Tips to travel safe amidst the deadly Coronavirus outbreak

Monday, March 2, 2020

Ever since the beginning of the year, an ongoing issue that constantly made it to the headlines has been the outbreak of the deadly COVID-19 Coronavirus. On 30^th January 2020, the World Health Organization declared the virus outbreak as an official global health emergency. First identified in Wuhan, China the virus has now spread to multiple countries all across the globe. The total number of confirmed cases has mounted to 89,000 (as yet). Besides, health risks and life threats, the virus has also caused political and economic instability.

The Travel and Tourism industry has been harshly affected by the Coronavirus outbreak. From flight and cruise cancellations to hotel shutdowns, the tourism industry has seen it all in the past few months! However, the spring season has always been one of the busiest travel periods for both professional and personal travellers. Therefore, if you are planning to travel either for private or personal reasons, it is utterly essential to be cautious and take necessary precautions as you hit the road! Here are some essential tips to travel safely amidst the fear of the deadly virus outbreak:

Avoid close contact

While you are on the road or availing mass transport, try to keep yourself covered. Avoid using bare hands to touch handlebars or door-handles. Wear hand gloves or use tissue papers. Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid being in close contact with people who are unwell and show signs of flu or influenza. Also, cover your mouth and nose when cough or sneeze. However, do not use your hand as a cover. Avoid close contacts like shaking hands, embracing or hugging while in a gathering.

Keep your hands clean

One of the most important safety tips suggested by experts has been keeping your hands clean. Make sure to wash your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 30 seconds. Use a hand sanitizer containing alcohol with a proportion of 70% ethanol.

Be extra cautious as you board a flight

When you board an aeroplane, make sure to keep the air vents above your seat open for ventilation. Try to keep the armrest and tray table clean with sanitary and disinfectant wipes. Try to grab the window seat as studies show, people taking the window seat has the least risk of being exposed to other people or infected individuals walking down the aisle of the aircraft. This also looks like a good time to invest in a reusable seat cover that you can use over your seats.

Use masks but do not rely on them

According to experts, face masks are most effective when you are sick yourself. Though one can always use face masks for their own safety, masks do not guarantee complete security from any infections. While using face masks one should ensure that it is worn correctly and is a perfect fit. One single mask should not be used repeatedly and should be changed from time to time.

Follow government advice 

As coronavirus continues to spread all across the globe, governments around the world are taking numerous initiatives to create a safe and healthy environment for its citizens as well as travellers. Hence, always try to follow the set of advice provided by the local government while you are travelling to ensure safety.

Be aware

It is extremely important to be aware of the symptoms of the disease and to seek immediate medical help upon noticing potential signs. Especially if you are frequently travelling around this season, it is essential to be careful about your health condition. Coronavirus symptoms are almost similar to that of the common cold and can go from mild cough and congestion to high fever, pneumonia and respiratory failure. Please do make sure to cancel your travel plans if you are unwell and completely avoid travelling while you are sick.

Travel safe and stay healthy!

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