Precautions to Be Taken Before You Travel in COVID-19 Times

1. Precautions To Be Taken Before You Travel In COVID-19 Times Cases of Covid 19 on rise again in India and in most of the other countries as well. It is better to stay at home. If you want to go on a trip anyway please make sure you follow the guidelines mentioned below. What general precautions one should take during travel? 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.

2. Who should avoid traveling in the current scenario? 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. Which precautions should be taken during air travel? 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. Is it safe to travel by bus or train? 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. Which type of place should you choose for your stay? Choosing a stay is the most important part of your trip, if the place you are staying is not maintaining hygiene, every precaution you take will go in vain. So, while choosing your stay, select a hotel, resort or homestay with all measures taken.

3. Preventive measures for Hotels or Homestays ● Firstly, the Homestay should follow the rules and regulations set by The Department of Health and Family Welfare & Tourism. ● Avoid touching hands, shake hands with others, and wish everyone the Indian way with a “Namaste”! A hand gesture, “Namaste”! – The Indian way of greeting people ● The Homestay should take food safety measures by serving boiled warm water to drink and well-cooked home food with organic vegetables in earthen pots.

4. Local delicacy cooked and served in earthenware ● Hygiene at Homestay should always been a priority, while now it is the season to be extra careful. We abide by the rules of cleanliness to keep any kind of pests out. Measures to disinfect common areas and provide fresh spreads and towels

5. ● To keep your hands’ germ-free we have alcohol-based sanitizers should be placed at every nook and corner of the homestay. Tourist sanitizing their hands to stay safe ● It is suggested to choose a stay with a medicinal soap nearby if you have any emergency. ● Wash hands often with soap

6. Medicinal soaps to wash your hands with clean and fresh water What precautionary measures should be taken in public places? 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. After you return home, the following precautions should be taken: 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.