What Can I Do to Keep Myself Safe From Coronavirus During my Travels?
Travelling has become a pretty concerning action in the last couple of months, with the global spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). People are cancelling booked trips and have been warned by health officials to minimize contact with already affected countries.
The rule is to stay home as much as you can. In case you still have to travel how to stay safe? There are a few things to considered before you decide to go.
First of all, your age. The elderly, especially those over the age of 80, are the ones most endangered for complications of the coronavirus disease. Then you should check your medical history. People with pre-existing conditions are also more susceptible to become seriously ill from the coronavirus than those who were previously healthy. If you suffer from any respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, etc, you should reconsider travelling.
Here are a few tips on how to stay safe once you have decided to go on your trip:
According to the WHO (World Health Organization), to keep yourself safe if you travel during the COVID-19 outbreak, you have to:
- Wash your hands frequently. This is without a doubt the most crucial thing you can do to minimize your risk of contracting the coronavirus disease. And not just a quick rinse – wash your hands with soap for at least 20 to 30 seconds any chance you get – especially after being in public or travelling via public transport. If you are travelling by plane, wash your hands after leaving the airport. If you don’t have access to soap and water, then rub a hand sanitise gel with at least 60% alcohol content on your hands and wrists. But remember that hand sanitise is not as effective as a thorough wash with soap.
- Do not touch your face with unwashed hands. If you have been in a public place, don’t touch your face unless you have thoroughly cleaned your hands. The novel coronavirus can live in surfaces for hours after it has been touched by an infected person, and can infect you if you touch your mouth, nose, and eyes.
- Keep your distance. If you notice someone is coughing, sneezing, or showing symptoms similar to that of the flu or a cold, make sure to stay at least 1 meter (3 feet) away from them. You can become infected by their airborne respiratory (cough or sneeze) droplets.
- Clean frequently-touched objects with a cleaning spray or wipe. If you will stay in a hotel or hostel while you are abroad, make sure you book somewhere where you know it will be clean. Even so, it doesn’t hurt to check-in with the staff and management to see whether they have cleaned your room thoroughly – or maybe even giving frequently-touched objects a sweep with a disinfectant yourself.
- Avoid crowds – especially in closed spaces. If you are traveling to a country with a high number of coronavirus cases, it is best if you stay away from any place where there is a large number of people.
- Do your research regarding the spread of the coronavirus outbreak in the country you are visiting. See what the health and government officials are advising in that country and follow the same rules. If they advise staying away from crowds or a certain region, then you should do the same.
- Wear a mask and seek medical help if you develop symptoms. If you develop COVID-19 symptoms, such as fever, coughing, or difficulty breathing, wear a mask so that you don’t risk infecting other people and seek medical help immediately.
Once this quarantine is done and everything is back to normal start planning your trips around BC. Contact us to check our availability. Rent a RV and go explore!