Self-quarantine after travel is a significant way to stop the possible transmission of COVID-19, be it to your loved ones or your colleagues at work.

Admit it. It’s a tad difficult to stop yourself from traveling especially when you’re so used to going places way before the onset of this nasty pandemic. Experts, however, stress that it’s important for you to follow protocols. So, even when you can get away with it, you need to remember to self-quarantine after travel.

If you’ve been out of state during Thanksgiving, it’s crucial to self-quarantine after travel. California announced that traveling residents must do a 14-day quarantine right after arrival. Moreover, if you’ve been lengthyly exposed to someone who isn’t part of your household, it’s imperative for you to quarantine yourself, as well.

Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, former director of the division of communicable disease control and prevention at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and a current professor at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, asserts that people must do self-quarantine after travel, an automatic new normal response as opposed to doing complete isolation when you know that you have the COVID-19 virus. Self-quarantining, he says, is a kind of middle ground between full isolation and outdoor mask-wearing.

The term, “quarantine,” has seemingly lost its gravity as we typically have been hearing it since the onset of this deadly pandemic. Nevertheless, it is crucial to take heed of the different warnings provided by authorities as to the significance of this word. More so, doing self-quarantine after travel allows us to protect others especially if we have been unknowingly exposed to the virus while traveling.

Below are several tips that we should remember as regards the importance of voluntary self-quarantine after travel.

What is self-quarantine? Self-quarantine is the act of staying isolated from others for 14 days after we arrive from a prolonged travel to another area besides our own. This means, then, that you voluntarily stay away from people, even from your housemates, for a period of two weeks to eradicate the possibility of COVID-19 transmission if, for instance, you’ve been unfortunately infected with it. The 14-day rule also allows you to check yourself for the symptoms of the virus as they typically manifest themselves during the said duration.

Aside from staying away from your family and housemates, it is also crucial to stay home from work. This means that you can apply for a work from home arrangement, as well. Doing a self-quarantine after travel includes isolating yourself from work colleagues, preferring to do WFH for the time being. As with the possibility of transmitting COVID-19 to your family, you might transfer the virus to your workmates, as well. A responsible traveler, of course, must aim to halt infection and the two-week isolation is an effective safety measure.

Finally, Kim-Farley shares that, as regards food and other essentials, you may want to adopt a temporary no-contact basis of procuring these things. For example, you can ask your loved ones to leave these implements outside your room or, if you live alone, you can request deliveries to be left on your doorstep. Paying for these goods may be done through digital means, as well. Self-quarantine after travel is your way of helping halt the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus as more and more cases are still being reported daily.

Are you trying to plan a great day out? A day trip with friends, family, and loved ones is a great way to make lasting memories. But how can you plan a trip that everyone will enjoy?

Wherever you are, some outings will always work a treat. To help you, we have collected 7 amazing day trip ideas that you must consider before your next outing. 

1. Take a Rafting Trip

Rafting is a great activity, either as a family, with friends or as a couple. It is wet, wild, and a lot of fun as you cruise down a rapid river, working as a team to avoid those wet ravines. Yes, you will get soaked, but that is all part of the fun. 

Many companies have different levels of challenge, often including a beginners course. This means you don’t have to worry about going overboard and enjoying the scenery a little more, instead of strapping in for an extreme ride. Some can even include children aged four and upwards.

Most companies can offer full or half-day trips. You can find out more about service providers by clicking here.

2. Visit a Zoo

The Zoo is fun for all ages, from families with young children to couples on dates. Who would not want to spend a day trip looking at animals and the wonders of nature? Luckily, most places have a zoo within driving distance of their home, though sizes and the animals they have may vary.

If you don’t have a zoo close by, try to find other nature centers. You may have an aquatic life or ocean center you can visit. Many places have botanical gardens that can be used, so you can look at the flora and fauna from around the world. 

3. Visit a Local Farm

Once you get out of the city and into the countryside, the rolling farmland is something that can really be enjoyed by you and your family. While many farmers may be mad if you start trampling over their land unannounced, many farmers have side businesses and schemes that are inviting you for fun on their land. 

Try to find a farm that has fruit picking schemes. You could be selecting strawberries and cherries, which you can later use to cook delicious meals in the evening. 

Other farms offer camping and accommodation. You could stay on the farm and watch the daily goings-on, or head off to a local town for lunch. 

4. Day Trip Ideas at the Beach

This is a classic day trip that never gets old. Sun, sea, and sand are a winning combination, even if you do not go into the waves. Get set up with a beach towel and some beach activities likes football or volleyball, for fun and games. 

If you are brave and venture into the waves, then you can try surfing or bodyboarding. If you are looking for something a bit more relaxing, hire some fishing equipment. A day at the beach really does have something for everyone. 

Even if you avoid the promenade entirely, you can indulge in the ocean scene. Book a restaurant looking out into the ocean for an evening meal, so you can dine as the sunsets. 

5. Visit a Sports Game

Many people love to visit sporting events. Everyone has their favorite, from a classic ball game to a football showdown. But have you ever taken your family, or gone to see a sport you know nothing about?

If you look, you will see hundreds of sports you have never watched, going on live in your area. From pro wrestling to water polo, something weird and wonderful will be happening. Give it a go, push yourself, and you may even end the day with a favorite new sport.

6. The Fun of the Fairground

When the fairground comes to town, you should definitely take up the call. The lights, attractions, rides, and of course the mountains of sugar, can always make for a great day trip out. If going with children, you could provide them with some spending money so they can learn how to regulate their spending. 

If the fair is not in town, then try to locate your nearest theme park. Although many can be pricy if you turn up on the day, you can often see offers and coupons offering discounts if you plan in advance. It is standard that you must push yourself to go on the biggest ride possible. 

If the fairground and theme parks are not your thing, then consider the circus. Many circuses are modern affairs that treat animals well or don’t use them at all. You can experience acrobatics, magic, and gymnastics all under one roof.  

7. Find an Arcade

It is becoming increasingly popular to visit an old school, video games arcade. Many have started to appear in towns and cities, and they often have bars, cafes, and restaurants attached. They often have lots of classic games ready for you to play in really cool looking old arcade cabinets. 

If you take your family, you can challenge your children to games you used to play when you were younger. It is a great halfway house because it gets them away from gaming on the home console, yet combines their favorite activity with the interactions and socializing you want. Just be very careful they don’t beat you.

Do It All Again

Once you have the perfect day trip ideas and you find one you love, don’t be afraid to do it again. You may find a new hobby, or have an even greater day the second time around. Don’t be afraid to try something new!

If you enjoyed our handy article, then visit the rest of our blog. We can help you with everything, from planning your next holiday to saving money when you were there. Let us help you get the most from your travels, starting today!

Travelers hope that a developed vaccine becomes available soon so that they can, once again, easily visit various places all around the world.

Travel has been heavily affected by the ensuing pandemic. Easy entry to various countries has become a difficult pursuit especially since massive lockdowns have been imposed to halt the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus. Nevertheless, the news of a possibly developed vaccine brings a welcome breath of sigh.

Both companies hope to be authorized to commercially sell the developed vaccine within US territory before the end of November. Representatives plan to manufacture about 50 million doses prior to the end of 2020 and produce 1.3 billion vials next year.

Recently, several pharmaceutical companies, BioNTech and Pfizer, announced that a developed vaccine may be 90% effective against COVID-19 infection. This assumption was obtained from the collaboration’s third stage testing of the said vaccine. A couple of weeks after, the vaccine was observed to be even higher in efficacy, reaching 95%.

Consequently, Moderna announced that their developed vaccine against the virus is 95% effective, as well. In the UK, a vaccine produced by the joint efforts of the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca has been deemed 70% effective—a percentage that can even reach 90% as it gets further modified to reach its highest potential.

These updates are now providing hope as various countries grapple with the debilitating impacts of the pandemic, both economic- and health-wise.

Specifically, a developed vaccine—one that may be proven 100% effective against the novel coronavirus—can boost the economy. Likewise, an effective vaccine can result in a boom in the tourism industry which has been drastically decreased due to the necessity of restricted border entry in various countries around the world.

Explaining the ill impact of the pandemic on tourism, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development approximates that earnings from tourism will decrease by 80% this year.

Countries with a huge bulk of their GDP relying on tourism have had to make do with lesser income due to the need for lockdowns and social distancing protocols. Currently, it is predicted that it will take several years before these countries get to experience a resurgence of tourism in their territories. An effective, developed vaccine can help expedite this boon, however.

China, for example, is seen as an excellent epitome of that yearned-for tourism rebound. Since the country was able to immediately control the spread of the virus, they were able to restore air travel—enabling almost 90% of pre-COVID-19 air traffic.

“I believe that the main priority of the tourism industry is to get people travelling again safely by giving governments confidence that systematic Covid-19 testing and contact tracing are possible and reliable prior to having a vaccine programme,” asserts Aileen Clemente, the chairman and president of Philippine firm Rajah Travel Corporation, citing that a developed vaccine is not the sole solution for travel resurgence. “As we all know, the vaccine programme will take a while to roll out to all parts of the world, so pre- and post-vaccine programmes should be concurrently available,” continues Clemente.

Nonetheless, it is the hope of many that a developed vaccine becomes immediately available to the public so that a new normal can finally emerge—and easy traveling can be, once again, experienced.