The pandemic brought travel plans to a grinding halt. But now, as the world begins to open up, travel rules are relaxing, and vaccinations are rising, it’s no wonder that many people cannot wait to jet off and explore the world. While travelling may be back on the cards, prioritizing good hygiene has never been more important. It’s impossible to eliminate the risk of catching coronavirus entirely, especially during winter when you are likely to spend more time indoors.
Still, you can do things to minimize it and help keep yourself, your loved ones, and other people as safe as possible. Whether you are planning a long-haul flight or a road trip, we’ve put together our top handy hygiene tips and hacks to help keep you safe while you travel.
1. Choose well-fitting face masks
Face masks have become a common sight since the start of the pandemic and continue to be one of the best ways to protect against germs. Make sure you know the local mask rules for your destination. For example, in Austria, travelers must wear FFP2 masks that have a built-in filter. Whichever type of mask you use, make sure it fits well, as a poor fit could reduce its effectiveness by up to 40%. If you find your masks are too loose, seal gaps with tape or layer a surgical mask under a tight fabric. It’s also a good idea to pack a few resalable zipper storage bags to help you keep track of which of your reusable masks are clean and which you’ve already used. If you want to order your masks online, you should check out this site.
2. Order lateral flow tests
You should make testing for Covid a key part of your travel plans. It’s a good idea to pack some lateral flow tests (LFTs), so you have the option to test while you are away. You cannot get LFTs for travelling from the NHS. However, they are available to buy from private providers. You must also ensure you have some tests ready to take for when you get back. If you are fully vaccinated and not returning to the UK from a red-listed country (Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru and Venezuela), you must take Medicspot’s day 2 lateral flow test on the second day of your return to the country.
3. Take your own straws and cutlery
You may already keep a reusable drinks bottle with you and maybe even take your own travel cup when you pop into the coffee shop. While your initial motivation may have been to reduce plastic use, it’s also a good hygiene practice. Taking your own set of travel cutlery and straws with you on holiday may seem an unusual move, especially as many eating establishments follow good hygiene standards. But, if you are worried about eating in cafés and restaurants while abroad, having your own cutlery and straws with you may give you that added peace of mind. You can pick up reusable travel cutlery from many leading retailers.
4. Keep hand sanitizer handy
The pandemic served as a crucial reminder of the importance of regular hand washing. But what happens if you are out in the wilderness, miles away from soap and water? That’s why you should keep a bottle of hand sanitizer with you at all times. Whether you attach it to your belt, key ring or keep it in your backpack or pocket, it can provide you with a good defense when you don’t have soap and water at hand. Make sure your sanitizer is at least 60% alcohol.
5. Protect your hands
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that washing your hands for two minutes, 30 times a day, and regularly using hand sanitizer can cause our hands to get extremely dry. So, make sure you pack some good hand cream that contains dimethicone, lanolin, petrolatum or shea butter to protect your hands. Apply it before you go to bed so it can absorb into your skin while you sleep. But if you are really struggling with sore, dry, and chapped hands, add a few pairs of disposable gloves into your luggage. While these can make you feel more comfortable if you have to touch surfaces, they can also stop you from having to wash your hands more frequently than you need to.
6. Avoid touching your face
While it’s not always easy to avoid things that other people touch, such as door handles and railings, you should avoid touching your face as much as possible. Most people touch their faces around 16 times an hour. However, bacteria on your hands can easily pass to your mouth, nose, eyes and ears from your hands. So, try to keep your face off-limits.
If you are eager to dust off your passport and finally start planning that long awaited trip, make sure you consider how you can stay safe on your travels with these simple hygiene tips.