The COVID-19 crisis is still pertinent which is why many people chose to abide by stay-at-home orders. We are told to maintain social distancing, wash our hands frequently with soap, and make use of face masks. The problem is, the enemy is too small for the naked eye and some infected are asymptomatic. This makes it hard to pinpoint which ones already have the virus and the reason why some people don’t believe in the news.
But even with the threat of COVID-19, there are times when we have no choice but to go outside. There will be times when we need to run errands like buy groceries and prescription medications. Others still need to go to work. Because of health and safety reasons some people prefer using their own cars when traveling. However, this is not an option for everyone.
Some people don’t have their own cars, which means they either have to walk, ride a bike, or commute each day. How can you better protect yourself while taking public transportation when another threat is out?
Maintain your distance
Remember that a safe distance should be 2 meters or at least six feet from other people. Don’t sit next to anyone and maintain your distance when walking. If you are using a ride-hailing service, it would be best to avoid ride-sharing as much as possible. This way, you don’t have to sit next to a stranger whom you didn’t know is already infected or not. Know your rights as a passenger and contact an Uber accident lawyer in case you get into a car accident because of an Uber driver.
Keep your hands clean as often as possible
Proper handwashing can be impossible to do especially when you’re already on board a public utility vehicle. What you can do is to bring alcohol or alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you at all times. Choose a hand sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol content. Use this all over your hands and finger until it dries.
Avoid touching surfaces commonly touched on trains and buses. If you can, wipe the things you need to touch with a disinfectant wipe. If this is not possible, make sure to clean your hands as soon as you hop out of the vehicle. Avoid touching your face (even your face mask) in public and wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds the soonest time possible.
Practice respiratory etiquette
When out in public areas especially enclosed places like public trains and buses, be sure to keep in mind your respiratory etiquette. It is not enough that you’re wearing a face mask. Make sure to cough or sneeze into disposable tissues if you must and throw it in the proper trash right after. You can also use the inside of your elbow if you have no tissue with you. Wash or sanitize your hands after.
Keeping these things in mind does more than just protecting yourself against the virus. This will also help reduce the transmission of the virus in case you already have it. It is also a way to show that you are upholding your social responsibility by keeping yourself and others safe from our notorious enemy.
