Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID -19. The next best thing you can do is postpone your travel plan if it is not urgent, as travel can increase the risk of transmission of COVID-19. However, if you need to travel for some important reason, the following are some precautions to be taken before you step out of your home. This will ensure your safety and protect others around you too.
Here are some important considerations that you should ask yourself before preparing any travel plan. This will help you decide the best thing for you and your loved ones.
If the answer to any of the above questions is ”yes,” you should reconsider your travel decision or you may postpone your trip.
If you decide to travel, please follow the below-mentioned precautions.
I recommend Jalaneti with salt water which is a yogic maneuver, to every adults with proper technique which will wash away the residing virus in the nasal tract as salt water is toxic to virus.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
Check public health websites before you step out of your home. Wear a face mask that covers your face and nose properly. Wash or sanitize your hands before and after you touch any object or surface. Maintain at least six feet distance from people who are not your household members. Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes.
If you have mild symptoms or have been in close contact with a COVID-19 patient, please do not travel. Also, avoid traveling with someone who is sick.
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Before planning air travel, please go through the latest travel advisory issued by the government. You should carry your COVID-19 negative test report along with you as most airports in India would require it. During the long hours of security check, you need to be careful in following and maintaining the social distancing norms. Avoid touching common surfaces and sanitize your hands frequently. The good news is most viruses do not spread easily on flights due to the different system of air circulation.
An immunocompromised person even if fully vaccinated with covid vaccine has a higher chance of encountering a Covid infection or reinfection which might be more severe, caution is advised for such individuals as avoiding travel to areas with high Covid cases might be best.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D
As it involves sitting or standing within 6 feet of others at crowded terminals, the risk of getting COVID-19 increases. Take all necessary precautions if you are traveling by bus or train.
Car travel also has the risk of close contact with your companions, especially during bathroom breaks and having food. All general precautions should be taken for your safety.
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Always wear a face mask in public places as this significantly reduces the risk of transmission. Wash or sanitize your hands for at least 20 seconds after using the public washrooms. Maintain at least six feet distance from people around you. If you are staying overnight at hotels, ask the hotel staff about the sanitary measures at the hotel. Whenever possible, carry your home-cooked food. If you can not get food from your home, take all the necessary precautions.
There is a possibility that you might have been exposed to the coronavirus during travel. Even if you do not have any symptoms, consider getting the COVID- 19 test. If your test is positive, isolate yourself for at least 14 days to protect others. If your family members did not travel with you, wear a mask and maintain social distancing from your loved ones. Avoid being around high-risk family members such as children and the elderly in the house.
What’s the bottom line?
Follow all the safety precautions during your travel to avoid transmission of COVID-19. Stay safe stay healthy.
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