Everything you need to know for trips during the COVID-19 pandemic

Since the beginning of 2020, the whole planet is struck by the coronavirus (COVID-19) and by its tragic consequences in health, economy, businesses, society and our lives in general.

In an effort to limit and stop the virus from spreading, most country around the globe imposed immediate, massive and individual lockdowns as well as stopped a large part of the activity in many sectors, including the travel sector, either for tourism or business trips. Travel prohibitions are a reality and citizens around the world were forced to cancel their holiday plans while waiting for the spread of the pandemic. After summer, while countries make efforts to return to normality slowly but gradually, there is also an intense and massive mood for travels after so many months of fear and limitations.

However happy this situation may be, COVID-19 is still here and keeps posing a threat. Therefore, it is important for travelers to be well-informed and secure during their trips, either in their countries or abroad. Taking this into account, you will read herein everything you need to know if you decide to travel during the pandemic.

Examine all risk factors

Before you plan a trip, you will have to take into account all the possible risk factors both for you and for those travelling with you. Do you or your fellows fall within the high-risk group (which means you are of old age; you have underlying diseases etc.)? Do you have information about the course of cases at your destination? How organized is the local health system at your destination in terms of the coronavirus?

Local travel rules and regulations

Each country or region has its own laws, rules and regulations concerning trips, many of which have been established as an answer to the pandemic. Actually, many countries still keep travel prohibitions, while others impose a 14-day quarantine before and/or after the trip. Therefore, before booking tickets, it is of utmost importance that you are informed about the said rules and regulations, not only about your own country but also for the destination country.

Safety during transport

Which means of transport have you chosen to travel? Amidst the pandemic, the safety level of the selected means is of critical importance. For example, if you travel by bus or train, it is very difficult to maintain a safety distance of 3 meters from the rest of the passengers. On the other hand, if you plan a road trip, it is certain that the more stops you make, the more likely it is to become infected with the COVID-19.

In case of a trip by plane, you must be particularly strict in terms of protection measures, as there will always be huge waiting lines in the airport, plus the many hours in a confined and non-ventilated area of the plane is not ideal during this period. If, for whatever reason, it is imperative that you travel by plane, choose, if possible, non-economy class tickets, as business class seats facilitate social distancing.

Health and safety above all

If you have checked the aforementioned and decided that your are still ready to travel during the pandemic, your protection and that of your fellow travelers must on the top of your priorities.

before you start your journey, make sure you have packed all the necessary personal protection equipment such as face masks, gloves and disinfectants. Always remember that you must be at least 3 meters apart from everyone else.

In addition, do not forget that you must wash your hands after touching a public surface or disinfect them if you don’t have access to soap and water.

lastly, in case that you or a fellow traveler feels discomfort during the trip, proceed to visit the closest health unit to receive immediate treatment.

Many months have passed since the virus entered our lives, it has infected millions and killed thousands of people around the globe. While its spread has been limited to a great extent, thanks to the measures taken internationally, the battle is not yet won.