Travel during coronavirus epidemic is risky, CDC issues guidelines

NEW DELHI, June 14: Travel increases the chances of getting infected by coronavirus. So the best is to stay at home and protect yourself and others when the epidemic is raging, advises the CDC (US Centers for Disease Control).

Mostly the coronavirus infection is spread by asymptomatic, unsuspecting people, simply by contact of proximity like when you talk to someone sitting or standing, say, within a range of 6 feet, or when someone standing nearby coughs or sneezes. This virus inhabits in the throat, windpipe and the lungs. And the droplets carry the pathogen to your face across instantly. Now it all depends on your immunity whether you get it or not.

A second sure shot source is enclosed areas like your own home, malls' aisles, flights, airconditioned metro trains, cabs and lifts where one inhales the contaminated air that stays there indefinitely; but, unlike what you thought when you enforced the lockdown, it's not the outdoors!

A third but remote chance is getting the infection through high touch surfaces which harbour live clusters of the virus like the lift panels, door knobs, bus handles, faucets and paper currency, for how long we don't know.

Before you undertake travel, please take note:-

Is the area you are heading for is infected
Is it prevalent in your area
You can get infected while travelling
Even if you don't have symptoms, you may be a carrier and unknowingly will pass on to others.
Keep distance of 6 feet from others travelling with you also.
Travelling is risky for elderly people and those with underlying medical conditions.
If you get infected on way you will on return pass on to your loved ones, all without your being aware
Find out about the quarantine rules of your place of destination
If you have had contact with a covid positive person in the last 14 days, don't travel.
Do not travel with one who is sick.

If you travel, protect yourself and others

Clean your hands often
Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds if you had been to a public place.
Use hand sanitizer of 60% and above alcohol. Rub hands dry.
Avoid touching nose, mouth, eyes
Avoid close contact with others
Keep 6 feet distance from all othes
Wear face covering in public
Pick up foods from outside restaurants

Consideration of types of travel

Travel increases the risk of your getting infected as also your spreading it. But there is a natural question popping up - Which is the safe mode of travel? Airports, railway stations, bus stations, rest shops all are highly exposed to infections. There is virus in the air as well as surfaces. It must be noted that social distancing is also difficult.

Let us consider air travel. It involves spending lot of time in the terminals, close contacts, and high touch surfaces. It is claimed that there is no threat inflight because air is filtered. But how will you maintain social distancing? In fact, coronavirus spread far and wide through flights only. Mostly it has been spread by flyers although we don't know for certain it is spread and contracted onboard.

As for bus travel, again the infected terminal comes into the picture. Whether sitting or standing in a bus, social distancing also cannot be maintained and there are innumerable high touch surface spots in buses.

By car too there are risky spots. One may stop at roadside eateries, gas/petrol stations, where there are chances of close contact and contact with contaminated surfaces. It is advisable to carry home food and water for travel.