Travelling during COVID-19 can be extremely tricky. You have to be careful every second, wearing your face mask, sanitizing your hands and keeping safe distances from others. A single moment you’re sloppy, you’ll have chances of getting the virus. As normal activities are gradually resuming, it won’t be always possible for us to avoid travelling. But then, we must at least try to rely on the safest modes of travel.
Modes Of Travel: From Least To Most Dangerous
As per the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), here are the various ways to travel during the coronavirus pandemic, ranked from least to most dangerous.
1. Driving Alone
One of the best ways to travel safe and isolated during COVID-19 is to ride alone in a private car, only if the car is sanitized well. Each time you’re deboarding the car, make sure to sanitize your hands. Also, before boarding the car the next time, don’t forget to disinfect the interiors to avoid contamination.
2. Walking
Walking is safe only if you’re keeping a minimum distance of about six feet from others. Also, one should refrain from touching surfaces like benches, cars and traffic buttons. If you’re going out on a walk nearby, ensure that you sanitize yourself properly right after coming back home. Wash your shoes and clothes, so that the infections do not spread indoors.
3. Biking
Biking and cycling are safe modes of travel, only if you are riding alone. Pillion riding should be avoided. Also, the bikers should sanitize their bike handles and seats frequently. It is safer to use a personal bike than a rented one.
4. Air Travel
There are people from different states, cities and countries travelling by air. However, as per reports, the process of air circulation and filtration inside the airplanes reduces the spread of germs. Also, the airports and the airlines have laid out strict protocols that have to be followed to travel amid the crisis. Passengers will have to undergo thermal screenings at arrivals and departures. They are advised to collect e-boarding passes and do web check-ins to reduce contact as much as possible. There are social distancing markings inside the airport premises that the travellers are advised to follow. Crew members serving the passengers are also wearing special protective gears from head to toe. Also, before sitting on any surface, either within the airport or inside the plane, one should wipe the area with disinfecting wipes or spray.
Also Read: Hyderabad Airport Will Soon Introduce Contactless Terminal Entry For Its Travelers
5. Ride-Sharing
Sharing rides during the pandemic can be risky. We won’t be knowing if our co-passenger of the driver is affected. However, we advise you to avail these services from well-known cab aggregators like Ola and Uber, if required. The body temperatures of their drivers are monitored thoroughly. Also, they will sanitize the surfaces of the car once the passengers deboard.
6. Public Transport Like Trains and Buses
In public transport like trains and buses, maintaining safe distances from others might be difficult, especially during the rush hours. One can’t afford to forget wearing a face mask while availing public transports like these. Travellers should also use alcohol-based hand sanitizers and wear gloves to prevent the spread of infection from surfaces. Some public transport authorities are adhering to certain protocols to make travel as safe as possible. For example, a single coach of Delhi Metro will allow only 50 passengers, once services resume.
7. Cruise Ships
In the U.S., CDC had extended ‘no sail’ order for cruise ships for a minimum of 100 days, advising Americans to avoid using cruise vessels for travelling. As per reports, the cruise industry has been a prominent catalyst by which COVID-19 has spread throughout the world. Experts have notified that illnesses like coronavirus can quickly spread through passengers ships.
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While these are the things we should keep in mind before deciding the travel, it’s always best to stay indoors now, unless it is absolutely necessary to step out. After all, hygiene should always be prioritized first.