The COVID surfaced in late December 2019 and it has infected 68.3 million that results in 1.56 million deaths around the world. With the increased number of COVID cases in the different parts of the world, the counties have established new rules and terms to travel. It leads to canceling the itineraries of cruises and famous airlines as well.
Although many countries are opening their borders and welcoming the tourists. But there are still many countries that are still close. Some countries have updated their terms for tourists and they are just accepting people from certain countries. As for now, Americans are still not allowed to travel to many countries. They can only travel if they have dual citizenship.
Travel is still a concerning action and it will stay the same way even in the upcoming months. Many countries like Pakistan, the Philippines, Germany, New Zealand, etc managed the pandemic in the best way. But, with the arrival of winter, the deadly virus is spreading again as people are spending more time out to spend vacations.
In this blog, we will cover everything you need to know before you travel in this pandemic. If you are traveling in the case of an emergency, then you should choose Car rental Dubai options instead of traveling via local transport.
Is it safe to travel during a COVID outbreak?
No one can tell you that traveling is safe during a coronavirus outbreak. Organizations like WHO and other health experts emphasize to travel only if you really need to. So, if you need to travel due to any emergency or for business, consider all these things before booking your trip:
Place you are visiting
It is one of the most crucial things to consider before traveling. Right now, countries like the USA, Russia, etc have more cases and they are the hotspots of the deadly disease. It doesn’t mean it’s safe to travel in the countries with low cases but with the high number of cases, you might catch the virus easily. You can check the COVID-19 travel recommendations by different destinations on the CDC website according to the number of cases.
Medical history: If you have a history of getting sick more often, then you might get in contact with a virus easily. It is because your immunity doesn’t fight back the disease and give-in. Also, if you are cardiovascular, diabetic, or you have a respiratory disease, then you should avoid traveling.
Age: You might have known that elderly people are more prone to get in contact with the COVID virus especially people above 80 years. While the people with the age group 10 to 40 show relatively low fatality rates. Let’s be clear about disease contact as you don’t have a low chance of infection but you have more chances to recover faster. But if you get in contact with a virus, you can get sick and spread it to other people. You can further read about who is at a higher risk of getting sick by COVID here.
Point to ponder: Keep in mind that you will have to go into self-quarantine for 14 days after reaching and returning from a high-risk country. This applies anyway even if you are not infected.
How to stay safe while traveling?
There is no assurance that you are 100% safe from COVID but there are some SOPs which you can follow while traveling.
⦁ Maintain at least 2 meters of distance from other people.
⦁ Avoid contact with people who are sick. (fever, flu, cough)
⦁ Don’t try to touch surfaces that are frequently touched like elevator buttons, doors, handrails, etc. If there is no option wash hands immediately or use sanitizer.
⦁ Proper face mask to prevent disease.
⦁ Cover your face if you are coughing or sneezing.
⦁ Don’t touch your face every minute.
⦁ Keep washing your hands more often, especially before eating, after using the washroom, and after blowing your nose.
You can read further instructions on the Center for disease control and prevention at the official websites. Click to read instructions from the CDC website here.
Check local requirements and restrictions
There is no international law or restrictions to travel around the world in this pandemic. Different countries have different rules and restrictions for different countries. As for UAE, foreigners need to go through 2 COVID tests at the airport but for the residents, they just need to carry a report that is valid for 72 hours. Same is for other countries, and to save yourself from surprises, try to read the local requirements and restrictions before you book a ticket. Keep checking CDC, TSA, and FAA websites for the latest updates.
Air travel guide
Viruses don’t easily spread on flights but crowded flights can be the reason for COVID spread. Also, air travel includes a series of check-ups and security lines that can bring you close to people. The FAA and CDC had issued guidelines for airlines to prevent the spread of the COVID virus. To check the relevant information of certain airlines, visit their websites. Along with airlines, TSA has also increased the disinfecting processes, especially at the screening checkpoints. You can check the relevant information on the TSA official website.
Road trip guide
Instead of taking domestic flights, you can travel in your cars to avoid contact with people. If you don’t have a car you can rent it from any Monthly car rental company easily. Travel in your personal car has a lot of perks as it keeps you safe and you can travel at your own pace.
If you are traveling by car make sure to make fewer stops. Don’t drive if you feel sick or drowsy. Along with that, make sure to pack your masks, sanitizers, disinfectant wipes, and other traveling accessories. Before refill, use wipes to clean the handles and buttons before touching them. For meals, prefer places that offer drive-thru services.
Avoid traveling as much as you can, but still, if you need to travel, keep the above-mentioned tips and information in mind for a safe and healthy trip. In case you are in Dubai, book your personal car from RentalcarsUAE so you won’t have to travel on public transport.