Flying Safe: What Are Some Tips to Reduce the Risk of COVID-19?

Scientists predict that developing a vaccine to combat the pandemic could run till next year. People have begun to learn how to cope with the infection. The infection that the public thought would dissipate quickly continues to surge across the globe five months later. The pandemic pushed world economies to shutdowns, causing job losses and collapse of the business. Hospitality became the most affected industry, with various governments suspending air flights to reduce the spread of COVID-19. While airlines are putting the best practices to minimize Coronavirus’s spread, passengers must step in to help curb the spread of the mysterious disease as well.

Here are some tips to lower the risks of contracting COVID-19 during flights;

Travel Only When Necessary

It isn’t the perfect time to travel at will as we used before the pandemic disrupted our activities. The best thing to practice now is to stay in the safest place, which is your home. However, circumstances such as health treatment and evacuations can force you to take a flight. For recreational activities such as holidays and golfing, it makes sense to suspend them until the situation is favorable.

Before embarking on any journey, ensure that your destination or part of your trip itinerary isn’t facing restrictions. Remember, travel restrictions cause delays that can expose you to the virus. Information about travel bans is always available on governments’ websites. Besides, you can contact embassies involved to find out how your flight can be affected if you go ahead with your traveling plans.

Consider Chartering a Plane

Chartering a plane was previously considered a luxury. But, with the pandemic around, the notion is slowly changing. People are now viewing the idea differently. Although hiring a private jet, for example, is quite expensive, it’s nothing compared to the risks involved with contracting the virus. The experts of BitLux Travel often insist that you can always find an option that matches your budget. Thankfully, the internet has made things easy with bookings. You don’t have to head to any physical office to make the arrangements. You only need an internet connection, and with just a few clicks, your booking is official.

Observe Social Distancing and Proper Hygiene

Now and then, the relevant government bodies have put emphasis on observing social distances. These are some of the COVID-19 prevention guidelines that health authorities, including WHO and CDC, formulated. The guideline requires you to evade exposure to crowds and to wash your hand frequently for at least 20 seconds using soap. It’s also vital to use hand sanitizers to enhance maximum hygiene. Besides, a cloth face mask is ideal for protecting other travelers from contracting the infection.

Reconnect Planes for Long Travels

The possibility of contracting the infection largely depends on the dose of virus you can contract from passengers sitting next to you. When you sit in one airplane for a long time, exposure to other travelers is massive. Besides, you’ll be compelled to use the bathrooms several times, which puts you at risk of catching the virus in the washrooms or aisles.

Reconnecting planes means that you can occupy your seat until your destination, without the urge to use them. Consequently, your exposure to large doses of the virus from the people around is minimised.

Choose Your Airline Based on Safety Standards

The war against the virus can only be won collectively. While personalizing your fight to avert the contraction of COVID-19, you should expect your ideal airline to play its part. Most airlines have launched robust safety measures that involve disinfecting the plane using foggers and ultra-violet lights.

It’s also essential to select airlines that make the check-in process touch-less to prevent your documents from contracting the virus. While boarding the plane, most airlines use terminal doors and thermal scanners to monitor passengers’ temperatures before their journeys.

Sit Close to a Window

The goal is to reduce your exposure with other people whose COVID-19 infection status isn’t known to you. If you select a seat close to a window, passengers who frequent the aisle on their way to the bathrooms won’t get near you. Besides, the number of people sitting around you is minimized.

Consider Opening the Air Vent

Take advantage of the existence of HEPA filters to refresh the air around you. The filters offer many health benefits as they can remove up to 99.9% of particles from the air while also introducing you to the air from the atmosphere.

With studies establishing new details about COVID-19, it’s difficult to predict when normalcy will return. Scientists are working around the globe to produce vaccines and treatment for the virus, but the possibility is still months away. The situation may last longer than experts had earlier anticipated, so it’s worth considering how to reduce the risk while proceeding with our activities.