Coronavirus is also known as COVID-19 has been a main topic of discussion everywhere during last year and unfortunately, 2021 seems to continue in the same way. Everyone has their point of view on this topic and the willingness to return to normal life is making the situation more complicated. Regardless of your own personal perspective, there are some guidelines which should be followed meanwhile, until we know better. World Health Organization has given instructions on how to slow down the transmission of the coronavirus and one of the instructions is to avoid unnecessary traveling.
Traveling during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Here is a couple of topics that you should consider when traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic:
- The situation in the destination
- The proper preparations depending on where are you traveling
- Hygiene in the destination
- Precautions during the travel
- Your behavior in the destination
- Returning to your own country
If you are planning to travel it is essential to familiarize yourself with the situation in the chosen destination. It might be possible that your trip is a potential threat to the country.
Before the trip, appropriate preparation is mandatory. Check the current coronavirus and entry restrictions of your chosen destination. Countries have different kinds of requirements e.g. who is allowed to enter the country, which certificates you should be able to present, and required COVID-19 test and test results. Besides, you should be entirely healthy before heading abroad.
Please note also the hygiene level in the chosen destination, which might ease the transmission of the diseases. The general hygiene level might be lower which can affect the cleanliness of food, water, accommodation, and sanitation. Might be that needed health care isn’t available either.
Some precautions should be followed while traveling to the final destination. Wear a face mask, use it properly and change it to the new one every now and then. Use hand sanitizer and wipe the surfaces around you with disinfecting wipes and wash your hands with warm water when it is available. Try to keep a social distance between other passengers and people. Follow the instruction and orders of staff and authorities during your journey.
When arriving at the chosen destination, you need to do the mandatory quarantine. With your behavior, you can reduce the risk of spreading the virus and becoming ill yourself. Avoid crowded areas, wear masks, remember good hand-hygiene, keep social distance and social contacts at a minimum. Follow the orders of the country and actively look for the instructions and stay updated on the situation. The requirements and instructions are changing at a fast pace. Be prepared for all kinds of changes during the trip.
When returning from abroad, follow the travel-related instructions and quarantine guidelines. It’s possible that you need to take a COVID-19 test before traveling to your own country.
Coronavirus situation in Tunisia
At the starting point of the coronavirus pandemic, Tunisia was performing well. The number of new cases was rather stable, after summer 2020 the amount of cases has been increasing. On the 24th of February 2021, Tunisia has had ca.230 000 coronavirus cases, ca. 8000 deaths, and ca.190 000 recovered. Doctors in Tunisia are concerned about the increasing amount of new coronavirus cases. All intensive care beds are in use and the country’s health system is overloaded.
The Tunisian authorities have taken actions that the transmission of the virus would slow down. The current restrictions are until the 7th of March, but the restrictions are expected to continue but some changes are possible. The current restrictions are:
- A curfew between 8 pm to 5 am
- Traveling between regions is restricted.
- It is mandatory to wear a face mask in public areas.
- Cafes and restaurants are open at 30% capacity, nightclubs closed
- Gatherings banned
Where to find information about travel requirements
At the moment traveling is much more complicated than before and required quarantines affect strongly to the duration of the trip. Might be that the reserved flights and other transportation are canceled; this can prevent you from entering the destination or returning from abroad. It’s important to understand that the necessary requirements change all the time, it’s difficult for all the authorities and travel agencies to stay updated. If you decide to travel you can ask the embassy of the chosen destination about the possible travel requirements. Also, the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) COVID-19 travel regulations map can be helpful. In case of traveling by airplane, contact the airline for the information of their travel policies.
In the end we can say that the coronavirus is affecting strongly to everything and traveling happens to be one part of many people’s lives. When better times come, let’s make sure that we have our travel plans prepared and we are ready to go. Meanwhile “stay safe” where ever you are at home, work, traveling or in the nature.