How to Avoid the Coronavirus When Traveling

Travelers are always aware of germs. When coronavirus spreads, you may feel powerless in crowds. However, there is much you can do.

Everything you do to protect yourself and your family from the flu can also protect you from this new viral threat.

We can’t control where the virus is, but we can avoid getting it. Both the flu and coronavirus infect the respiratory system. People may cough or sneeze on us, but we often infect ourselves. We touch a virus-infected surface and then our face, allowing it to spread.

According to science, we touch our faces 23 times an hour on average. That’s nearly 400 chances to get a germ while awake. Don’t touch your face or simply your eyes, nose, or mouth without reason!

Because we’re not perfect, wash your hands often. Twenty seconds of vigorous hand-rubbing with soap does the trick. To time yourself, sing “Happy Birthday” twice. After rinsing, dry your hands to remove any leftover residue. Moisture helps germs grow.

After washing, avoid recontamination. Avoid touching anything unnecessary. Use a paper towel or your elbow/shoulder to open doors.

Handwashing is your best strategy. However, we don’t always have access when we’re good travelers and in our seats. If so, keep the alcohol-based sanitizer on hand. Minimum 60% alcohol.

Here’s an important hand sanitizer tip. Drying your hands helps kill germs. Apply, then rub your hands together until the spaces between your fingers are dry.

What about the armrest, tray, vent above your head, media screen, and anything else your hands may touch? I heard the average plane flies five times a day. That’s a lot of chances for germy hands to spread.

The flu virus can live for 48 hours on a surface after being coughed or sneezed into the air. A recent study showed coronaviruses can survive this long or longer depending on temperature and humidity. Clean up all these areas. Don’t hoard wipes. Several may be needed. Make sure the surface is wet for the recommended time to kill germs.

Sitting next to a sick-looking person? Being near someone coughing, sneezing, or blowing their nose makes me cringe. I’m going on vacation and don’t want to catch a cold. Given the coronavirus situation, hopefully, the flight crew is aware and has done their part to protect others. Asking to be relocated to another seat is fine. But sometimes, today’s crowded planes don’t allow for that.

Discretely alert the flight crew. Let them assess the risk. If the person has a fever, coughing, or difficulty breathing, they may be removed from the flight. If the risk is low and the person doesn’t have a fever, they can wear a mask to prevent spread.

Why not recommend masks? It’s effective. A mask helps you avoid touching your face, but it gives a false sense of security if and when it doesn’t fit well, thereby letting the virus just “do its thing.” Scratching your nose vigorously often removes the protection altogether.

After the flight, what about the hotel room? Clean it, and sanitize anything touched. This includes TV remotes, cabinet and bathroom surfaces, hotel room phones, tables, tablet devices, and light switches.