After a disruption of more than a year, travel restrictions have been one of the biggest impacts of the Corona pandemic on the world.

The British company, Ryanair, transported 40,000 passengers on its flights in April 2020 (the peak of the Corona virus outbreak), compared to 13.5 million it was carrying in the same month of 2019.

So that the travel experience has become like an adventure fraught with risks, and careful selection of the means of transportation, which guarantees the highest levels of safety, has become more important than being preoccupied with packing bags.

Although life is gradually returning to normal, and travel rates are rising again, experts have not provided a definitive answer to the question, "Which means of travel is safer?"

Because they believe that it depends primarily on "the nature of the trip, the behavior of the traveler, the extent to which he bears the risks," says Dr.

Daniel Griffin, an infectious disease specialist at Columbia University.

Traveler's behavior

“Travel risks are usually caused by the personal behaviors of the traveler, rather than by means of transportation.”

According to Dr.

Griffin, who adds, "When passengers eat food on planes, they have to touch the masks, and expose the area of ​​the nose and mouth, thus exposing themselves and others to infection."

The danger comes from the behaviors, then, says Dr.

William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist, "You're on a plane in a closed environment, and the more you're around people who aren't wearing masks, the higher the risk."

It is not without an infected person coughing, sneezing, or touching surfaces inside the plane.

The same can happen on the train as well.

To avoid this, the Mayoclinic website advises to adhere to mask-wearing behaviors on planes or trains - even for those who have taken the entire vaccine - and to follow steps to prevent infection or spread infection, and to refrain from eating and drinking on public transportation.

Do not walk barefoot on the plane because the floors may be full of germs or shards of sharp glass (German)

safe flight

To ensure a safe flight, Linda Ferguson, a flight attendant for 24 years, advises avoiding these things:

  • Don't walk barefoot, as "the floors may be full of germs, or shards of sharp glass."

  • Avoid coffee, tea, and ice. According to Reader's Digest, a 2004 Environmental Protection Agency study found that out of 327 aircraft water supplies, only 15% met health standards.

    Ferguson also confirms that "the water tanks on the plane are old, and they are not without bacteria."

    Perhaps this is a reason to avoid ordering things "made from these cabinets".

  • Do not eat food, it fell, on the table, as the tables, according to Ferguson, "are used for all purposes during the flight, there are those who change their children's diapers on them, and those who put their feet on them."

    Studies have also shown that food trays contain about 2,155 units of bacteria per square inch.

  • Don't touch the flush button in the bathroom, it has 265 bacteria per square inch.

    To protect yourself: Wash your hands well, use a paper towel to press the flush button and open the door.

  • Don't use blankets and pillows, they are perfect places for germs as they are recycled from flight to flight, and not washed properly until the day is over.

    "I see people wrapping their feet in blankets, sneezing in them," Ferguson says.

    It is best to bring your own travel blankets if you feel you will need them.

  • Keep your body hydrated, and beware of a dry throat "drinking a lot of water may cause you to arrive at your destination healthy."

  • Do not hesitate to ask for someone to be transferred. If there is a person near you who does not adhere to the restrictions to prevent infection from the virus, he does not wear his full mask, or does not wear a mask at all, do not delay in asking the hostess to transfer him.

  • Stay hydrated and avoid a dry throat during flights (Getty Images)

substitute train

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) does not recommend long-distance train travel, in order to avoid social distancing.

But Frank Olito, the editor of Insider, decided to book a small room on the train from New York to Chicago, to be separated from the rest of the passengers, on a 19-hour trip, to make a comparison between train and plane travel.

Among the advantages he mentioned is that he did not have to go to the airport 3 hours before take off, and wait in long security lines.

By the time he can get on the train minutes before it's scheduled.

Nor did he have to worry about the weight of his luggage, or sitting trapped in a small stool, not allowed to extend his leg, or avoiding an annoying neighbor.

Alternatively, he can walk the length of the train to exercise his legs, head to the food cart, or move to another car if someone is bothering him.

In addition to the beautiful landscapes that helped him reach his destination relaxed and calm.

“Some people may be afraid to board the plane because of the pandemic, but train travel is a great alternative,” Olito says.

Travel across the sea

On mega cruises, cruise ships offer many advantages: free room service, unrestricted dining, high-speed internet, and the best sea views.

However, the CDC has issued a recommendation for travelers at risk of disease to avoid travel on cruise ships, regardless of their vaccination status.

It also recommended, who have not been fully vaccinated, to avoid travel on cruise ships, and stressed the passengers of these ships to wear a mask to keep their noses and mouths covered, when in common places.