It’s been a long while, and we’ve missed reuniting and yum cha-ing with our family and friends again. But, some of us are still anxious about getting the coronavirus, and we don’t want our family and friends to get it either — touch wood.
If you are looking to embrace your loved ones and plan on catching a flight soon, here are six ways to make it a little safer.
Stay up-to-date with travel news
Before you book your flight, stay informed of COVID-19 activity at your destination. This can mean doing research to better understand your destination’s public health measures as well as checking the COVID-19 Malaysia website for the latest COVID-19 safety protocols and requirements.
Questions you’ll want answered before booking your flight include:
- Is a COVID-19 test required before departure and after arrival?
- Do you need to undergo a quarantine?
- What are your destination’s additional public health measures?
Wear your mask throughout your travel
Did we just state the obvious? Yes, we did. Is it worth mentioning again? Absolutely.
Masking up is one of the best — and proven — methods we have against COVID-19, and it remains true for air travel too. You’d want to wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose and fits snugly against the sides of your face, leaving no gaps. A cloth mask with multiple layers of fabric, an N95, and a KN95 are some good options too.
Wash your hands (and avoid touching your face!)
You know the drill — wash your hands. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Just hum the “Happy Birthday” song and you’ll hit the recommended time for effective hand-washing.
To keep your hands virus-free, carry a hand sanitiser and apply it after touching common surfaces and whenever a sink isn’t readily available. And, no matter how hard it seems, avoid touching your face with unwashed or unsanitised hands.
Stay clear of the crowd at the airport
It’s also a good idea to use the time between arriving at the airport and boarding your flight as your best opportunity to reduce COVID-19 risks by staying clear of the crowd.
While waiting to board your plane, maintain a six-foot distance from other passengers as much as possible, even if that means sitting at a less crowded gate.
Sanitise your space in the plane
The armrest you’re leaning against? The seat-back tray you’re using? Well, there may be some nasty microbes on those surfaces. What’s worse, the Coronavirus can last on non-porous surfaces for about three days.
We’d suggest cleaning your space in the plane with anti-bacterial or disinfectant wipes.
And, if you’re unwell, don’t travel
No one wants to have to cancel a trip to visit the family they haven’t seen in a while or a vacation they have been putting off since the pandemic struck. But, unfortunately, the Coronavirus doesn’t care about your plans.
If you are sick, you could bring COVID-19 back to your loved ones and inadvertently spread the virus to people during your travel or at your destination. A good rule of thumb is to never fly when you have a fever.