Covid-19- Travel Advisory
Travelling in the times of COVID is quite risky as there are chances of getting and spreading the virus. However, we all cannot continue to stay inside and thus resume our life while learning to survive with COVID. Many airports have opened and people have started travelling again. There are many precautions that you need to take while travelling in India or abroad, though many countries still have their bor ders locked.
Unlock 4 has started in our country, but there are many COVID cases cropping up daily. We urge you to travel using your own vehicle as it is safest during this time. Any public transport will not be safe to travel as you will be prone to catch the virus.
During the COVID-19 scenario, it is important to stay safe and take adequate precautions. While travelling there are a few items that you must carry, which include hand sanitizer, wipes, tissues, and a face mask. Using these items, your hygiene can be maintained easily and they can help prevent contact with contaminated droplets.
Permission to travel:
There are COVID cases skyrocketing each day in India. Many Indian states have imposed strict guidelines on the movement of people in and out of these states. They have levied a travel pass requirement for travel by personal car, which is why travellers will need permission to travel. They will require a government-issued COVID travel pass for free Intra and inter-state movement.
The primary method of testing that is used nowadays is a nasopharyngeal swab in which swab is taken through the nose and back of the throat. If you are travelling by road in your personal vehicle then all you need is the Aarogya Setu app which is a self-COVID detector app. Tests need to be conducted before every air travel and every passenger needs to go through compulsory thermal screening at the time of arrival as well as boarding. If you are planning a stay in some state then it is essential to get a COVID test done before travelling.
Hotel guidelines:
If you are planning to stay in a hotel, we advise you to follow a few guidelines on how to stay in a hotel during COVID times:
- Make sure that all the door handles, countertops, tabletops, and elevator buttons are sanitized frequently. Get your room disinfected thoroughly in the morning and evening.
- Before consuming food in the restaurant, make sure that the staff of the restaurant, kitchen, or in-room dining sanitize their hands.
- Monitor the laundry, whether everything is washed separately.
- Whether all the supplies and materials are sanitized before they are taken inside the hotel
- Check whether there are hand sanitizers placed in all guest rooms and all public spaces like lobbies, corridors, entrances, cloakrooms, etc.
- Make sure that cars and luggage are disinfected before entering the hotel.
- Masks and disposable gloves are used by the entire hotel staff and are changed frequently.
- Seating in restaurants and lobby are configured to maintain safe distances between the guests.
- Check if temperature readings are recorded constantly.
- Make sure that in case any guest or colleague is not well, medical assistance is available immediately.
- Open the windows of the room for better ventilation as good ventilation can reduce the risk of coronavirus spread.
- Avoid dining out and order in-room service and try to get contactless delivery
- Do not use hotel facilities like gym and spa.
Travel policy:
- Wear a mask to keep your mouth and nose protected in public
- Maintain a distance of 6 feet from strangers
- Wash your hands or use a sanitizer quite often
- Avoid contact with those who are sick
- Avoid touching your nose, mouth, or eyes.
Other ground transportation
If you travel by bus or train, be aware that sitting or standing within 6 feet (2 meters) of others for a prolonged period can put you at higher risk of getting or spreading the coronavirus. Follow the precautions outlined above for protecting yourself during travel.
Quarantine rules for travel by flight and by road:
There are different rules of quarantine in different states of India as in some states it is only home quarantine while in other states both institutional and home quarantine are needed. The minimum days of quarantine are 7 days in Delhi and in other states, there are 14 days quarantine which might be institutional or home.
