How To Travel Safe During Covid

Given the ongoing pandemic, it's understandable that people would want to get away for a while. Nonetheless, the coronavirus and its Omicron variant pose a serious hazard. All passengers who can get vaccinated should do so before travelling. The centre also suggests taking measures when travelling domestically and internationally via trains or any other means, as well as avoiding areas with a high prevalence of infections as a way to travel safely during COVID. Of course, staying at home is the safest option, but if you are determined to travel, the advice given and the most recent centre travel guidelines for domestic and international travel will help you travel safely. 

Planning Ahead- Question To Ask Yourself 

 

• Am I vaccinated? Or Am I at increased risk of severe illness?

A key question to ponder is how risky would traveling be for you. Everything with COVID-19 needs to be individualized. You need to view everything through your personal perspective,

Are you unvaccinated and at high risk for severe COVID-19 consequences because of your age or underlying health conditions? And what about the people you’re traveling with or visiting? Perhaps they have a compromised immune system and remain vulnerable to COVID-19 even if they’ve been vaccinated. Take care of this information before you plan to travel safely during COVID. 

Guidelines for vaccinated and unvaccinated

It's risky for you to travel within India if you haven't gotten the COVID-19 vaccine or if you don't have its full protection yet.   

You're not considered “fully vaccinated” until:

• Two weeks after your second dose of a two-dose vaccine.
• People who aren't vaccinated are more likely to catch COVID-19 and spread it. That's why the centre recommends that you put off trips until you're fully vaccinated.
• When should I not travel? 
• Feel sick
• Have had a COVID-19 test and are waiting on the results
• Got a recent positive test result
• Think you've been around someone with COVID-19

If you have to travel before you're fully vaccinated, take some steps to protect yourself and the people around you:

• Get a COVID-19 test 1 to 3 days before you leave.
• Wear a mask on planes, buses, trains, and other types of public transportation.
• Wear a mask in airports, stations, and other travel hubs.
• Try to stay 6 feet apart from people who aren't traveling with you.
• For vaccinated people 

If you plan to travel overseas outside of India, the centre recommends that you get tested only if it is required at your destination. You must have a negative test within the past 24 hours of your arrival or documentation of COVID-19 recovery within the last three months before entering any other country. The guidelines for states are much more relaxed and only need vaccination certificates before entering. We recommend you to take a test three to five days before planning to travel via train or plane or even a personal car. You can also check state-wise COVID guidelines to help plan your trip better.

Does it matter how you travel? 

No matter how you go, travel and being around people who don't live in your household raise your risk of getting and spreading COVID-19 -- even if you're fully vaccinated. But as schools, offices, businesses, and other places start to get crowded, you can use some guidelines about different modes of transportation.

Important Note- Only the ones who are absolutely necessary should travel during Covid You need to wear masks even if everyone in the car is fully vaccinated. If not, keep a 6 foot (two arm length) distance between you and wear masks. It's also a good idea to enhance airflow by rolling down the windows or switching to non-circulating mode on your air conditioner.

Wipe off the door handles, steering wheel, and dashboard with a sanitizer containing 60% alcohol before using a rental automobile. When you get to your destination, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.

Here are centre issued guidelines for domestic travel. Dos and Don'ts shall be provided along with tickets to the travellers.

•  All passengers shall be advised to download Arogya Setu app on their mobile devices.
• Suitable announcements about COVID-19 including precautionary measures to be followed shall be made at airports/railway station/bus terminals and in flights/trains/bus.
• The States/UTs shall ensure that all passengers shall undergo thermal screening at the point of departure and only asymptomatic passengers are allowed to board the flight/train/bus.
• During boarding and travel, all passengers shall use face covers/masks. They will also follow hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene and maintain environmental hygiene.
• At airports/railway stations/ bus terminals required measures to ensure social distancing shall be taken.
• Airports/railway stations/bus terminals should be regularly sanitized/disinfected and availability of soaps and sanitizers shall be ensured.
• Thermal screening at the exit point shall be arranged.
• Asymptomatic passengers will be permitted to go with the advice that they shall self-monitor their health for 14 days. In case they develop any symptoms, they shall inform the district surveillance officer or the state/national call center (1075).
• Those found symptomatic will be isolated and taken to the nearest health facility. They will be assessed for clinical severity at the health facility.
• Those having moderate or severe symptoms will be admitted to dedicated COVID Health facilities and managed accordingly.

Expert tips to travel safely during covid

• Know the Covid-19 rate in your destination 

Even if you are already vaccinated, it’s still crucial to assess COVID-19 levels in the area and country you are travelling to. If these are high, this puts you at a greater risk of contracting COVID-19, and while you may have protection from the virus, your friends and family may not.

• Know the restrictions 

Local restrictions on activities may apply when you're at your destination, which may differ from where you came from. This can include everything from whether or not you must wear a mask to whether or not the neighbourhood bars and restaurants are open.

• Plan ahead when testing

There is still a great deal of ambiguity about which tests are required for travel, depending on the destination. This can include things like whether they accept vaccinated passengers or whether they require a PCR or Antigen fit to fly test.

Visit the local public health department's website to learn about a region's Covid-19 test positivity rate and test requirements. This allows you to plan ahead of time for your Covid tests, reducing worry and avoiding fees associated with last-minute testing.

• Stay safe when traveling via train or flying 

The Covid-19 virus is difficult to spread aboard planes due to the way air is filtered and circulated. However, because packed planes make social distance difficult, it's necessary to limit contact and wear a face mask during the journey, as well as when boarding and disembarking. 

Rather than utilising paper boarding permits or presenting them to employees for inspection, use an electronic or mobile pass that you may scan and display yourself. To know more about traveling safe in COVID via railways click here.

• Choose safe activities 

While enclosed places such as indoor bars or restaurants may be legal at a destination you visit, they carry a significantly greater risk of contracting Covid-19. On entering and leaving any facility or any place for that matter, you should always wash your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds using soap and water.

Lastly!! Remember to have a good time 

Because of the stress caused by the pandemic, we all want to travel more than before. Many of us haven't taken a winter vacation or spent the holidays with extended family in two years.

It may take some time to truly relax while you're away. That's OK. Give yourself permission to enjoy your travels if you've been vaccinated. Take safe precautions by doing the necessary train ticket booking online and make sure to maintain safe distance if you want to travel safely during COVID. 

Railway is the most affordable way to travel in India and as a trustworthy train ticket booking and PNR status website; Trainman understands the value of your money and desire to travel. To make your train ticket booking more convenient, we are pleased to offer you all the services at one place.  Customers can book train ticketss in the most convenient way with our website. So, get ready for amazing offers on railway booking and plan your trip soon.