Connect
← Return to Tips: Traveling to Mayo to get medical care safely during COVID-19
Discussion
Tips: Traveling to Mayo to get medical care safely during COVID-19
Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 | Last Active: Aug 28, 2022 | Replies (163)Comment receiving replies
My husband and I returned home yesterday from our trip to Mayo Rochester for my rescheduled annual post-transplant check up. Our experience at the Mayo Clinic was exactly as described in the Mayo Clinic Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID19) Safe in-person and virtual care > https://www.mayoclinic.org/covid-19
Our tempurature was taken and we were asked the routine COVID19 exposure questions. The process went very quickly and we were given a day/date specific sticky tag to wear so that we could, leave/return to the clinic if we had a space ot time between appointments. My appointments were spaced very closely together and we ate n the Mayo cafeteria afterwards.
Everyone in Mayo, staff and patients and the construction workers, wore masks and practiced safe distancing, so we were very comfortable there and even learned that wearing a mask all day was not impossible!
During each of my appointments, I experienced the same care as I would have had on any of my previous visits, hand sanitizer was offered and everyone practicd safe hygeine.
Our trip was thru Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota. The Coronavirus travel advice ( https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-safe-travel-advice/art-20486965 ) that has been shared in this discussion was our travel guide. We also found a very easy at-a-glance list of reopenings by state on - List of Coronavirus-Related Restrictions in Every State. This gave us an idea of how the different states were reopening.
https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/government-elections/info-2020/coronavirus-state-restrictions.html
Needless to say, it was interesting for us as the traffic was lighter than usual, the rest stops were nearly empty, and the gas/food marts were where we saw the most people. Husband wore plastic gloves to pump gas, and we did not go inside or have contact with anyone. We had drinks and snacks in the car.
My take-awy from our trip is that WE are able to control the distance and the number of interactions with others. WE can choose to wear masks and We can practice our hand hygiene and use disinfectants for surfaces.
We have also decided to get tested mid week and to self-isolate due to our travel.
Replies to "My husband and I returned home yesterday from our trip to Mayo Rochester for my rescheduled..."
@rosemary, Rosemary, I am so happy your trip to Mayo Rochester was successful and that you are home again. Goodness, you two covered quite a few miles and probably differences along the way regarding what was open and available. I had read the save travel link earlier but thank you for reposting it and also the one from AARP. My children are hoping for a brief getaway within a day's drive from Boulder, CO. I will share these links with them. I especially appreciate your last paragraph because my children and I so agree that we can greatly control our exposure and risks to the virus by the precautions we are willing to take. Thanks again.
Would you recommend a hotel in Rochester as I have an appointment on July 1st and need to be there so early that I will have to spend the night on 6/30? I usually stay with my in-laws but they do not follow guidelines at a level I agree with for my needs.
Connect
@rosemarya. It is wonderful to hear that you had a great experience even with travel through all the states. Yes, you are correct, we HAVE control over how we act during this stressful time. Statistics have shown that face masks are very important. In US, the death toll is over 116 thousand. In Japan, it's 920. Death per million in US 351 and Japan 7. In Japan its not unusual to see people wearing masks even before covid. It is customary to have it on if one has a cold or not feeling well. This is a courtesy and preventative measure. My county has lifted the mandatory mask requirement, major shopping centers, gym, hair salons and stores are opening. Even Disneyland plans to open next month. I will continue to wear my mask if I have to go anywhere. I don't really care if people give me strange looks. My health is in my hands, and I will continue to do whatever I can to keep myself safe.