21 Safety Measures for Travel During and After COVID-19
The global Coronavirus pandemic has affected millions of lives directly or indirectly and has changed the whole course of many industries, careers, and companies. Many countries are, however, seeing life come back to normal, if not for every citizen, then certain pockets of states and cities. As life resumes in a different way for thousands of people, we have started to gather our best research and data on what we can do to change travel for the better, adapt and help others adapt. For those who are traveling or planning to travel soon or in the future (for practical, urgent, business, or leisure purposes), we’ve put together our best and researched tips on staying safe while traveling, because this threat will be prominent for months and maybe years to come. 1. Research on different ways to travel A caravan on the beach sounds heavenly We know that when you think travel, the same few avenues pop up in your head – by airplane, by train, by bus, etc. Although these are the main ways and won’t ever go out of style, try doing something different. There are many curated lists of different ways to travel in specific countries, like horse-pulled houses in Ireland, floating boathouses in Kerala, India, or even airships in the US. This is the time to explore new places and methods because you’ll be pushed out of your comfort zone. Our chosen picks include road trips, rural village exploration, caravan travel, and many more – check out our curated experiences. For some tips on vehicle care and road trips (which can be your best bet for now!), surf this great blog by Where is Tara. 2. Where should you travel? Find unexplored, stunning locations One essential question, of course, is the destination you should travel to. Your travel location is obviously fixed if you’re going for business/practical purposes, but for leisure travel, once you decide the method of traveling, decide a location after doing all your research. There are many government websites and WHO trackers that can tell you the exact cases in each city, outbreaks, location of outbreaks, etc. Accordingly, you can select your destination to a precise location. 3. The importance of Masks Find graded, medically approved masks Despite many claims, masks are one of the few proven ways to fight the onset of the virus. However, there are many different kinds of masks, and it can get confusing to choose one. Go for a thicker material, but not so thick that it restricts breathing or otherwise makes you feel very uncomfortable. Every country has it’s own mandated, clinical standard mask that you can purchase for extra precaution. Mostly, though, a cloth mask that can filter smaller particles and covers the mouth and nose properly will do the job. 4. The importance of Gloves Gloves are perfect for long distances or even grocery shopping Gloves may not be a necessity, but it is a very important precaution. Virus particles can live up to 12 hours on metal surfaces,1 day on cardboard, 3 days on plastic, and up to 4 days on paper money. That’s a lot of time for the particles to transfer, and gloves are a great solution if you can’t /won’t remember to wash your hands/sanitize regularly. There are many kinds of gloves available, but for short term periods, disposable rubber gloves work well. However, gloves can’t prevent infection as well as just washing your hands well with soap can, so wear them less and when you’re traveling to crowded or otherwise tourist areas with many surfaces, and learn the proper protocol for removing gloves. 5. Let’s talk sanitizer It’s important to find the right sanitizer We know this is obvious and an always repeated precaution, but hear us out. Hand sanitizers can protect you against disease-causing microbes, especially in situations when soap and water aren’t available, which is the best-proven method of prevention. They’re also proven to be effective in reducing the number and type of microbes. The best kind is alcohol-based sanitizers, usually containing 60-90% alcohol – they kill more microbes than the non-alcohol ones. Most countries have ways to label/mark sanitizers that are medically approved – ask your local pharmaceutical shop for more information, and do some of your own research on sanitizers. 6. Hotel safety measures Make sure everything is fresh and disinfected Hotels can be a scary thing to consider during a pandemic like this, but if you can take the necessary precautions there’s no reason to be hesitant. First of all, research about the city you’re going to and ensure it doesn’t have any major outbreaks. Locate a hotel in an area that preferably hasn’t seen any cases, or very less at least a month or more ago. When you book the hotel, call them in advance and tell them you want a full room clean when you get there, in your presence, so you can ensure the pillows are changes, bedsheets and blankets fresh, and the whole room properly disinfected. When considering room service, make sure you’re confident the kitchens are clean and safety protocols followed, and whatever cutlery you get, wipe and wash it before using. 7. The Five keys to food safety The essential WHO mandated keys to food safety The five keys to food safety are a set of food safety regulations/rules that households and kitchens should follow, found on the WHO website. The core messages of the Five Keys to SaferFoodare: (1) keep clean; (2) separate raw and cooked; (3) cook thoroughly; (4) keep food at safe temperatures; and (5) use safe water and raw materials. These are important to follow in households of course but should be definitely followed in industrial/restaurant kitchens too. When you go out to eat, which can be inescapable when traveling, ask that they follow the basic food safety guidelines and observe if sanitation practices like a clean kitchen, gloves, masks,
