During holidays keep Covid-19 safety first

As South Africans will be enjoying the freedom that comes with the current reduced lockdown restrictions, they are advised to practise caution.

Many are looking forward to socialising and visiting their favourite leisure “hangouts”, hosting family gatherings or making their way home to spend the festive season holiday.

Emma Corder, managing director of Industroclean, said it will be the responsibility of individuals to keep the health and safety of their family and friends top of mind this holiday season.

“The hospitality and retail industries are expected to experience an increase in visitor numbers and are focused on recovery. Whether spending time at home, visiting family or going on holiday there are certain basic practices that everyone should continue to adhere to,” she said.

She said South Africans travelling to other parts of the country and the expected increase in social gatherings, continues to pose a threat to the management of the pandemic.

“Those who make use of public transport or long-distance travel, should bear in mind that the actual commute is not the only risk of infection. Public transport hubs and pick-up points see hundreds of commuters congregating at a central point, sometimes queuing for hours,” said Corder.

Passengers and commuters

Passengers are advised to always practise social distancing at busy hubs.

They should ensure that they sanitise their hands before and after boarding and avoid touching handrails and vehicle doors.

“Anyone using private transport to reach their holiday destination or taking long road trips, should keep the following in mind, limit bathroom and food stops and keep them as brief as possible. The increased foot traffic at malls, restaurants and beaches puts a demand on public toilet facilities and a challenge as far as cleaning routines are concerned,” she said.

Where possible, Corder said one should wipe down surfaces they may touch such as toilet seats, toilet flush plates taps and door handles.
“Having your own hand sanitiser is always advised. Before leaving for our trip, pack a family “sanitising” pack containing wet wipes, sanitiser and tissues. Whether using private or public transport, keep windows open to ensure good ventilation and respiratory hygiene,” she said.

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Safety travel

For those who make use of air travel to reach their destination, airports and airlines have stringent measures in place, making air travel pretty safe.

While queuing and boarding is strictly regulated by airlines, passengers should try getting on and off as swiftly as possible and avoid lingering in confined spaces with crowds of other passengers.

She told Lowvelder that modern passenger aircraft are fitted with the same quality of air-filtration system used in hospitals and are in theory safer than other crowded spaces.

“The risk of infection is, however, still present as passengers could potentially inhale each other’s droplets before they are carried away from the cabin by the ventilation system. Passengers need to have a mindset of collective responsibility and be vigilant about wearing their masks, handwashing and seat wiping,” said Corder.

Gatherings

Avoid crowded restaurants when eating out and if attending family gatherings, consider other guests’ exposure during travel and that you are not familiar to their behaviour.

“If we all exercise critical responsibility and mindfulness while we take a break, we can get to spend time with family and friends and visit our favorite holiday destinations while keeping our loved ones safe,” said Corder.