COVID-19 has been a trying time for most of us, but particularly for people who are immunocompromised. Dealing with a weakened immune system means that you are more likely than most to not only catch the virus, and learning to navigate health precautions while traveling can be a big obstacle. As travel comes back on the horizon with countries beginning to open their borders, learning how to keep you and your loved ones safe should be a major priority. Here are five tips that will help keep you safe and well while you enjoy your adventure.

Get Good Travel Insurance

First, make sure that you don’t travel anywhere without being sure to cover yourself with a good travel insurance policy. It’s worth paying more to ensure that you are well-covered, considering any pre-existing conditions you may have. Staysure offers insurance that covers various medical conditions and COVID-19 cover is included if you take out Staysure’s updated policy. If you do happen to catch the virus while travelling, you are more likely to get better quality treatment more quickly.

Contact Your Travel Company

If you have decided that it’s just too risky to travel right now, you’re not alone. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to miss out on the trip of a lifetime. Get in touch with your travel company and see what they can do for you, as cancellations and rescheduling are quite commonplace at the moment with many people avoiding travel due to COVID. Your travel company might be able to offer you a full refund, partial refund, or voucher that you can place towards a trip at a future date.

Personal Protection

If you decide to take the risk and travel, or cannot avoid travelling for any reason, it’s important to ensure that you take as many necessary steps as possible to protect yourself along the way. This will include wearing a face covering, such as a surgical mask, which is now mandatory in airports and other public areas in the UK. Carry hand sanitizer with you, use it frequently, wash your hands as often as possible, and try not to touch anything that you don’t absolutely need to.

Consider Alternative Travel

If you have planned a trip to a place that you could get to by car, it might be worth making some changes to your travel plans. Driving yourself somewhere is safer than taking a plane, train, or bus since you’ll be on your own or surrounded with loved ones who you trust have been quarantining rather than strangers. Although travel companies have taken steps to ensure social distancing (such as taking fewer passengers on flights by keeping middle seats free), it’s always worth going for the safer option if you have it.

Be Vigilant

As many places continue to reopen with social distancing in place, the general rule is to be on your guard and vigilant. This might mean travelling a little differently than how you normally would. For example, you might need to book in advance if you want to check out a restaurant at your destination or check how that dining option is protecting its customers and workers (with tables spread out, sanitizing after every customer exits the premises, etc). Check out areas around the world that aren’t very touristy right now; visiting in the off-season usually offers a much quieter experience.

If you are immunocompromised, your risk of catching COVID-19 is higher – but with some vigilance and common sense, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t still enjoy travelling.

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