Vacation During A Pandemic: COVID-19 Travel Recommendations

We at Auto Europe realize that times are getting hectic. What with the recent emergence of the COVID-19 virus, politicians announcing travel bans, store shelves empty of necessary products like toilet paper, hand sanitizer, non-perishable goods and the like as well as a bear market that seems to be swiping it’s paw at the global economy; it really is not hard to fathom why the travel industry is taking a serious blow. However, that is not the reason for this blog post. We want nothing less than for our customers to put their health and safety first, but how can they with so much disinformation out there? It is our goal that this post should serve as a non biased tool to assist our customers and readers in being better prepared for not just traveling, but also navigating their day to day lives in the time of global pandemic.

How Can I Find The Most Up To Date Information On COVID-19?

We all have our preferred news outlets we choose to tune into, but in times such as these it is a better idea to get your information from the source, such as the CDC and WHO websites. I am not saying that news outlets are peddling false information or trying to stir the pot, but I have seen quite a bit of conflicting information on the internet and so I will be telling everyone to stay calm at set up an alert from the Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization. Both of these entities are staffed by doctors, all of whom want to see their patients healthy, not ad revenue. The CDC has an app for Android and IOS. You are able to request COVID-19 notifications on the app.

What Are Our Suppliers Doing To Combat COVID-19?

Our suppliers across the globe are all making sure that every vehicle that is rented and returned, receives a thorough cleaning, using the recommended cleaning solutions inside and out, thus ensuring the spread of COVID-19 is minimal. It is also a good idea to keep in mind that the virus can only remain on surfaces for a few hours, depending on the material it is constructed of, so even if they didn’t, which they are, the likelihood of catching the virus from your rental is extremely low.

What Can I Do When Travelling To Protect Myself and Family From COVID-19?

Follow the same recommendations you have been hearing for weeks is truly the best thing you can do. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, do not touch your face including eyes, nose, mouth….just keep your hands away from your head in general (I know it’s hard, as a nervous nail biter myself). You should also wipe down surfaces with disinfectant wipes, this includes tables, chairs, airplane seats and trays, car interiors, door knobs…if it is inanimate and can be touched it needs to be cleaned. Remember, masks only work at preventing those with the virus from spreading. wearing one while healthy still leaves you open to infection. Finally, pay close attention to updates regarding the virus this includes CDC, WHO and your local consulate if you are abroad.

Which Products Work At Stopping COVID-19?

There are quite a few products that can help fight COVID-19, a list of which we will be providing below. Please remember to be safe and use common sense with your usage of these products. Alcohol that is rated as 70% or higher will destroy the virus, but is not to be used internally! Please, also remember that there is a difference in isopropyl alcohol and the alcohol you can imbibe. Isopropyl will literally kill you if ingested.

Which Products Don’t Fight COVID-19?

We have covered those products that do eliminate the COVID-19 virus, but you may be asking yourself which products you should stay away from. it goes without saying that you should probably stay away from online snake oil salesmen pontificating about their new wonder cure...insert televangelists promoting their "silver extract" here, but when push comes to shove, what should you stay away from? Well, lucky for you we have a list below that will help you.

Final Thoughts

If you are afraid that you are showing symptoms of the virus, do not panic or immediately go to the hospital, as many of them are already having a hard time keeping up with the demand. Call your physician or a local doctor if you are abroad, discuss your symptoms with them and they will let you know if you need testing or not. There are quite a few symptoms that over lap between the Flu, the common cold, allergies and COVID-19 so really only by contacting a doctor can you truly know. Once again, do not seek urgent care without speaking with a healthcare practitioner over the phone...that is unless you are experiencing severe symptoms like difficulty breathing, or a fever over 100.5F.

Finally, be kind to each other during this time of uncertainty. There are people who are truly in need and more likely to have complications from the virus. These include those who are elderly and infirmed. Remember that there are children, mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers who are immune compromised and truly do need protection from others, so instead of hoarding face masks, hand sanitizer and toilet paper simply buy what you need and if you can donate the rest or even just a box, do so. With all of the shortages on necessities those who are truly vulnerable within our society are becoming more and more at risk.

When in doubt remember to wash your hands, avoid touching your face, keep a bottle of sanitizer near you, cough and sneeze into your elbow...not your hand and if you start to feel off, call your doctor. We are all in this together and it is together that we will overcome.