Hello there! Are you wondering whether it’s safe to travel in light of the Corona Virus outbreak? You are not alone… And while I don’t have all the answers, I hope that these tips for Healthy Travel 2020 come in handy… 🙂
UPDATE:
A lot has changed in the past two weeks, since I wrote and published this Blog post…
And I feel it’s only right to send this update, because of the developing Covid-19 situation.
At this point, I would recommend staying put, and doing your best to minimize exposure and spreading the Corona virus. Our collective efforts will go a long way in helping to contain the spread.
Stay at home and practice social distancing… Sanitize/ wash your hands with soap and water frequently.
>>>And if at all you must travel, ensure you self-quarantine for at least 14 days. This is highly important as you may have been exposed and are at high risk of infecting others, with whom you come into contact.
I hope you will stay safe and be mindful of others by following the directives in place (specific to your country/city) as we work in unity, to flatten the curve.
7 Tips For Healthy Travel 2020!
You may have noticed that ravel bans being issued every other day, and they are proving to be necessary to help contain the spread of Covid-19.
Even so, I am choosing to remain hopeful… This too shall pass. 🙂
I know this is true for you my readers, as it is for me, travel is a huge part of our lives.
So as we pray and do our part in the containment of COVID-19, let’s explore what we can do to promote Healthy Travel 2020.
Do your Due Diligence.
Before you pay for your tickets, do ample research into your destination and whether the tickets would be refundable…
Don’t be afraid to ask questions like: what measures are they taking to reduce the risks, will you be required to undergo tests before/ after travel, and are they limiting travel to some areas?
Source: Jed Owen, Unsplash
Do some research into the hospitals close to where you’ll be staying/visiting.
Also, it’s important to consider whether you might be placing others at risk by going to an unaffected area. This is especially key for residents of heavily-affected areas.
Having this info will hopefully help you make a better-informed decision on proceeding with your travel plans.
>>Remember it is imperative for you to self-quarantine for at least 14 days after travel.
Consider Getting a Comprehensive Travel and Health Insurance Package
If there ever was a good time to invest in travel insurance, the time is now!
Travel insurance can be a lifesaver in cases of emergency when you are abroad. Check whether your bank might have a travel insurance package attached to your account or credit card.
Most importantly, find out what the cover includes. Now is a good time to read into the fine-print, on whether you’d be covered from the effects of a pandemic like the Corona Virus.
Source: Joao Silas, Unsplash
Furthermore, you may want to read online reviews on other people’s experiences with a specific Insurer. This allows you to gauge if they usually pay up when it counts.
You may also want to confirm if they will re-reimburse you for cancelled flights and other unexpected events.
Take Measures To Protect Yourself…
Healthy travel 2020 starts with you and me… 🙂 Are you actively taking care of yourself and your immune system?
Boost your immunity by eating well, staying hydrated, exercising and getting plenty of rest.
Source: Brenda Godinez, Unsplash
Source: Kaizen Nguy, Unsplash
Stock up on hand sanitizers that have more than 60% alcohol content. And when you use it, allow the sanitizer to dry on your hand.
>>Wash your hands regularly with soap and water.
And if you must travel to an affected area, wear medical masks the right way, and dispose off them as soon as they become damp.
Tip: Read my post on 13 Expert Tips On How To Stay Healthy While Traveling!
Be Sensitive To Others & The Situation
Take time to think about those who are affected and its impact on their loved ones.
If you were to put yourself in their shoes for a moment… Could they perhaps benefit from a little more understanding and empathy?
Let’s be sensitive to how we treat one another. Today we are dealing with the Corona Virus and tomorrow it might be something else. So don’t discriminate… Instead, let’s choose kindness.
>>Let’s avoid spreading fake news… Before you share, verify.
Make Every Day World Kindness Day!
Be Prepared For The Unexpected
I bet you’ll agree that when it comes to travel, one can never be entirely ‘ready’ right? So when you travel, prepare for the unexpected.
Think about what you might need in a ‘worst-case scenario’… Pack things like: Masks, hand sanitizer, a portable first aid kit, gloves, medicine for allergies, extra cash and download Travel Apps…
And remember to write down your emergency contacts with copies of your travel documents and put them in a safe, but accessible place.
Plan Your Local Travel Bucketlist!!
Remember one of our Scrapbook Journeys’ Mantras?
You don’t have to go far away to travel…
Yup, now’s the perfect time to plan that bucket-list of places that are close to home, to explore later.
While it’s not advisable to travel at the moment, when this cloud clears, you can be certain that your money will go a long way to boost local tourism in your country.
Tip>>Check out my blog post on: The Top 9 Kenyan Bucket List Activities!
Consider Going The Remote Route…
Say you have a meeting or you attend school in a part of the world that is heavily affected…
Thanks to technology, you can still keep your obligations with Apps like Zoom, Facetime, or WhatsApp Video.
Source: Sincerely Media, Unsplash
Communicate with your counterparts beforehand if you are unable to travel, and where possible, schedule for online meetings…
Bonus: Say A Prayer & Keep Hope Alive!
When it’s all said and done, I trust that it’s God who keeps us safe.
I find the words in Psalm 91 comforting to my soul, I hope you make time to check it out. 🙂
>> And as we keep hope alive, book those cheap tickets now for travel, later in the year! 😉 #winkwink
***
I hope that this cloud passes, and passes quickly… Until then let’s do our part to promote healthy travel 2020. 🙂
Thank you for reading!! Did you find these tips on Healthy Travel 2020 useful?
I would love to hear from you… Leave a comment down below, with your input/questions or with a tip to add to the list!
In the meantime, stay safe and see you on the next Blog!! 😀
<< Love and Light. Stay Inspired Always>>
10 Comments
Christine M Munene
May 8, 2020 at 3:01 pmVery informative! Love the practical in the now tips and the future ones too!
Scrapbook Journeys
May 13, 2020 at 1:17 pmThank you Kryce!! Glad you found it useful! 😀
Elger Routh
March 20, 2020 at 10:14 amDo you suggest self-quarantine instead of travelling?
Scrapbook Journeys
March 23, 2020 at 2:40 pmThanks Elger for this question. I have really been thinking about it… A lot has changed since I last posted this blog, about 2 weeks ago. And with the developing Covid-19 situation, I honestly agree with you.
It’s imperative that we stay put, and follow the directives in place to help contain the spread. And for those who are say… going back home or must-travel, to self-quarantine. To this end, I have updated my blog post to reflect this line of thought. Thank you for reading.
Andrew
March 18, 2020 at 8:12 pmWon’t you think we could borrow a leaf from the countries that unfortunately captured the virus before us and minimize travel to a zero until we get a grip on the situation? Especially since the developed countries are still coming to grips with how to mitigate and minimize its spread and thus banning travel altogether?
Scrapbook Journeys
March 19, 2020 at 11:52 amThanks Andrew for your comment. I hear you, and I do wish this were possible.
In truth, a lot has changed in only the past 7 days, and more will continue to change. In the ideal situation, we would minimize travel to zero, unfortunately in reality that may not be possible. We have to take into consideration people who’re traveling back home from various parts of the world, and can’t sustain staying where they are at the moment… And some countries are recalling their citizens back home, for a variety of reasons. Plus we are dealing with different governments, different people, and the factors in this case aren’t held constant. That is our reality. So if we can’t ‘ban travel’, the next best thing we can do is to ensure that we are taking measures to prevent the spread and we promote healthy travel.
Ule Msee Wa B4
March 17, 2020 at 5:14 pmInformative and very educative piece. Safety begins with us.
Scrapbook Journeys
March 19, 2020 at 11:54 amTrue, if we each do our part to the best of our ability, we’ll make a big difference in containing this pandemic. Thank you for reading! 🙂
Muthoni
March 17, 2020 at 11:39 amVery helpful
Scrapbook Journeys
March 19, 2020 at 11:54 amThanks for reading and do stay safe!