I returned 14 days ago from a week in Vienna, Austria. The International Atomic Energy Agency hired me as a technical consultant to discuss naturally-occurring radioactivity in Northern African groundwater. This relates to trips I’ve taken over the past two years to Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The natural radioactivity is wide spread in the Middle East and Northern Africa so IAEA is working with member states to address water supplies and the potential for increased health risks in drinking water.

I feel very fortunate to have safely traveled to Europe just before the travel restrictions. I took several recommended precautions including on the airplanes cleaning my area with wipes and getting window seats with the air vent open, social distancing, frequently washing hands,and eating dinner in my room.