How to Travel Safely After the release of Coronavirus Vaccine
Covid-19 has re-defined lives and also vacation travel. Last year between July 2019 to September 2019 around 80 million trips were done by Americans alone. Travelers have been forced to reconsider where to go, how to get there, and the safety precautions they need to take. Whenever you travel, you are at the risk of getting exposed to some infection; not just COVID-19 but any other viral infection. There are still plenty of ways to enjoy a getaway while protecting yourself from coronavirus. With the weather cooling up, in winter we are observing an increase in active transmission of corona virus in almost every country. Keeping in view the possible availability of corona vaccine, many of our readers ask us about the feasibility of travel during COVID-19.
UK, USA and many other countries approved Covid vaccine, and it is distributed to people based on priority like health care workers will be given first followed by other groups. But if you get our opinion, we would suggest you to avoid non-essential travel at any cost. Let’s take a deeper look to this matter. Hopefully we will get to some positive decision.

SCHENGEN VISA
Decide which country is safest to travel based on number of COVID Cases Reported
As of Dec 12, 2020, worldometers.info website reported below numbers for different countries
Position |
Country |
Total |
1 |
16,545,024 |
|
2 |
9,857,380 |
|
3 |
6,880,595 |
|
4 |
2,625,848 |
|
5 |
2,365,319 |
|
6 |
1,830,956 |
|
7 |
1,825,775 |
|
8 |
1,809,809 |
|
9 |
1,741,439 |
|
10 |
1,494,602 |
|
11 |
1,417,072 |
|
12 |
1,320,592 |
|
13 |
1,229,379 |
|
14 |
1,126,700 |
|
15 |
1,100,818 |
|
16 |
980,943 |
|
17 |
885,039 |
|
18 |
852,965 |
|
19 |
611,631 |
|
20 |
603,603 |
|
21 |
603,159 |
|
22 |
575,422 |
|
23 |
573,622 |
|
24 |
569,781 |
|
25 |
551,900 |
|
26 |
489,178 |
|
27 |
454,852 |
|
28 |
448,331 |
|
29 |
435,056 |
|
30 |
397,597 |
|
31 |
373,831 |
|
32 |
359,749 |
|
33 |
355,786 |
|
34 |
344,700 |
|
35 |
320,098 |
|
36 |
319,822 |
|
37 |
276,247 |
|
38 |
261,437 |
|
39 |
257,275 |
|
40 |
247,593 |
|
41 |
201,524 |
|
42 |
190,585 |
|
43 |
187,006 |
|
44 |
183,755 |
|
45 |
178,952 |
|
46 |
174,299 |
|
47 |
172,523 |
|
48 |
171,423 |
|
49 |
158,334 |
|
50 |
153,585 |
|
51 |
150,947 |
|
52 |
147,312 |
|
53 |
146,697 |
|
54 |
146,044 |
|
55 |
145,245 |
|
56 |
140,827 |
|
57 |
140,784 |
|
58 |
130,794 |
|
59 |
129,099 |
|
60 |
125,723 |
|
61 |
125,669 |
|
62 |
123,842 |
|
63 |
121,089 |
|
64 |
116,297 |
|
65 |
113,708 |
|
66 |
110,393 |
|
67 |
108,099 |
|
68 |
107,215 |
|
69 |
107,116 |
|
70 |
106,715 |
|
71 |
100,306 |
|
72 |
95,481 |
|
73 |
92,913 |
|
74 |
91,638 |
|
75 |
91,526 |
|
76 |
90,252 |
|
77 |
89,880 |
|
78 |
88,965 |
|
79 |
86,701 |
|
80 |
82,246 |
|
81 |
77,059 |
|
82 |
75,756 |
|
83 |
74,811 |
|
84 |
73,025 |
|
85 |
72,757 |
|
86 |
58,313 |
|
87 |
52,933 |
|
88 |
48,952 |
|
89 |
47,742 |
|
90 |
41,736 |
|
91 |
41,394 |
|
92 |
41,272 |
|
93 |
40,948 |
|
94 |
40,803 |
|
95 |
32,135 |
|
96 |
30,450 |
|
97 |
28,024 |
|
98 |
27,071 |
|
99 |
25,143 |
|
100 |
25,046 |
|
101 |
21,639 |
|
102 |
21,147 |
|
103 |
18,217 |
|
104 |
17,713 |
|
105 |
17,587 |
|
106 |
17,061 |
|
107 |
16,812 |
|
108 |
16,269 |
|
109 |
16,161 |
|
110 |
15,618 |
|
111 |
14,476 |
|
112 |
14,342 |
|
113 |
13,420 |
|
114 |
13,348 |
|
115 |
12,624 |
|
116 |
12,501 |
|
117 |
11,800 |
|
118 |
11,608 |
|
119 |
11,302 |
|
120 |
11,219 |
|
121 |
11,101 |
|
122 |
10,780 |
|
123 |
9,491 |
|
124 |
9,354 |
|
125 |
9,330 |
|
126 |
9,180 |
|
127 |
9,173 |
|
128 |
9,041 |
|
129 |
8,472 |
|
130 |
8,431 |
|
131 |
7,648 |
|
132 |
7,447 |
|
133 |
7,288 |
|
134 |
6,864 |
|
135 |
6,714 |
|
136 |
6,528 |
|
137 |
6,063 |
|
138 |
6,049 |
|
139 |
5,887 |
|
140 |
5,879 |
|
141 |
5,725 |
|
142 |
5,721 |
|
143 |
5,575 |
|
144 |
5,552 |
|
145 |
5,551 |
|
146 |
5,340 |
|
147 |
5,185 |
|
148 |
5,044 |
|
149 |
4,936 |
|
150 |
4,579 |
|
151 |
4,192 |
|
152 |
3,894 |
|
153 |
3,779 |
|
154 |
3,576 |
|
155 |
3,221 |
|
156 |
3,206 |
|
157 |
3,090 |
|
158 |
2,444 |
|
159 |
2,440 |
|
160 |
2,250 |
|
161 |
2,199 |
|
162 |
2,092 |
|
163 |
2,083 |
|
164 |
1,977 |
|
165 |
1,932 |
|
166 |
1,751 |
|
167 |
1,676 |
|
168 |
1,482 |
|
169 |
1,395 |
|
170 |
1,225 |
|
171 |
1,072 |
|
172 |
1,009 |
|
173 |
906 |
|
174 |
801 |
|
175 |
769 |
|
176 |
733 |
|
177 |
728 |
|
178 |
720 |
|
179 |
Diamond Princess |
712 |
180 |
711 |
|
181 |
668 |
|
182 |
628 |
|
183 |
525 |
|
184 |
515 |
|
185 |
509 |
|
186 |
436 |
|
187 |
391 |
|
188 |
370 |
|
189 |
357 |
|
190 |
298 |
|
191 |
292 |
|
192 |
274 |
|
193 |
187 |
|
194 |
175 |
|
195 |
162 |
|
196 |
152 |
|
197 |
148 |
|
198 |
94 |
|
199 |
87 |
|
200 |
76 |
|
201 |
46 |
|
202 |
44 |
|
203 |
43 |
|
204 |
41 |
|
205 |
36 |
|
206 |
31 |
|
207 |
27 |
|
208 |
27 |
|
209 |
19 |
|
210 |
17 |
|
211 |
17 |
|
212 |
14 |
|
213 |
13 |
|
214 |
10 |
|
215 |
10 |
|
216 |
MS Zaandam |
9 |
217 |
4 |
|
218 |
3 |
|
219 |
2 |
|
220 |
1 |
What coronavirus studies suggest?
According to a recent study, even if corona vaccine is finally released, only 49% of travelers would take a risk of traveling. Keeping the risk in mind, people have a wait-and-see approach towards traveling.
Even after the release of corona virus vaccine, it would take quite a time in the distribution of the vaccine in UK, US and all over the world. So, the industry of travel and tourism may take years to fully rebound.
Top Travel Considerations
Travel amid the pandemic is nothing less than a challenge. You can’t take the risk of leaving your place just to have some fun out there. Travel only when you have no other choice.
Keep It Simple
Take a trip that is door-to-door and direct if possible, avoid a lot of different means of transfers or transportation. For example, traveling by car during COVID-19 will likely be the safest, so look for destinations within driving distance. If you plan to fly, book that a nonstop flight reservation as it is safer than one with layovers, because of fewer chances of being exposed to the virus.

SCHENGEN VISA
Where you are traveling?
It is best to know the transmission rate of the territory you are going to visit. If you are traveling to the state with higher transmission rate, avoid going in the first place. If you can’t help that, you must avoid shared spaces like public restrooms, hotels and restaurants. These are the spots where one is more likely to get exposed to Corona virus.
Mode of Transportation
Not every mode of transportation is equally risky. Air travel is the riskiest mode of travel by far. Airports are the most high-risk areas because they have so many people, belonging to different countries at a single place. When boarded on a plane, the traveler must follow the safety protocols like wearing facemasks, to sit 6 feet apart and surety of neat and sanitized surface.
What to Know About Flying
All airlines have now adjusted to live in Covid reality and put all measures in place to allow social distancing when possible, enforces face mask usage, and provides good access to hand sanitizers. Airborne transmission of germs and virus is rare as compared to outdoors. However, there is a chance of coronavirus transmission due to difficulty with social distancing on the plane.
Traveling to the airport during widespread of Covid is risky, specially at every stage like check-In, security checks, baggage retrieval and boarding. Travelers should take every precaution for every step of travel during the journey.
Where to stay
Avoid staying at public places like hotels as they have shared environment that adds more to the risk of infection. So, we recommend you to come up with the safest lodging option to lower the risk of catching up the virus.
Stay Outside Wherever possible
Staying outside is the best way to prevent from virus as the air is moving and risk of transmission is low. Experiencing nature is beautiful and also can recharge your energy levels. Take a bike ride, a day hike in the hills or mountains, walk along the beach as they carry very low risk.
Road Trip Tips
- Have Hand sanitizers and wipes on you at all times
- Get your snacks and own drinks to stand in line
- Wear a mask when you are close to others
- Travel during off-peak time. Don’t start on Friday, when public rest stops will be more crowded
Activities not to follow
Do not get into the activities that put you within 6 feet to the people in your surroundings. Avoid being a part of the enclosed spaces like concerts, museums and other public events. So, maintaining the safest distance should be the top priority.
Get Your Travel Insurance For Visa Application.
Strategies to follow for safe travel
Hand washing practice
Do not forget to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, right after visiting some public place. If water and soap is not available, use hand sanitizer to clean your hands.
Wear a facemask
Being masked is the best option to stay protected against germs and respiratory droplets. Use a medical facemask in a way that it covers your nose and mouth well.
Do not touch your eyes, nose and mouth
While you are traveling, make sure you are not touching your eyes, nose or mouth with dirty hands.
Physical distancing
Droplets containing corona virus can easily travel through air and reach you. When you practice physical distancing, you are actually reducing the chance of getting infected.
Sum Up:
COVID-19 is an all new virus that can leave the affected vulnerable to developing many serious illnesses especially in those who are more than 60. In this time, when we are hearing a lot about coronavirus vaccine, not to travel at all cannot be the final verdict. You can travel safely if you follow the guidelines given by CDC and your local health officials. And if you cannot, you must stay home.