One of my friends Joydeep was supposed to travel to Italy this month for a week-long holiday. With several cases of Coronavirus being reported in Italy, his Air Kuwait flight got canceled and they promised to refund him the entire value of his Flight Tickets. He had connecting flights within Italy and stays booked too for a week. Now he is bound to cancel them but with no guarantee of a refund for that. What he is planning to do is request his Travel Insurer to cover for these last-minute cancellation charges. We all know how Insurance Companies behave when you make a claim. They see every claimant as Fraudster first then you have to assure them in 100 ways to get your claim approved. I am sure like my friend, every traveler or tourist, whose plans got spoiled due to this super greedy killer Virus, must be cursing it like hell! ( I am just making silly jokes here, of course, we must show empathy for the lives being lost due to Coronavirus! ).
So how do the Traveler Community hold up during these uncertain times of the Coronavirus?
Table of Contents
Stop Believing the Whatsapp / Facebook Forwards
No, this virus can not be cured with Tumeric, Garlic or any other Green concoction. Yes if you maintain your fitness, eat healthily, keep your immunity up, sure you will somewhat be protected.
Use Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers or Sanitizing wipes
Now is the time to bring out your hygiene OCD (Pun Intended). Wipe the handles of the washroom, wipe your airline seat tray table, wipe the public surfaces before you touch them. No more saying “ Chhotu , zaraa kapda maarna! “, wipe away those germs yourself. Also, you can keep washing your hands ( but water needs saving too!).
Do the Indian Namaste, instead of the English Handshake
Yes, avoid contact with Strangers. Do not touch if not necessary ( no love at first sight of a handshake! ). Indian Namaste is awesome, you do the join your hands in front of you Yoga Aasan and greet at the same time, in the most ancient Indian way possible. Your Indian parents will be proud of you too and bonus you would stay away from the deadly Virus.
Follow the fashion of the Indian Daaku, i.e wear Masks
This virus is notorious for getting into your system through saliva particles from an Infected person through your nose or mouth. Hence wear masks, learn from Delhiites who are already accustomed to wearing them in their Polluted city. Wear stretchy cotton gloves too if possible.
Recall from the school etiquette classes of Always to cover your Face while coughing or Sneezing!
Didn’t you learn anything from your Kinder garden teacher? Keep your saliva to yourself, do not spray them on others. This saves the people around you from getting sick and taking better care of you while you are sick. Also, the same applies to strangers, do not cough/sneeze on others, they have enough struggle of their own, they don’t want this heavy load of this killer Virus added to that.
If possible, be a good boy or girl and stay at your own Home sweet home. Do not travel if not necessary, during this time, till the World Epidemic of Coronavirus subside.
Disclaimer – Must Read
Neither I am a certified doctor, nor is the friend of yours sending you Whatsapp forwards. Read the correct measure to take against the outbreak of Coronavirus from the World Health Organization’s Official Website. Last but not least, DO NOT PANIC or spread PANIC. The Zen in me says, “ A Calm Mind can handle all Odds “.
