Forced to Travel during Covid-19 Pandemic? Take Note of Safety Tips

Good Doctor – More than 82 countries have been infected with Coronavirus Disease 2019 or COVID-19. Various efforts have been made by local governments to prevent the spread of viral infections in their regions.  

One of them is by urging or even prohibiting its citizens from traveling abroad, especially countries that have the largest positive cases of COVID-19.

Like Saudi Arabia, which since February 27, 2020 has temporarily suspended Umrah visa permits from all countries, tourist visits are not allowed to take place. Likewise, the United States issued a travel warning for its citizens not to visit China at the highest level, namely level 4: “Do Not Travel”.

At Indonesia, the government, institutions and many companies are also recommending that citizens and employees suspend overseas travel. Some regions have even banned their citizens from traveling to their hometowns at this time.

So what if you have to travel abroad during a pandemic?

In certain conditions that require traveling abroad during a pandemic, it can certainly cause anxiety about contracting this virus. Especially if visiting a country that has confirmed cases.

Preventive efforts and maintaining personal health are absolutely necessary for those of you who still have to travel abroad, due to very important needs, such as health, education and family. Remember, only for important and urgent needs.

Tips to stay safe traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic

Here are some tips that can be done to prevent transmission of the corona virus when traveling, especially abroad,

1. Maintain hand hygiene

Especially after contact with secretions or fluids that come out with breathing. You can use soap and water when your hands are visibly dirty, or an alcohol-basedhand rub when your hands are not visibly dirty.

2. Cover nose and mouth 

When coughing or sneezing, cover with tissue paper or inner shoulder, after that immediately throw away the tissue paper. Next, practice hand hygiene as in point 1.

3. Refrain from touching the nose and facial area 

Maybe you have a habit or can’t stand not touching the cheek area or twisting your nose to clean blackheads. Well for now hold on to the habit that might be exciting. Especially if your hands have previously touched other objects and have not washed them with soap.  

4. Wearing a mask

There is no evidence that the use of masks can protect healthy individuals. But in some countries, the use of masks  is something that is often done as a precaution.

If wearing a mask, it is important to follow the rules for wearing, removing, and disposing of it, and to practice hand hygiene immediately.

5. Keep your distance

Keep a distance of at least 1 meter from other people, especially  with someone who has symptoms of coronavirus infection. As much as possible keep physical distance wherever you are.

6. Avoid contact with wild animals, poultry or livestock.

7. Important for traveler to pay attention to the food consumed in the destination country.

Maintain and improve your body’s immunity by paying attention to food intake

Also no less important and should be your concern when traveling in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic is about food intake. Especially if you are a culinary enthusiast.

Hygienic and nutritious food intake is very important to maintain the body’s immunity so that it is not susceptible to the coronavirus. You can do this by practicing the following.

• Wash your hands and cooking utensils well. Keep cooking utensils out of reach of insects and other animals.
• Separate the storage of cooked food items from raw ones, and use separate cooking utensils as well.
• Cook until done or at least to a temperature of 70 degrees Celsius, especially for meat, eggs, and seafood.
• Store food at an appropriate temperature. Do not leave food at room temperature for more than 2 hours, and do not refrigerate food for too long.
• Choose fresh ingredients, and wash vegetables and fruits before eating.

Because there is no specific medicine to cure COVID-19 disease, let alone a vaccine to counteract it, at this time what you can apply is to make preventive efforts both for yourself and your beloved family. 

So stay safe and healthy while traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Remember the government’s advice if it is not urgent at all, you should suspend your travel plans.

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