Who knew an event (read: pandemic) would bring many new changes in the way people travel. COVID-19 has disrupted the way people travel. Especially in a country like India where people travel day in / day out for various reasons such as work, vacation, leisure, family trips.
Before we dwell on the main topic of this blog, we will see why people travel?
Some travel for their goals, some for relaxation and others for the experience. One cannot imagine what life is without travelling. Travelling is a part of people’s life. Some reasons why people travel are:
- To see your families
- To seek new work
- To learn other culture
- To visit new countries
With talks of airports opening in a few countries, it is likely that we will travel soon but with many restrictions in place. The new series of events will bring in many new rules that people are bound to adapt to.
Let us look at the new travel accessories, which will now find a place in the traveller’s backpack.
1. Face Masks, Gloves and Hand Sanitizers
The first thing that comes to mind for the new pandemic backpack is the trio of Face Masks, Hand Gloves and Hand Sanitizers. A pack of 1 each will meet your needs if it is a short trio but for those on a long trip, make sure you have top-ups of each item or use the reusable ones.
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2. Full Sleeve Clothing
Post H1 – 2020, gone are the days when you wear a short / pyjama for road trips, leisure vacations. Full sleeve clothing is a must for the new traveller to reduce the touch with other surfaces. Make sure you have extra clothing in your backpack.
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3. Emergency Kit
Be prepared for emergencies, not like the current one. But in general, carry a medical emergency kit which you will have at your home. If not, then get one quickly at any medical store.
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4. Sunscreen
Keep sunscreen handy in a country, especially India which temperatures keep changing, especially during the summer. Sunscreen will keep your screen moisturised.
5. Cutlery
Make sure you take your cutlery when you travel; given the current infection rate, who would take the risk of using public cutlery when you have one yours.
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6. Liquid Soap and Towel
It is the best time to your towel now. Whether you are staying at a Luxury resort or office guest house, it is suggested to your soap and towel to avoid any unnecessary infections. Read on how Oyo collaborated with HUL for enhanced hotel hygiene.
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7. Disinfectant wipes
Another essential item that you can consider is the wipes. Gone are the days when you would wipe off your hands with your tee and live a carefree life. Available in all sizes and varieties and readily available everywhere, do count it in.
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8. Thermometer & Oximeter
If you are in the risk category for the novel coronavirus, you may want to carry a digital oximeter. Any saturation below 94% is concerning.
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9. Tablets – Vitamin & Iron
There are no vitamins or supplements yet that are proven to help prevent coronavirus. However, certain nutrients will quickly help you strengthen your immune system’s ability to fight the virus. Some include – vitamin D, vitamin C, zinc and potassium if you’re deficient.
10. Digital Payments
With most of the physical touchpoints, including payments going digital, consider having an ample amount of payment options to pay to reduce the touch.
Some of these options include – Debit / Credit cards, Net Banking, Phone Banking, 3rd party payment apps.
BONUS TIP
We all know how important a power bank has been. Given the current situation with almost everyone doing digital transactions, it is best suggested to have a 20,000 monster power bank in your backpack. While it will make the bag a bit heavy, it is also easily an essential item that you cannot miss at all.
Critical links for reference:
Civil Aviation Guidelines – https://www.civilaviation.gov.in/sites/default/files/Guidelines_for_Air_Passengers_21May.pdf
WHO Travel Guidelines – https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/travel-advice
Indigo: State-wise Guidelines – https://www.goindigo.in/information/state-regulations.html
Do share your feedback on this article by leaving your comment below. Also, consider sharing this on your social media profile with the hashtag – #safe2travel #thepandemicbackpack.