There are currently hundreds of thousands of reported cases of COVID-19 around the world. COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by coronavirus. This pandemic has affected people around the world, causing lots of them to feel anxious about traveling and catching the infection. But what if you need to travel? Is it okay to do so when the lockdown is lifted?
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has said that there is a moderate risk to travelers. They recommend that everyone should try and avoid any unnecessary travel to any area that has COVID-19. There’s currently no vaccine available to help keep us safe against coronavirus, so everyone is at risk.
While the pandemic continues, investigations into a cure and the spread of the infection go on. The outbreak is being closely monitored and advice is being offered and updated regularly with the main piece of traveling advice being to stay at home if possible. However, sometimes journeys have to be made, so when the lockdown is lifted and if you need to travel, then follow some of these tips to keep yourself safe and ensure the safety of others around you:
1. Use Hand Sanitizer
Purchased a hand sanitizer that is alcohol-based. Most airlines, bus stations and train stations have placed hand sanitizing gel at the gates and counters for you to use, but it’s a good idea to have some handy just in case there isn’t any. Airline passengers are now allowed to take 100ml of hand sanitizer onto a flight.
2. Wash Your Hands on a Regular Basis
When we travel, we can touch a variety of different surfaces without even thinking e.g. doors, handrails, seats, newspapers, etc. Washing your hands correctly with warm water and soap for approximately 20 seconds helps to reduce the chances of you catching or spreading the infection link i en blogg.
3. Don’t Touch Your Face
It’s important to not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth if you haven’t properly cleaned your hands. This is often harder than you think, so try and be more conscious of where you place your hands.
4. Cover Your Mouth When You Sneeze or Cough
You should cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough, or cough into your elbow or shoulder instead of onto your hands. If you suffer from allergies, then take extra precautions to keep good hygiene. One effective way to cover your face and help you stay safe in public places is to wear a face mask. Masks stop you from touching your mouth, which will help reduce the chances of you catching or passing on the virus. You need to remember to avoid touching the mask and take it off from the back (do not touch the front). Used masks should be thrown away in a sealed bag, unless they are washable, in which case they should be washed after every use.
5. Keep Your Distance from Others
Try and stay at least 2 meters away from other people if you can. Not everyone shows symptoms of this infection, so it’s important to try and stay away from as many people as possible.
6. Follow Local Travel Advisories
Countries around the world are putting in new travel restrictions at short notice. Make sure you check to see whether your journey hasn’t been canceled or altered. You should also contact your accommodation provider to make sure they’re still operating.
7. Keep an Eye on Your Health
Lots of countries encourage people who have traveled to other countries to self-isolate for up to 14 days. If you develop any coronavirus symptoms, then you should contact your doctor and tell them that you’ve been on holiday. You should also contact your travel provider (such as the train company) so they can notify other passengers.
The WHO (World Health Organization) is working hard to keep us up to date on local travel restrictions, travel safety tips, and recommendations. When the travel ban is lifted, we will likely see a huge increase in the number of people traveling around the world. Make sure you try and stay safe and help keep others safe when the restrictions are lifted by following some of these top tips.