5 Ways to Avoid Infection When Moving Abroad

Holidays have been canceled, restaurants are shutting their doors and even Broadway has closed as a result of the current pandemic.

But what if staying put is truly not an option? Thousands of people have sold their houses, packed up their belongings and are facing the worry of international travel. Frankly, it’s the last thing anyone needs on top of the stress of moving.

Obviously, if you are traveling for leisure, you should have canceled your plans by now. But if you do have to travel abroad, there are ways to be prepared.

Here are the top tips to travel internationally right now, from someone who had to do so only last week.

Wipes

Above all else, bringing antiseptic/antibac/alcohol wipes when traveling is an imperative. When you sit down, wipe your area and your tray – particularly if you are flying long-haul. Many people do this already, but now more than ever is the time to practice extreme hygiene practices.

Hand sanitizer

When you’re 30,000ft in the air and have two people blocking you in your window seat, washing your hands is no longer an option. Instead, use a hand sanitizer. Whilst hand washing remains the most effective way of eliminating the risk, hand sanitizer is close behind. Most of us have experienced the bulk-buying currently going on, but the good news is, the lack of demand in flights means there are rows and rows of hand sanitizer at the airport terminal!

Masks

The truth is, masks don’t actually work unless you already have the virus and are containing it. In which case, you shouldn’t even be leaving the house. If you’re using the mask to protect yourself, it won’t work, so don’t be fooled into a false sense of protection.

Clothes washing

As soon as I was in my accommodation in New Zealand, I stripped down and washed everything exposed on the airplane. Myself, my clothes, I even wiped down my suitcase. Keeping on top of potential exposure and ensuring your hands are clean is the best way to minimize infection.

Using paper towels

We’ve all experienced the toilets that you have to pull to open instead of push. Airplane toilets are notoriously fiddly. When in-flight, if you need to use the bathroom, wash your hands thoroughly (for twenty seconds) and then use a paper towel or toilet roll to open the door with, before throwing the paper away immediately and using hand sanitizer back at your seat. It may sound extreme, but you’ll be grateful to it if you avoid the virus.

As has been repeated by health professionals, the best way to avoid the virus is to minimize exposure by washing your hands and only traveling if absolutely essential.

At this uncertain time, UPakWeShip is proud to continue functioning, our staff remain contactable and you can reach us for more information via our website, or by phone:

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