The new rules for packing a bag during the pandemic

Before the pandemic, packing for a flight had a lot to do with your travel style and destination. A carry-on bag for a beach vacation might include a sun hat and a beach read. You could count on business travelers to wear noise-canceling headphones and pull out laptops right after takeoff.

Now, packing considerations should start with coronavirus precautions.

With the number of coronavirus cases continuing to climb, public health experts and the State Department are discouraging nonessential travel.

“I would really encourage people to think about whether or not they need to be flying right now,” says Brian Garibaldi, medical director of the Johns Hopkins Biocontainment Unit. “There are very few states in the country right now where infections are low enough that I feel comfortable getting on a plane.”

But Americans are on the move. The number of people passing through airport security checkpoints has been rising steadily since April, and the Transportation Security Administration reported daily figures exceeding 700,000 many times throughout July.

If you are traveling in the near future, here are some things to keep in mind while you pack.