Self-Isolation - by Elena Perez

March 11, 2021 marked one year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. For me, and everyone else who boarded the ship on March 15, that was Day 11 of our 14 day self-isolation period. It’s one of the many protocols that everyone boarding the R/V Thomas G. Thompson must follow.




Figure 1: A few of the things I packed for the A20 cruise. Although we are only visiting domestic US ports, the passport is for just in case of emergencies.

Since the declaration last year, cruises have adapted to keep doing science safely. As mentioned, all personnel - crew, marine technicians, and scientists must complete a 14 day self-isolation period and receive multiple COVID tests. If you could self-isolate at home, you were allowed to do that, given that anyone else living in the house follows the same protocol. Most of the science party boarded in Woods Hole, so we were isolated in airbnbs or hotels on upper Cape Cod from March 1-14. If you fly in from out of state, you had to receive a negative COVID test 72 hours prior to flying.

Everyone had to get tested at the beginning of the self-isolation period. As well as at the end of the self-isolation period, 72 hours prior to boarding. If we needed to take a taxi or rideshare car to the testing clinic or to the port, we had to sit as far away from the driver as possible, windows rolled down, and the ride should not last longer than 15 minutes.

To pass the time during the isolation period there’s a few fun activities such as: finish up work, read, take your temperature twice a day, watch movies/shows, home workouts, monitor for COVID symptoms, etc. During this time I became hyper aware of my health. A few times I tricked myself into thinking I had COVID symptoms, e.g. whenever my temperature was higher than the previous reading or whenever I’d sneeze. Around day 5, my temperature jumped 1.1°F from my previous day and I was worried that my temperature was going to increase exponentially (see Figure 2, left panel). A quick google search eased those worries. According to the CDC, the fever threshold is 100.4°F and my temperatures were well within the range of average body temperature (97-99°F).




Figure 2: My reaction on day 5, before I realized my temperature fluctuates between the morning and night (left) and a log of my daily temperature (right).



After 3 negative COVID tests and 14 days of self-isolation, I was ready to board the Thompson. Although we've all had to go through the same measures, we’re going to continue to wear masks and social distance for a week onboard. We’ll still be reporting our temperatures daily. No more than 2 people to a table during meal times (the food is excellent, by the way). If more space is needed during mealtimes, we can spread out in the library and lounge. The weather shouldn’t be too bad for the first few days, which will hopefully give me some time to get my sea legs.

At 1:30pm on March 16, we set sail for the Grand Banks. After a 3 day steam we’ll arrive at our first station (43.11°N, 50.73° W, see Figure 2). From there, the cruise will proceed at a southward angle until 41.10°N, 52.33° then due southward until 9.20°N, 52.33°W. Throughout the cruise several floats will be deployed at the CTD stations: 6 WHOI Argo floats, 8 UW biogeochemical (BGC) floats from the biogeochemical Argo project, and 3 WHOI RAFOS floats.



Figure 3: U.S. GO-SHIP A22 and A20 planned cruise tracks (left) and a schematic of an Argo float (right).