Pack your backpack, set up the itinerary, buy the tickets and… separate the mask kit and gel alcohol. The dynamics of traveling in recent years has gained new stages and, among the essential ones, is the search for ways to protect yourself against contamination by Covid-19.
With the “loosen-tight” of isolation measures and the emergence of new variants, travelers are finding ways to follow through with their plans without taking so many risks.
Travel plans have taken on even more strength in recent months, mainly due to the desire to compensate for the period of greater social isolation. So says a survey promoted by Booking.com with more than 24,000 travelers from 31 countries, including Brazil.
In the document, 57% of respondents say they will be happy simply to be away from home, regardless of destination.
Even with so much optimism, the spread of the omicron variant is still a concern, mainly due to the high transmissibility of the virus. The increase in vaccination rates, however, plays a very important role in reducing the risk for those who become infected to progress to serious complications.
According to Marco Aurélio Sáfadi, physician and president of the infectology department of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics, the vaccine is, unquestionably, the main method of reducing the risk of contamination, especially in people who will be exposed on buses and planes, or that is, in environments with little possibility of other actions that minimize risks, such as social distancing.
“It is essential to be properly vaccinated. At that moment with the Ômicron, we saw that the third dose was very important, for example. We have to stop discussing strategies that are already buried in terms of effectiveness and focus on what actually can help our population”, recommends the infectologist.
At this point, the best option to travel is still Little Red Riding Hood style: down the road, all alone. “The suggestion that we make to minimize risks at this moment is still traveling in your own vehicle”, observes Sáfadi.
Destinations in the state or nearby regions have become options due to entry restrictions in some countries, as well as the increase in air ticket prices.
Embodying Jack Kerouak and venturing out on the slopes not only allows for more security in relation to the pandemic, but the journey also becomes part of the trip.
As the author says: “the road is life”. And for that, it is not necessary to have a vehicle of your own. Travelers have been looking for car rentals aiming for a route with less health risks.
According to Abla (Associação Brasileira de Locadores de Imóveis), R$7.8 billion of revenue from the vehicle rental market in 2020 corresponds to car rental for individuals.
In the last months of 2021, also according to the Association, companies such as Localiza, Unidas and Movida reported having exceeded pre-pandemic numbers, and occupied 80% of the available fleet.
collective conscience
With a routine divided between her family in Sobral and her studies in Fortaleza, Lidia Ribeiro, a 24-year-old student from Ceará, uses the bus to make this journey. In an attempt to minimize the possibilities of contamination, it seeks to combine several forms of prevention.
In addition to having a good mask and having a complete vaccination schedule, she is still looking for routes outside of busier dates and times.
“When I travel from Monday to Thursday, or Friday morning, the vehicle is always vacant, not half of the seats are occupied. Going out on Friday night or on the weekend is almost guaranteed to take a bus with all the seats occupied. “, compares.
The prevention methods adopted by Lidia are the same as those recommended by specialists. “Those who use public transport to travel should make use of efficient masks that cover the nose and mouth and adjust well to the face”, teaches Sáfadi.
“The best are what we call PFF2 or N95, but we have surgical masks, which also fit the face well, and are also more efficient than fabric masks, which help, but particularly for this variant, they have less efficiency”, he says.
Above all, in the means of transport it is necessary that passengers and crew make use of the sense of collectivity of all travelers. After all, individual prevention methods are effectively more effective based on shared care.
In her travels, Lidia does not see this kind of care. “Most of them wear cloth masks, and they don’t even use them properly. There are always people with noses sticking out, people who take them off to sleep, to talk on the phone, or to talk to other passengers too.”
Climbing aboard an aircraft, in turn, remains unavoidable in some cases — and, at this point, following protocols is also essential.
Being well fed to avoid having to eat during the trip, for example, having extra masks in your hand luggage and keeping gel alcohol with you are among the basic prevention measures.
“Avoid taking off the mask to drink and eat, especially if it is a short trip. Every time you take off the mask, you are increasing the risk of becoming infected”, guides Marco Aurélio Sáfadi.
“Furthermore, [manter] basic hygiene measures, such as having a little tube of alcohol gel, as not all places you will pass during your trip can have a bathroom or place to wash your hands. And avoid putting your hand in your mouth before cleaning them”, he adds.
Such passenger care not only benefits other travelers, but also workers in the area. There are several difficult situations faced by flight crews in recent years: people who board with flu-like symptoms, who refuse to wear the mask correctly, circumvent the in-flight service rule only for those with restrictive diets, etc.
A flight attendant who has worked in the area for 12 years and preferred not to be identified says that the crew takes the necessary precautions, but that it is not up to them to bar people with symptoms from boarding, or to question whether the passenger who asked for food actually has any symptoms. health problem that forces you to eat at that exact moment.
Refusing to comply with health regulations not only poses a risk to public health, but can also lead to a nuisance. If the passenger does not comply with the protocols, the passenger can be removed from the aircraft by the Federal Police — it is enough for the crew to call the captain, who will contact the responsible agency.
Tips for traveling more safely
On any occasion: Get vaccinated with the number of doses indicated by the health services.
By car
- Test everyone who will be sharing the same vehicle before the trip
- If you need to take a break in any establishment, do not remove the mask under any circumstances, and wash your hands well before returning to the car.
- Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer available
- Find out about the sanitary conditions of the destination, number of cases and local decrees
By bus
- Use well-fitting face masks with high protection effectiveness, such as PFF2 and N95. If you can’t find these models, opt for surgical masks and avoid cloth ones
- Remain wearing a mask throughout the journey, removing it only for food. If the trip is shorter, avoid eating or drinking water. Choose to do so when in an open area
- When moving in the trunk or coming back from the bathroom, use alcohol gel to clean your hands
- Look for off-peak travel times and dates
- If possible, travel with the vehicle windows open
- Keep your own bottle of gel alcohol in your hand luggage, for when you need to travel through bus stations, gas stations or snack bars
By airplane
- PFF2 or N95, valveless, or surgical masks are permitted on flights. Retire cloth or crochet masks
- Passengers must wear a mask throughout the flight. Notify the crew if you have any dietary conditions (diabetes, for example)
- If possible, on international travel wait until most passengers have consumed the meal served. Eating a little later, fewer people will be without a mask at the same time as you
- Keep the mask adjusted even when you go to the bathroom. Wash your hands when you leave and, when you return to the chair, also use gel alcohol.
- Follow all directions given by the flight crew
- Do not board if you have any flu-like symptoms or a positive diagnosis of Covid
Source: Folha
