We can all do better; we’re all in this together. This is just a virus, one that’s too easily transmitted to stigmatize its effects. The only shame we should associate with Covid-19 is that our country has done so little to fight it.

n addition, we too often fail to recognize that the rules aren’t fair. Some gatherings are deemed acceptable; others are forbidden. Some services are deemed essential; others are not. The reasons for these decisions are seldom consistent. Lots of people were told that while it wasn’t safe to gather with 10 relatives in their homes, it was still somehow permissible to gather with those same 10 people — and many, many others — in a restaurant or bar. It’s understandable that people respond by fashioning a set of rules that makes more sense to them.

While some people may have legitimate reasons to be upset (say, if they were infected by a co-worker who refused to wear a mask or stay home after developing flulike symptoms), anger and hectoring are rarely the way to make things better.

Viewing illness as a personal failing is not only morally misguided; it’s also damaging from a public health perspective. Many people don’t want to find out if they are infected, even if they are sick, because they worry that others will wonder what they did “wrong.” Some who are infected even hide their status, for fear that those they’ve been near will be angry at them for putting them at risk.Such fears are entirely rational. Lots of people get angry when they find themselves infected with the coronavirus, wanting to know which person they came into contact with is to blame.We don’t play this “blame game” with influenza, even when it’s an especially bad flu season. But we are doing it with Covid-19

It’s a small step from belittling people who don’t take sufficient coronavirus precautions to belittling people for contracting Covid-19

Most cruises will resume sailing at a reduced capacity with limited itineraries. In the United States, initial excursions will be limited to seven days, according to C.D.C. guidelines. Masks will be mandatory in all public areas onboard vessels, including outdoor decks, according to the Cruise Lines International Association, the industry’s trade group.

Cancun and Tulum in Mexico are among the top searched destinations for American travelers in 2021, alongside Oahu and Maui in Hawaii, according to a 2021 trends report by the online travel agency Expedia.

“We expect pent-up demand for travel will continue to grow with the availability of Covid-19 vaccines,” said Monya Mandich,

If I need to cancel, will flexible policies still be around?

How Are Transportation Companies Protecting Customers from COVID-19?When planning travel, you may want to check transportation companies’ websites to see what they are doing to protect customers from COVID-19. Things to look for include: Requiring people to wear a mask. Promoting social distancing. Using online or contactless reservations and check-in. Using contactless payment. Enhanced cleaning procedures.

Considerations for Types of Travel Travel increases your chances of spreading and getting COVID-19. Some travel activities, like the transportation you choose and where you stay, can increase your risk of getting COVID-19. Know your travel risk. Your chances of getting COVID-19 while traveling also depends on whether you and those around you take steps to protect yourselves and others, such as wearing masks and staying 6 feet away from people outside your travel group (social distancing). Airports, bus stations, train stations, and rest stops are all places travelers can be exposed to the virus in the air and on surfaces. These are also places where it can be hard to social distance. In general, the longer you are around a person with COVID-19, the more likely you are to get infected. Air travel Air travel requires spending time in security lines and airport terminals, which can bring you in close contact with other people and frequently touched surfaces. Most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights because of how air is circulated and filtered on airplanes. However, social distancing is difficult on crowded flights and sitting within 6 feet of others, sometimes for hours, may increase your risk of getting COVID-19. How you get to and from the airport, such as with public transportation and ridesharing, can also increase your chances of being exposed to the virus. Bus or train travel Traveling on buses and trains for any length of time can involve being in crowded terminals and sitting or standing within 6 feet of others, which may increase your risk of getting COVID-19. If you choose to travel by bus or train, learn what you can do to protect yourself on public transportation. Car travel Making stops along the way for gas, food, or bathroom breaks can put you and your traveling companions in close contact with other people and frequently touched surfaces. RV travel You may have to stop less often for food or bathroom breaks, but RV travel usually means staying at RV parks overnight and getting gas and supplies at other public places. These stops may put you and those with you in the RV in close contact with others. Learn more about how to protect yourself from COVID-19 on different types of transportation.

After You Travel You may have been exposed to COVID-19 on your travels. You may feel well and not have any symptoms, but you can still spread the virus to others. You and your travel companions (including children) may pose a risk to your family, friends, and community after your travel. Consider getting tested with a viral test 3–5 days after your trip and reduce non-essential activities for a full 7 days after travel, even if your test is negative. If you don’t get tested, consider reducing non-essential activities for 10 days. If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected. Also take these actions for 14 days after you return from travel to protect others from getting COVID-19: Stay at least 6 feet/2 meters (about 2 arm lengths) from anyone who did not travel with you, particularly in crowded areas. It’s important to do this everywhere — both indoors and outdoors. Wear a mask to keep your nose and mouth covered when you are in shared spaces outside of your home, including when using public transportation. If there are people in the household who did not travel with you, wear a mask and ask everyone in the household to wear masks in shared spaces inside your home. Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness. Watch your health: Look for symptoms of COVID-19, and take your temperature if you feel sick. Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements after travel.

Going to a large social gathering like a wedding, funeral, or party. Attending a mass gathering like a sporting event, concert, or parade. Being in crowds like in restaurants, bars, fitness centers, or movie theaters. Being on trains, buses, in airports, or using public transportation. Traveling on a cruise ship or river boat. Bring a mask to wear in public places and on public transportation. Pack hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Keep this within reach. Bring enough of your medicine to last you for the entire trip. Pack food and water in case restaurants and stores are closed, or if drive-through, take-out, and outdoor-dining options aren’t available. If you are considering cleaning your travel lodgings, see CDC’s guidance on how to clean and disinfect. Consider getting tested with a viral test 1-3 days before you travel. Keep a copy of your test results with you during travel; you may be asked for them. Do not travel if you test positive; immediately isolate yourself, and follow public health

If you are traveling, consider getting tested with a viral test 1-3 days before your trip. Also consider getting tested with a viral test 3-5 days after your trip and reduce non-essential activities for a full 7 days after travel, even if your test is negative. If you don’t get tested, consider reducing non-essential activities for 10 days after travel. Keep a copy of your test results with you during travel; you may be asked for them. Do not travel if you test positive; immediately isolate yourself, and follow public health recommendations. You may have been exposed to COVID-19 on your travels. You and your travel companions (including children) may pose a risk to your family, friends, and community. Regardless of where you traveled or what you did during your trip, take these actions to protect others from getting COVID-19 for 14 days after travel:

Check travel restrictions before you go. Get your flu shot before you travel. Bring extra supplies, such as masks and hand sanitizer. Know when to delay your travel. Do not travel if you or your travel companions are sick. Wear a mask to keep your nose and mouth covered when in public settings, including on public transportation and in transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Avoid close contact by staying at least 6 feet apart (about 2 arm lengths) from anyone who is not from your travel group. Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol). Avoid contact with anyone who is sick. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Before You Consider Traveling Travel can increase your chance of spreading and getting COVID-19. Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. If you are considering traveling, here are some important questions to ask yourself and your loved ones beforehand. These questions can help you decide what is best for you and your family. Are you, someone in your household, or someone you will be visiting at increased risk for getting very sick from COVID-19? If you get infected you can spread the virus to loved ones during travel and when you return, even if you don’t have symptoms. If your household includes one or more individuals at increased risk for severe illness, all family members should act as if they, themselves are at increased risk. Learn how to protect yourself and others. Are cases high or increasing in your community or your destination? The more cases in your community of origin or at your destination, the more likely you are to get and spread COVID-19 as a result of your door-to-door travel. Check Each State’s Cases in the Last 7 Days. Are hospitals in your community or your destination overwhelmed with patients who have COVID-19? To find out, check state and local public health department websites. Does your home or destination have requirements or restrictions for travelers? Check state and local requirements before you travel. During the 14 days before your travel, have you or those you are visiting had close contact with people they don’t live with? The following activities can put you at higher risk for COVID-19: Going to a large social gathering like a wedding, funeral, or party. Attending a mass gathering like a sporting event, concert, or parade. Being in crowds like in restaurants, bars, fitness centers, or movie theaters. Being on trains, buses, in airports, or using public transportation. Traveling on a cruise ship or river boat. Do your plans include traveling by bus, train, or air which might make staying 6 feet apart difficult? Are you traveling with people who don’t live with you?

Travel can increase your chance of spreading and getting COVID-19. Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

All the people who have been watching others travel from the sidelines and kept saying they would travel next year or the next year or the next year will be eager to get traveling” once it’s safe to do so again, said Dianelle Rivers-Mitchell, the founder of Black Girls Travel Too, a group tour company for Black women. People “now understand that nothing is guaranteed,” she continued. “If you want to see a place, just do it.”

People “now understand that nothing is guaranteed,” she continued. “If you want to see a place, just do it.”

Companies in the hospitality sector also have an opportunity to treat employees better, something travelers can help with by choosing to spend their money on companies that prioritize employee well-being and training, D. Taylor, the international president of Unite Here, the hotel and restaurant workers’ union, said this year.

Experts also expect companies to change how they treat travelers. More flexible booking arrangements, with fewer change and cancellation fees, will be popular.

Many went on road trips. First-time road trippers rented R.V.s, tried “van life” and embraced the outdoors.

hotels across the country were struggling to keep their doors open and were unable to rehire all their staff because of the historic drop in travel demand.

The whole travel industry has been devastated by the pandemic. Nearly 40 percent of all travel jobs, 3.5 million positions, vanished between March and November.

Airlines said passengers had to wear masks, but if people didn’t listen, flight attendants were left to fend for themselves.

When I talk to people now about their fantasy travel plans, they rarely mention famous sights like these; they’re more focused on meaningful experiences, and seeing friends and loved ones.

Testing, health passports, cleaning robots, plexiglass dividers — these will most likely all be part of the experience.