The holiday season is upon us, and despite the continuation of COVID-19, many people are choosing to travel to be with family and friends. Is travel in your plans for the upcoming weeks? Here are some tips to travel as safely as possible to protect yourself and others along the way:
Consider your destination
Is COVID-19 currently spreading at your destination? If there are a high number of cases where you’re going, consider taking a raincheck on your plans – in this case, it is more likely that you’ll get the virus during travel and spread it to others when you return home!
Wear a mask when traveling
Wearing a mask when taking public transportation will help protect you from catching – or spreading – the virus. This includes passengers as well as workers on airplanes, trains, taxies, and others, as well as transportation hubs. Wearing a mask and staying at a safe distance from other travelers in airports and train stations will lower your risk of interacting with anyone carrying COVID-19. Traveling can be exciting or stressful on a regular day – stay as relaxed as possible to ensure you’re not rushing and cutting corners when it comes to your safety!
Wash or sanitize your hands often
Washing or sanitizing your hands with a sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol will help you prevent the spread of germs. Travel hubs are already hotspots because of the crowds and people coming from a variety of global destinations – keeping yourself as clean as possible will help prevent you from picking up or spreading anything you shouldn’t be.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
Washing your hands regularly doesn’t mean you’re clear to touch your face – you can still spread germs to yourself! Avoid touching your face and adjusting your mask as much as possible; your eyes, nose, and mouth are how COVID-19 is able to infiltrate your body. Don’t give it the opportunity!
Consider your type of travel
Depending on your destination, you may be able to choose a safer route of travel. Each type of travel comes with its own precautions:
Air travel – this requires spending time in security lines and terminals, which means you could be in close contact with other people and frequently touched surfaces. However, most viruses and other germs don’t spread as easily on flights because of how the air circulates and is filtered on the plane; but crowded flights make it difficult to social distance, and sitting within six feet of others – sometimes for hours – can increase your risk. Also consider how you get to and from the airport, be it public transportation or ridesharing, which also increase your risk of exposure to the virus.
Bus or train travel – any length of time on a bus or train means you could be sitting or standing at a close distance to others. Make sure to have hand sanitizer with you and keep your mask on at all times.
Car travel – while car travel keeps you the farthest away from other travelers, making stops along the way for gas, food, or bathroom breaks can put you in close contact with other people and frequently touched surfaces. If possible, pack your own road trip snacks and limit your stops and interactions with other car travelers. When getting gas, use disinfecting wipes on handles and buttons at the pump before you touch anything, and be sure to sanitize immediately after. When you get to your destination, wash your hands with soap and water!
RV travel – while traveling in an RV means you have to stop less often for food or bathroom breaks, it usually means staying in RV parks overnight and getting supplies and gas in public places. This could put you in close contact with other travelers.
After you travel
When you get home, regardless of how fine you may feel, it is best to quarantine for 14 days to be sure you are not infected with or at risk of spreading the virus.
If you are traveling internationally for the holidays and don’t fluently speak the language of your destination, bring a Jarvisen along with you!
Or – are you in an unfamiliar country and unable to travel home? Embrace local customs and holiday traditions by being able to communicate with those around you – with Jarvisen! But remember, don’t share it – translators can be used while social distancing! https://www.jarvisen.com/products/jarvisen-translator
