With many people getting restless from COVID-19, spring break seemed like the perfect time to get away, especially with the vaccines being rolled out. In popular spring break vacation spots like Florida, COVID-19 numbers grew dramatically following spring break, including a dramatic rise in the number and type of variants. According to ABC7 News, Florida is “home to the most variant COVID-19 cases in the country.”

Surveys show that 12% of respondents had made spring break plans by the end of February. Also, in places like Miami, students from more than 200 colleges came over spring break, according to WebMD, a health information website. By mid-march, Cars.com released a study saying 57% of Americans had plans to travel, up from the 32% that traveled in 2020 when the pandemic was just beginning.  

Of course, traveling can be safer with the proper precautions, and some of our community made sure to follow this advice. Izzy E. and her family visited Asheville, North Carolina, over spring break.

“Before we left, my family and the other family we were traveling with quarantined and got tested,” said Izzy. 

Taking these precautions can protect you and others against COVID-19, according to Mayo Clinic. They recommend that you stay six feet away from others, avoid sick people, wear a mask, and avoid touching your eyes and mouth.

More and more studies, according to MDLinx, a health information website, have shown that vacations are good for your health. They decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, increased mental health, and can increase productivity. Even during the pandemic, you’re getting these health benefits while traveling.

According to NBC News, even just talking about past travels or planning future ones can boost your well-being. Also, according to NBC, people who travel are 7% happier than people who rarely travel.  

Seventh-grader Maddie S. traveled with her family to Bethany Beach in Delaware over spring break. 

“People in Bethany were following guidelines pretty well,” said Maddie. “We had to have our masks on, there were open windows and doors to let fresh air in, and restaurants were pretty spaced out.”                                                                                                         

However, others stayed home and let their suitcases gather dust in the closet. Longfellow student Virginia I. stayed home over the break. 

“I’m worried that I could get COVID if I travel to a place where people don’t space out, wear masks, follow CDC guidelines, etc. I’m also worried about using transportation methods such as planes,” said Virginia.  

According to The American Lung Association, not traveling is the best way to not get sick from COVID-19. Just over Spring break, Florida has seen a spike in COVID-19 patient numbers and an increase in cases overall, according to Kaiser Health News.

The summer is also a popular time to take a vacation; school is out, the days are long, and the weather is perfect for going to the beach. But is it safe to travel during the summer? According to The Conversation, a news website, new research has shown that the COVID-19 virus is seasonal. Many countries saw spikes in the winter seasons last year; this is thought to happen because people are inside more. Especially since the vaccines are being rolled out, COVID-19 won’t be spread as much this summer.