockey tournaments or to check in back home (and is currently living with my parents). I think almost his entire team has tested positive at one point, he never has. I think it is likely that either he did already have it or had some sort of pre-existing immunity. I believe he is tested almost weekly. Do I have some concerns with my parents living with a teenage who frequently travels? Sure, but they understand the risks and are loving having their grandson in their home and getting to get one more chance at doting on a teenager.
My parents went to Hawaii for Christmas (Hawaii requires testing before going) with my sister's family. My parents (late 70s) still work part time in a 'family owned' business to help out and keep busy. They are well informed of the risks and these are the choices they have made. Other than that, they don't do much other than see friends outside. Those are their choices.
This Christmas we visited with my wife's grandmother, who is well into her 90s, and almost didn't survive a fall two years ago (lives alone and was on the ground for well over a day before was found. Was hospitalized then caught a virus in rehab and hospitalized again). Other than my father-in-law, she was the only one we visited for Christmas and we had to think LONG and hard about it. It was the best visit I have ever had with her (she is still very sharp mentally). There was a year in the recent past (but well before COVID) where I opted out of visiting because I wasn't feeling well, as I would have this time. No one is guaranteed another day, especially not at her age.
In every case, we evaluate risk. By no means do we make (in my mind at least) reckless choices. Hell, outside of our trip (where we did eat in a restaurant 4 or 5 times), I haven't been to eat to a bar or restaurant in almost a year (the theater of it is not worth the effort).
But I am not going to judge whatever level of risk people are comfortable with. There is a serious virus out there and people should act at the level they are comfortable with.
