Imagup General Magazine 2024
With the coronavirus still raging in the words and new strains found every month, there is still a considerable risk to travellers. The world has been under lockdown since early 2024, and many countries are still following strict screening procedures for foreigners. People worldwide are waiting to meet their loved ones, family members, and relatives in foreign countries.
It is possible to travel across borders and meet your loved ones again. To do this, you will have to follow strict protocol and ensure that all the documentation is in order. With the vaccines finally rolled out, you should also carry the vaccine certification with you at immigration and other checkpoints. While making your travel plans, you should consult with iasservices.org.uk and ensure that all your documentation is in order. Having the correct documentation will ensure a speedy entry and exit from airports and save you from additional exposure.
With this blog, we hope to share some tips for travelling to a foreign country in the aftermath of the Covid-19.
Vaccinations
It is best to get vaccinated at the earliest. Apart from the Covid-19 vaccines, you should also check the requirements of the destination country. Some common vaccines that protect the body during international travel are the ones for rabies, Hepatitis A and B, meningitis, and flu shots.
If you’re travelling to Brazil, South Africa, India, and Thailand, you may need additional vaccinations. If Africa is your destination, you would need the vaccinations against yellow fever, with the certificate kept in your passport at all times. Many times, you remain safe only as long as the antibodies stay in your bloodstream. It is best to get your vaccinations checked out before you travel to meet your friends and relatives.
Reduce Covid-19 Spread
At the risk of sounding repetitive, we urge you to keep your mask on at all times. It is necessary to follow all Covid-19 precautions in the destination country and abide by the rules and regulations. Remember, you are also putting your friends and relatives at risk by not following the precautions. It is best to wear double masks, use hand sanitisers, and wear a face shield. You should also maintain 6 ft social distancing from people around you.
At the airports, wear gloves, and sanitise as often as you can. Ensuring that you stay safe is paramount to the safety of your loved ones. Before you leave the airport, it is best to change into a fresh set of clothes and store the earlier ones in sealed bags. As soon as you reach your destination, you should shower in hot water, take steam inhalations, and wash your travel clothes with a strong detergent.
Travelling with Children
When visiting friends and relatives, you need to take extra care of children. Kids are prone to run around, touch different surfaces, and then wipe their hands on clothes, faces, and eyes. You should carry all their medications on you and ensure that your children do not unnecessarily touch their faces. Many children also need inhalers and other breathing aids. If you’re journeying by flight, you may need to carry extras to ensure your children can breathe easily in the lower cabin pressure.
Many young kids start crying when the cabin pressure on flights becomes uncomfortable. You should carry additional earplugs for them. If you forget to carry earplugs, you should ask the flight attendant for some sweets or chocolates and hand them over to your kids to suck on slowly. The constant motion will help ease the pressure in their ears, and relieve the discomfort.
If your kids are more than four years of age, you should explain the importance of handwashing with soap for a minimum of 20 seconds to get rid of germs and viruses. Before travelling, you should also check for kids’ vaccinations and ensure your children are protected in the destination country.
Isolate Upon Arrival
When you visit friends and family members, there is a good chance you will expose them to the Coronavirus. Even if you don’t visibly show any symptoms, you could be a carrier of the virus. At such times, it is best to isolate immediately upon arriving at your destination. We would advise a minimum of five to seven days quarantine period, and a daily check of all symptoms like fever, cold, and cough. You should also check your blood oxygen level and the rate of your heartbeats.
When isolating with family members, ensure you have all the medications, an extra change of clothes, and access to a separate washroom. Families with little children should be extra cautious that they do not rub their eyes, or sneeze with their mouths open. Children are always more susceptible to diseases and they catch viruses very quickly.
Dehydration and Sun Exposure
The sun’s rays are quite harmful in countries that have a thin ozone layer. It is best to stock up on sunscreen that is more than 30 SPF (Sun Protection Factor) to protect your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays. Excessive exposure can cause sunburns and peeling of the skin. You may also develop sun eczema or skin rashes. You should wear clothes with full sleeves and wear a hat and sunglasses (apart from the sunblock cream, spray, or lotion).
Sun exposure also causes severe dehydration in adults, senior citizens, and children. If you are travelling to a sunny country, ensure you drink a minimum of 3 litres of water daily. You should also eat watery fruits like melons and drink fruit juices to stay fresh and healthy. If you feel any discomfort, excessive sweating, uncontrollable hot flashes, and feel weakened, you should immediately consult a doctor.
When travelling from one country to another, you must take care of all the health risks. If nothing else, the recent pandemic has opened our eyes to all the diseases in the world. We hope these tips help you safely travel when meeting your friends, relatives, and loved ones.
