The dawn of 2020 brought with it the jaws of the Covid 19 pandemic. Covid 19 is a disease that has its roots in the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The virus is so deadly that it has caused an un-recordable number of deaths globally. All countries in the world suffered the wrath of this virus and created havoc in the lives of all. The virus has paused everyone’s life to a standstill, with traveling becoming a distant dream for many.
However, with 2021 striking in and the Covid 19 situation getting to a little controllable forum, things have started walking back towards normalcy. Developed countries going mask-free and third-world countries opening up public spaces, it seems countries have seen success in dealing with the lethal virus to some extent.
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Why shall one be careful in these times?
This particular virus is communicable when two or more individuals are in close contact with each other. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the virus gets transmitted by coming in contact about six feet.
There is no obstinate cure of the disease apart from quarantine for a fortnight. Also, with vaccinations coming in, a ray of hope is primarily visible. However, even a vaccine cannot guarantee complete protection from the virus.
Therefore, as it is often said, prevention is better than cure. With things coming back to normal and people back to their usual travel routines, precautions become important. While traveling from place to place, your safety requires special attention.
Therefore, here is a list of things that need to be kept in mind when choosing to travel in these Covid times.
Avoid Group Traveling
Although traveling is always fun when done in groups, the current times do not call for this. If traveling in your vehicle, then the CDC recommends limiting the number of people in the vehicle. However, road travel is considered the safest by doctors around the world. But, road travel also requires its own set of preventions and precautions.
Group traveling can also be possible in airplanes and railways. However, try not to accommodate a large number of people in your travel plans. Especially, avoid traveling with those who are at a greater risk of catching the virus.
The risk of developing dangerous symptoms of Covid-19 may be high in older people. Also, people suffering from other serious health problems, such as heart conditions, weakened immune systems, or, diabetes can come under the virus radar.
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Masks and Sanitizers
According to doctor Joseph Khabbaza, a Pulmonary and critical care Physician, “As long as we apply our everyday precautions to our travels, the risks can be minimized significantly.”
Wearing regular single or double masks is of extreme importance. Wearing masks while traveling is not too much to ask. Remove your masks only when the necessity strikes in, like eating. Sanitize hands at every point of time after touching any surface. Maintain a minimum social distance of at least 6 feet when traveling in airplanes and trains. In cars and buses, where such social distancing is not possible, keep wearing masks, shields, and sanitizing hands.
Do not touch your eyes, nose, and lips when your hands are not clean, as these become the communicative spots for the virus to move into your body.
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Clean Surroundings
While sitting somewhere or getting a seat anywhere, make sure to wipe the hard surfaces. Even if a person does not have the novel coronavirus, they can still be carriers for others. So, when the surrounding gets hygienic, the chances of getting the virus becomes low.
These hard surfaces are the places where infectious respiratory droplets remain alive. Therefore, touching them and then touching your face, can have consequences uncalled for!
Another thing that needs attention is, do not to rub wipes on soft surfaces. It wets the surface further and increases the spread of germs and viruses.
Do not be ignorant
If a person has symptoms of the virus, do not ignore it as regular influenza. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes fever, cough, nasal congestion, loss of taste/smell, fatigue, etcetera as primary symptoms of Covid-19. Therefore, if anybody gets these symptoms, isolate immediately.
Do not travel alone/with someone if these symptoms come to the surface. One might not realize but, they may become an active spreader of the virus. Traveling when sick or with a sick person can increase the chances of transmission. Therefore, traveling in such a situation should be strictly avoided as a responsible human of the world. In such scenarios, choose to stay at home.
Vaccination
The best way to remain safe and keep others around you safe is by getting a vaccine dose. Though the vaccines do not provide a complete shield against the virus, it still initiates a large amount of protection in the human body. Originally, one should only travel to places, after getting complete doses of vaccines. It ensures mass safety.
The vaccines stimulate an immune response to an antigen, a molecule found on the virus. In the case of Covid-19, the antigen is typically the characteristic spike protein found on the surface of the virus, which it uses for invading human cells.
Therefore, if one travels after getting the specific doses of vaccinations, it will assure a better immune system. It will allow them to not catch the virus, in the first place and then create lower chances of being a transmitter for others.
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Conclusion
After being stuck indoors for one and half years, people moving out at the first chance is not surprising. With people losing a lot in this horrific pandemic, and still suffering much, the urge to return to routine becomes unavoidable. And, many times traveling becomes a necessity.
Therefore, a few compromises have to take place while trying to get back to travel like in earlier times. This requires a special emphasis on safety measures and social distancing. The pandemic is still not over, it has just come under a bit of control. So, move ahead to regularity, but with necessary safety!
For more articles, click here: Impact of Covid-19 on Human Lifestyle
Sources: 1.https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-protect-yourself-from-the-coronavirus-while-traveling/ 2.https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-who-is-at-risk/art-20483301 3.https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html#:~:text=COVID%2D19%20is%20thought%20to,spread%20the%20virus%20to%20others. 4.https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19 5.https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/there-are-four-types-covid-19-vaccines-heres-how-they-work 6.https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/explore/story/70434/7-tips-to-follow-while-travelling-in-times-of-coronavirus
