How To Protect Yourself From COVID-19 When Going On Holiday?

Ready for a holiday?

After all, the last two years have been difficult, to say the least, and you deserve it!

But travelling during a pandemic can be challenging.

You need to stick to strict hygiene rules like wearing a mask in certain settings, which can affect the experience. And as over 66% of the world population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, it might be tempting to be complacent.

Yet COVID-19 is still a deadly virus.  

In fact, at the time of writing there have been between 15 and 40 daily deaths in Australia over the last week alone. Recent statistics are available at the end of this article.

So, to help you stay safe during your travel, here’s a list of COVID-19 travel precautions health experts recommend.

Be Up To Date With Your COVID-19 Vaccination

As a traveller, vaccination is the best tool in your toolbox to protect yourself from COVID-19. If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, you should consider getting all of the doses recommended before travelling. This will significantly reduce the risks of becoming gravely ill. If you’ve received two doses of a specific vaccine, and are eligible for a booster dose, discuss this with your health practitioner.

A booster dose could strengthen your immunity and provide an extra level of protection against the deadly virus.

Wear A Face Mask Indoors

While many places around the world are gradually lifting mask requirements indoors, we’d recommend keeping your mask on, especially if you’re in a crowded place. Whether it be at airports, train stations or famous monuments, wearing a face mask can be an effective way to protect yourself during your holiday.

And if you find yourself in crowded outdoor spaces such as a queue at the entrance of a monument or popular restaurant, keep your mask on too.

Also, it might be a good idea to try and avoid eating or drinking on public transport so that you can keep your mask on.

Practice Social Distancing

One of the best ways to protect yourself against COVID is to keep a safe distance (1.5 meters) between you and others. And if you find yourself in a confined space such as a taxi for instance, sit in the back seat to increase the distance between you and the driver.

Clean Your Hands Often

While you should avoid coming into contact with frequently touched surfaces, wash your hands thoroughly every time that you do.

Also, you should clean your hands after sneezing or coughing, before eating and after going to the toilet. When washing your hands, make sure to use soap and rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds. If soap isn’t available, use a hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol. Then, rub your hands together until they feel dry.

Don’t Forget Your COVID-19 Insurance

While this article aims at reducing your risks of catching COVID-19 during your trip, these tips are good general hygiene practices you should always strive to follow. Not only will they help protect you against COVID-19, but they’ll also reduce your risks of catching and spreading other viruses such as the flu.

Now, even though you follow good hygiene practices while on holiday, you never know what can happen.