Safety and Health Precautions When Traveling During a Pandemic

Safety precautions when traveling have never been given more importance until the COVID-19 pandemic affected all travel and tourism throughout the globe. Leading worldwide protocols underwent drastic changes overnight in the hospitality, tourist attraction, aviation, short-term rental, cruise, travel tour, car rental, and insurance industries.

This is important for business and leisure travelers to be made aware of. There are many travel safety tips that you could glean from and prepare for in the new normal.

As a traveller, you should always consider safety and health precautions to ensure that you can balance fun without compromising your well-being.

However, travel restrictions caused by the Novel Coronavirus have affected international and domestic travels. Yet amidst the decline in travels this 2020, there are copious measures that several countries have implemented to #FlattenTheCurve (a movement to trace the rate in which countries could be monitored, in terms of the number of COVID-19 cases).

Most of the projections on travel are directed towards domestic trips than traveling abroad. Below are some points you should think about for your next travel plan in the new normal:

1. International Travel Safety Will Now Require More Paperwork

A silver lining, based on recent news, is that certain countries have managed to modify their Novel Coronavirus travel restrictions by allowing international travel.

If you are planning to travel outside the country, it is of utmost importance that you double-check the travel requirements of your intended destination. Apart from this, also prepare the necessary documents required of you upon your return.

Presenting a passport and/or a visa is no longer enough as travel documents. Some points of entry will now require from you a recent medical certification to prove that you are not a COVID-19 carrier nor are you positive for the virus. In addition, some countries restrict entry only to business travelers.

So before you book your flight and accommodation, go over the list of travel requirements and accommodation schedules of your intended destination. Likewise, if you can acquire them, ask for the earliest possible dates for your destination country, along with the list of requirements for your return.

2. Is Going on a Business Trip Worth the Risk?

As a professional, you might find yourself in a situation wherein travel might be required of you. In such a case, deeply weigh the importance of the trip, not just in its urgency, but also in terms of the necessary precautions you need to take before you agree to it:

• Travel risks during a crisis need to be thoroughly assessed by you, your company, and those you might come in contact with at your intended destination.

• Any possible red flag on both details of your itinerary and your own health condition should be carefully considered. Anything that doesn’t pass the risk assessment should be reassessed and reconsidered.

• Company support through travel management ought to be made available for you, to cover your possible needs. Prioritize your health–and, should you have the chance to voice this out–do not hesitate to remind those you are with about the value of their safety, as well.

• Plan out the duration of your trip and only stay for the work that you cannot deliver online. Prioritize which tasks are truly important, for the travel to become worth undertaking.

• Keep in mind that there are Novel Coronavirus travel guidelines for both domestic and international trips. Observe these guidelines at all times for your own safety and for the protection of those you will be meeting along the way, as well as for those who will await your return.

3. The Health Risks of Travelling Can Be Managed and Covered

Travel risks during a crisis can be anticipated and, therefore, managed and covered. Wherever your target destination is, you can start making a habit of taking the measures for proper sanitation and hygiene. Safety tips for travelers are simple and can be regularly observed:

• Spend a minute to wash your hands before you touch any part of your body, especially your face prior to and after eating.

• Symptoms of flu should not go unchecked and should be taken seriously. Thus, these require medical attention and observation.

• Where there is interaction with other people, always wear a face mask and practise social distancing.

• Nothing beats taking good care of yourself. Protect others by being healthy yourself.

4. Planned Trips Lessen Travel Risk Factors

The new normal that awaits is one that teaches us the value of planning and preparedness. Though it is heart-warming to take spontaneous trips every now and then, especially if they are a drive away, travel that allows one to rest and be restored needs better planning.

Because times are changing and unpredictable events could happen while traveling, it is wise to avail of flexible booking options for travel transport and accommodations.

There are airline vendors that offer flexible travel packages that include air transport and hotel booking with free cancellations, and domestic and international travel insurance, among others. To top it off, a destination that is carefully chosen also allows you to benefit from both the safety and fun learning that you can experience from traveling.

5. Can Your Next Out-of-Town Vacation Wait?

What is travel safety like in the new normal? Is the extra precaution worth the bother or can you do away with vacations and trips until a COVID-19 vaccine is finally available?

Give it a good, solid thought. As for the new normal, there is even more insightful and purposeful travel advice that you can learn post-Novel Coronavirus.

The global pandemic became a beautiful reminder of life instead of merely survival. This is felt even more when you return to places that are filled with natural life–when you are surrounded by nature. In a few months, traveling to places like these can become a safe practice and also a sanity-breather for you to sail away, take a break, and breathe in the flora and fauna.