Covid 19 and RVing

Here are some facts about the Covid 19 Safety While RVing

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By Alan Wiener
Editor of Everything About RVing

By now we have all heard of the Coronavirus. The question is how will it affect you and your RVing plans.  As an RVer you have to decide whether you should go RVing if the Covid-19 becomes more prevalent.

As you know, there has been a lot of hype about the Covid-19  and there is a lot of misinformation being spread about the Covid-19 .  My goal as a current RVer and former Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is to give you the information that is currently known about the Coronavirus so that you can make a rational decision whether to go on your RVing trip or not and if you decide to go RVing, I will give you some common sense tips on how to protect yourself and your family from catching the virus.

The Facts About the Covid-19 

• Their are currently all types of Coronaviruses that are common around the world.  In fact if you have a had a cold recently, it may have been due a Coronavirus that currently exists.  The one that is of concern now is the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that originated in China.

• The fatality frequency of the 2019 Covid-19  is currently estimated by the World Health Organization at the time of this writing to be around 2%.  For comparison the fatality frequency of the Flu is .01%.  This fatality rate could very well go up or down.

Who is at Risk for Serious Symptoms

The good news is that some people who contracted the 2019 Novel Covid-19  have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.

The people who are most at risk are people with underlying illnesses and diseases that make them more vulnerable to respiratory problems, this includes people with diabetes, lung diseases, kidney failure, individuals with suppressed immune systems due to medications that they are taking or undergoing Chemotherapy.  People over 50 are also at a higher risk of having serious symptons.

How it is Spread

Just like the common cold the 2019 Novel Covid-19 is spread by:

• Contact with individuals that currently have the virus from exposure to infectious droplets from sneezes and coughing.

• If you touch surfaces that have been contaminated by the infectious droplets and then touching, your nose, mouth or eyes.

The Symptons of Covid-19 

The symptoms below can start anywhere from 2 to 14 days after exposure to the 2019 Novel Covid-19.

• Cough

• Fever

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  

Is it safe to go RVing during This Covid-19 Outbreak?

I am not going to give you a definite Yes or No, but I will let you know, that your RV is probably a safer way of getting to and from your destination.

Safer Form of Transportation

Yes, since your RV is self contained, it provides a safer way to travel to your destination.  The fact is when you are traveling on a plane, cruise ship or bus, you are forced to be in a fairly confined area with a bunch of other people who may or may not have the Covid-19 or been exposed to the Covid 19.  This confined environment increases your chances of contracting the Covid 19.

When traveling by plane, ship or bus, you are forced to use public facilities that may or may not have been cleaned and disinfected recently.

Your RV on the other hand is not crowded with strangers and you have built in facilities that you know have been thoroughly cleaned by you.  If you have to use the restroom, you can use your own restroom in your RV.  

Safer Place to Stay

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Yes, an RV is a safer place to stay, because, just like your house, you know that it has been thoroughly cleaned because you were the one that cleaned it.

If you stay in a Hotel, Motel, or Cruise Ship, you don't know who cleaned the room and the restroom.  You also don't know if disinfectant has been properly used on the counters, toilets night stands etc.

Steps You Can Take to Prevent Contracting the 2019 Novel Covid 19 While RVing

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OK you have read everything that is known about the Covid 19 at this time and you know that an RV is a safer way to get to your destination and you know that is safer place to stay and you now have decided to continue your plans to go RVing Take a look at the common sense steps you can take in your RV to reduce your chances of contracting 2019 Novel Coronavirus

• Most important step you can take is Washing your hands often and thoroughly with a disinfectant soap especially if you have been out and about in public.  Also, if you can't wash your hands with soap and water, carry a travel size instant hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol in your pocket or purse.

When you Should Wash Your hands

1. Before eating.
2. Before, during and after preparing food.
3. After sneezing or coughing or blowing your nose.
4. After dumping your holding tanks or hooking up your RV to the sewer, electric or fresh water connections (strongly suggest wearing disposable gloves during these processes).
5. After touching public surfaces, such as door knobs, counters, etc.
6. After using the bathroom.
7. After shaking hands (highly recommend that you refrain from shaking hands or fist bumping at this time).

• Keep your RV clean and disinfected.  There are common cleaners and disinfectants like Lysol products that are considered to be effective in killing Covid 19 on common surfaces.

• Refrain from touching your nose, eyes or mouth with your fingers.

• Keep cuts and scratches clean and bandaged if possible.

• Stay away from large crowds in confined indoor areas.

Additional Tips

• If you are currently taking prescription medications, you may want to contact your physician and ask about where your medications are made.  Believe or not quite a few prescription medications are manufactured in China.  Since some manufacturing sites are currently shut down in China, there may end up being a shortage of your medication.  So you may want to have your Doctor give you a 90 day prescription.

• Just like prescription medications, China also is the major manufacturer for over the counter medications such as Ibuprofen. So you may want to check your over the counter medications and see if you need more.

As I said at the beginning of this article. the decision to go RVing during this Covid 19 outbreak is totally up to you.  I have given you the facts about the Covid 19 and information on why RVing is a safer form of transportation and accommodations. I have also given you some commonsense tips on how to avoid getting the Covid 19.  Now that you have this information, it is up to you to make the decision to continue with your RVing adventure.  

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