SAFETY FIRST: WHAT’S COVID-APT CAR BEHAVIOUR?
While urban Indians are increasingly opting for a personal set of wheels to stay away from coronavirus, it is also important to keep the car as safe as you think it is
In the pandemic-stricken world, personal cars have become essential assets as well as social hubs. The coronavirus situation doesn’t seem to be dying down anytime soon, and as India struggles with the second wave of the virus, the significance of personal vehicles has increased. More and more urban Indians are opting for a personal car and shying away from public transportation in a bid to keep themselves away from the demon virus.
But how does one ensure that their vehicle is a safe space indeed? One has to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour when inside the car and also clean the vehicle from time to time. We have listed down a few things that should be kept in mind.
CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS
A thorough cleaning of your car on a regular basis is the need of the hour. All the exterior touchpoints and the cabin of the vehicle are most susceptible to virus infiltration and must be disinfected every time before taking the vehicle out. One can use disinfectants and other cleaning agents meant for cars. However, using bleach to clean the car is not advisable as it can cause damage to the upholstery. Ammonia-based cleaners can also cause damage to the touchscreen infotainment. A thorough and regular cleaning of the vehicle’s air conditioning unit is also important as it might otherwise transmit outside virus to the occupants.
BE WELL PREPARED
It is advisable to avoid close contact with people when you roll down your windows. However, under unavoidable circumstances, one must keep a few things handy — gloves, mask, hand sanitiser and a car sanitiser. Wearing gloves and a mask reduces the chances of catching the virus while the sanitiser can be used if you happen to touch something from outside. Wearing masks inside vehicles, even when driving alone, has been made mandatory by Delhi High Court. “By wearing masks, even inside cars, we can avoid aerosol transmission of Covid-19,” says Dr Yatin Kalra, a healthcare professional at ESIC Hospital, Delhi. Another important way to avoid contact with people at toll plazas, parking spots or drive-through lanes is to set up your digital payment systems well in advance so that you can pay using just your phone.
SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP FOR DISINFECTION
After the coronavirus pandemic became a reality, a lot of car, bike and home disinfection centres came into the picture. They make use of ultra-low volume (ULV) fogging machines and car-appropriate chemicals to thoroughly disinfect the vehicle. Seeking professional help is even more advisable if a Covid-19 positive person has been ferried in the vehicle. “We disinfect all the exterior touchpoints such as door handles, boot lid, bonnet lid and the cabin of the car, including the steering wheel, gear, dashboard, storage areas and seats, among others,” says Ankur Sarim, who runs Germ Kawach disinfection centre in Delhi’s Subhash Nagar. He charges around ₹1,800 for a sedan, while the price for a hatchback is around ₹1,500.
Apart from the above measures, one should also make sure that the vehicle is well ventilated. “The transmission of the virus is easier in a closed surrounding,” Dr Kalra adds.
P
DISINFECTING AFTER YOUR CAR OUTING, WITH EVERY APPROPRIATE
AS AGENTS, IS CLEANING WEARING AS IMPORTANT MASKS AND GLOVES AND
HAND CARRYING WHILE SANITISERS DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
By wearing masks, even inside cars, we can avoid aerosol transmission of Covid-19... The transmission of the virus is easier in a closed surrounding.
DR YATIN KALRA,
Healthcare professional at ESIC Hospital, Delhi