How To Stay COVID Safe While Travelling Abroad?
With the outbreak of Coronavirus, may places have restricted what you can do and where you can go. However, travelling is still an option for many who want to do so, but it may be a completely different experience to what you were used to.
Don’t forget, while travelling make sure you take necessary precautions and follow the guidelines of any specified areas.
Other countries will have their own restrictions in place, so make sure you research what they are, and read the destination travel information before booking your flight. Keep checking in with this information in case anything changes before you leave. It's called COVID travel for a reason, it's best to be safe and informed when visiting out of country.
Before You Travel
You can travel out of your country when you are cleared of COVID symptoms; and have not experienced them in over 7 days. You may also be able to travel within your own country, but this depends on your local and national guidelines.
Before travelling, it is important you have proof of a negative coronavirus test, even if you don’t need it. Some places will require it to both enter and leave their country, and it’s best to have one on hand just in case. The test should be taken within 7 days before travelling and arriving at your destination.
“You will have to decide how to get to the airport. If you have a car, that would be the lowest-risk of contamination; If you don’t have a car, someone in your support bubble could take you, or the highest risk route would be to get a train to the airport; if you chose train, make sure you have a mask and hand sanitiser accessible,” says Ramona Adams, a writer at at UKTopWriters and OXEssays.
You should also be checking-in online as much as possible to avoid face-to-face contact and reduce the risk of transmitting the virus.
At The Airport
If in a group, stay within you support bubble. If alone, keep to yourself following social contact guidelines.
Avoid walking around the airport at your own leisure, keep to your designated terminal and lounge area to minimize the risk of catching or transmission.
Non-passengers should only enter the airport when needed, such as accompanying or picking up a passenger that requires assistance. This would include a disabled person or a child.
You may be asked to wear a face covering while indoors and in the stores, and respectfully follow the instructions given to you by the airport staff. The staff many also ask to take your temperature before boarding the flight.
Many airports will have you either check-in your own baggage, or load your baggage onto the aircraft hold yourself, to minimize transmission; this also helps to speed up boarding and disembarking the plane. You may also be required to reduce the size of your hand luggage.
On Board The Aircraft
The airline will give you a set of instructions to adhere to on the flight, so listen carefully.
“Some places will have you wear a face covering on the aircraft, and should only be remove to talk with someone who is hard of hearing, eating, drinking, or taking medication. You should make the crew aware if you become ill during the flight,” says Tim Krenson, a travel blogger at Revieweal and Boomessays.
Many aircrafts will have a limited amount of food on board the flight, so please be aware of this. A low risk option would be to bring your own food onto the flight.
According to many studies, cabin air is one of the lowest risk transports, as the advanced ventilation system filters the cabin air; so the risk of transmission is low.
Try and use contactless payment where possible, and remain seated as much possible.
Check-in At Destination
If travelling by a rental car; not only is it a more affordable option, but you are lowering the risk of transmission because you are exposed to less people. You must continually check-in with the required checkpoints to make sure you can travel through them.
Avoid touching surfaces where possible, and make sure you wipe down surfaces, especially highly infectious surfaces like door handles, remote controls, and light switches. Wash your hands for 20 seconds after checking-in or touching anything.
To take extra precautions, you could pack your own supplies (a towel, shower products, toothbrush, cleaning supplies such as wipes, hand wash and hand sanitiser).
Lauren Groff is an e-learning consultant at Best Assignment Services and Essay Writing Services, and has been involved in many projects. Lauren enjoys writing about management, marketing and finances at Via Writing.
