Safe Travels: How to Protect Your Health on the Move

How to Protect Yourself From the Coronavirus While Traveling

Travel is a risk factor by itself because it subjects you to new environments, new people and new diseases. 

No matter where you are traveling to, be it in congested airport terminals, on a bus or in a hotel, you need to maintain a healthier lifestyle. Although travel restrictions in the world have mostly been overlooked, as a traveler we would like to focus on such viruses as COVID-19 and the flu.

Understanding the Risks of Public Transportation

The risk of contracting a virus is highest in crowded, poorly ventilated spaces where people spend long periods in close proximity.

Buses and Trains: Standing or sitting within a close radius of others for several hours increases the chance of breathing in droplets or aerosols.

Transit Hubs: Airports and stations are "high-touch" environments. Surfaces like check-in kiosks, handles, and security bins are touched by thousands of people daily.

Essential Precautions for Every Traveler

These are some of the common-sense health tips to keep yourself, your family and the communities you visit safe:

Practice Diligent Hand Hygiene: There is no sure way that we currently know to prevent infections, but we can avoid exposure by keeping our hands clean and helping you fight the virus. One of the best practices is to keep in mind that a healthy hand hygiene routine should clean effectively. This aids in washing between your fingers and the back of your hands.

High-Touch Surface Awareness: Frequently clean and disinfect items you touch often, such as your phone screen, headphones, and tray tables.

Wear a Mask in Crowded Spaces: Although not legally mandatory, a high quality medical mask (such as an N95 or KF94) in a poorly ventilated place or during a flight is a great source of personal protection.

Respiratory Etiquette: You should always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, or the inside of your elbow, when coughing or sneezing. This will avoid the transmission of germs to others.

Smart Planning and Preparation

Check Local Guidelines: Research health recommendations of your destination before you go. It is also beneficial to have an idea of the local conditions, to make sure that you pack the necessary items that correspond to the location, like additional masks or quick tests. 

Stay Home when sick: The best approach in keeping the country and your family safe is to postpone your travel in case you are sick or you have tested positive to a contagious virus.

Vaccination Advantage: The most effective method of minimizing the severity of an illness in the event you are exposed abroad is by maintaining up to date on vaccinations- annual flu shots and COVID-19 boosters.

Testing and Monitoring: Provided that you are visiting a high-risk person or older family members, you can take a rapid test a few days after your visit to know that you are not an asymptomatic carrier.