Whether you are looking forward to a trip over the coming summer or will be relaxing in your home town, there are some simple precautions you can take to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep yourself, your loved ones and your fellow citizens safe. Sheena O’Brien, Sun International’s Health and Safety Specialist, shares the following safeguards for when you leave your home:
- Always wear your mask when you are out and about. One study found that face masks can reduce the spread of COVID-19 by as much as 85%.
- Avoid crowded areas as far as possible, especially if they are indoors.
- Always remember to practice physical distancing from others. This applies to lifts and escalators as well. Most of these should have clearly signposted capacity limits, so pay attention to these.
- Hand sanitisers are great for times when you can’t wash your hands but if you have the option, rather wash your hands with soap and water instead. Washing your hands correctly instead of sanitising is more effective at killing any germs or bacteria on your skin and also helps prevent the skin from drying out.
- When eating out, try and choose restaurants that have an outdoor facility where possible. If you cannot enjoy your meal outdoors, take-aways are a good alternative – or room service if you are staying in a hotel.
- If you are staying at a hotel and do not need your room serviced during your stay, inform the front desk. Having less people come into your room will reduce your risk of exposure.
Lastly, remember to look out for hotels, restaurants, and tourist activities and attractions that carry the Eat Safe – Travel Safe badge:
This means that the establishment in question has adopted the stringent health and safety protocols that the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) developed earlier this year. These protocols consider the latest regulations and directions, are benchmarked against international best practice, have been approved by an epidemiologist, and have received the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Global Safety Stamp of Approval. You can find out more about Eat Safe – Travel Safe here.
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