How to Reduce Covid-19 Risks on Road Trips

Air travel has certainly been impacted by the pandemic and it suffices to say that the frequency to which we travel overseas will significantly decrease.

In an interview with Axios, Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky even said that global travel may never fully recover and that he foresees a future where people will opt to go on holidays within their own countries, possibly for longer stays.

BACK ON THE ROAD

It’s important to remind ourselves that the level of caution for this type of travel should be as equally serious as air travel.

The CDC also stresses that there’s no real certainty whether one mode of travel is safer than another. What we know however is that certain types of travel increase the number of places we can be exposed – airports, bus/train stations, and rest stops.

If you’re planning a road trip in the coming weeks, here are a few things you should consider:

1. Map out the number of stops you NEED. Minimise as much as possible by bringing your own food and water to decrease the need to step into a store with new groups of people. Bring a good amount of sanitation supplies in case you need to spend a night in a hotel or inn.

2. Prep your vehicle.  This should go without saying, however, taking that extra time to have your oils changed and tires rotated could mean the difference between safety and exposing yourself to new people in an unfamiliar auto shop on the road.

The smaller you maintain your network during the trip, the fewer risks you take.

3. Face shield and face masks are a must. Establishments have different policies about mask-wearing but the more crucial message here is to have a mindset that you may be an asymptomatic carrier. It’s part of everyone’s responsibility to wear masks to reduce contagion.

If you’re planning to travel with high-risk individuals such as diabetics or a person with a heart condition, DON’T. It’s not worth the risk. Road trips could also mean spending a large amount of time in places with very little to zero medical facilities.

4. Postpone if possible. Unfortunately, staying put is still the safest recommendation by the CDC and other health organizations. The illusion of safety by familiarity with friends and family members is emerging as one of biggest reasons for the increase in infection. If you can, reschedule that trip for a later date.

Lastly, if you MUST take that trip, be sure to have a health insurance cover that will take care of your emergency medical bills should the need arise. Don’t have one? Contact us and we’ll find one that suits your needs.