You go out for a few drinks, but make sure to follow all of the protocols. You enjoy your drink outdoors and stay socially distanced from others and wear a mask in-between drinks. On top of that, you are being responsible not to drink and drive. However, with Covid, is public transit and ride shares even a good idea? Learn how to minimize your Covid-risk after a night out.
How-to Minimize Your Covid-Risk After a Night Out: Getting Home Safely
Ride Share
You may consider rideshare services in order to get home. Usually, this option is a no-brainer. However, during the Covid-19 pandemic, you may have second thoughts. If you do opt to do rideshares like Lyft or Uber, make smart decisions to minimize your Covid-risk after a night out. For example, avoid sitting in the front row with the driver. This will give you a little space to distance yourself. When in the backseat, make sure to roll down the windows a bit to circulate the air. Only ride in the backseat with people that you live with. Being confined with people that are not in your household increases your risk for Covid. It is also a good idea to wear a mask. This will help protect both yourself and the driver.
Due to the pandemic, there are actually also fewer rideshare drivers on the road. For example, in May 2020, Uber announced that it would lay off 3,700 full-time employees, or about 14 percent of its workforce. At that point, Uber’s rideshare business was down 80 percent, as more people were staying at home.
Public Transit
Another option is taking public transit. However, in this situation, you could place yourself around far more people than rideshare alone. Busses, subways, and trains can carry considerable numbers of passengers. Just like with rideshare, ventilation in public transit helps to reduce the risk for Covid. However, as the days get colder, the chances of open windows and added ventilation in public transition options are going to be less. If you want to minimize your Covid-risk after a night out, be careful on public transit. Wear a mask, and try and distance yourself from others. If this is not a possibility, another way home may be your better option. You will have to make the decision of what is best for you and your safety during the pandemic.