Travel tips to stay safe with testing for a stress-free summer holiday
Doctor shares a few health tips for travel that may help your family return healthy from that much needed summer break while keeping ‘unwelcome’ holiday presents away
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With the kids breaking for their summer vacation, a huge task for all parents is to plan a safe and enjoyable holiday. After two years of Covid-19 restrictions, travel is starting to feel a lot safer, especially with the increasing number of people getting vaccinated and even getting booster shots. Dr. Mangesh Tiwaskar, Editor in Chief of Journal of Association of Physicians of India shares a few tips that may help your family return healthy from that much needed break while keeping ‘unwelcome’ holiday presents away. (Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash)
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1. Check the Covid-19 rates and restrictions before deciding on the holiday destination - The infection rate and restrictions at your destination is a big factor to consider. If you’re thinking of a location that’s red-hot with infection, your chances of becoming ill can rise, even if you’ve been vaccinated. Its best to check with someone living there or stay updated on infections in the area before you finalize the plan, to avoid any unwanted surprises upon arrival. Also, if you or those you’re traveling with have not yet been vaccinated, you may want to take a rapid antigen Covid-19 test before you leave to reduce the odds of unknowingly bringing the virus to your destination. (Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay )
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2. Carrying a Rapid Antigen Testing Kit as a part of your medicine bag - While travelling, with kids or even otherwise, a medicine kit is a must-have item in a travel bag. Let’s apply this ‘safety first’ mantra not just to our kids but all aspects of life to keep a check on our health. So, this holiday season, ensure you carry a Covid-19 self-test kit for a stress-free and safe holiday. Of course, while making this decision, the quality of the kit is a key factor as well. These kits, such as the Panbio Covid-19 antigen self-test kit, are readily available in pharmacies and online retailer sites and give you quick result in as little as 15 minutes. You can easily test on the go, especially if there is a sudden rise in the number of cases after you have arrived. This can help ensure you and your travelling group are safe. A self-test kit is an important travel partner, and even more so if you’re going to another country! (Photo by Cedrik Wesche on Unsplash)
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3. Avoid crammed, indoor spaces - While finalizing your travel itinerary, ensure that you avoid indoor places crammed with people whose vaccination status is unknown. There may be vacation activities you always love to do – from karaoke cafes to theme parks with indoor rides – that may be wise to skip for now. These crowded gatherings away from fresh air may carry some Covid-19 risk. But if you visit a packed indoor space that you can’t resist, make sure to mask up and self-test when you return. (Image by Tasos Lekkas from Pixabay )
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4. Don’t forget to relax! You deserve it - Yes! We are all due for a well-deserved break. For all of us, the stress from this pandemic means we yearn to travel more than ever now. For many of us, it’s been two years since we’ve taken a vacation or spent holidays with extended family. While you are on your first holiday away since the pandemic, it may take a while to fully unwind. That’s okay. Getting vaccinated and carrying a quality rapid antigen self-test kit can help you feel more confident, so you can allow yourself to enjoy the break, kick back and relax. (Photo by Jonathan Forage on Unsplash)
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