Got the staycation travel bug? All you need to know, from masks to Covid-19 hot spots
SHOULD you choose your summer staycation destination based on how many Covid-19 cases a county has suffered? It’s on the holiday checklist for many now, along with beautiful scenery and value for money.
County boundaries
Several counties appear to have escaped more lightly from Covid-19. Figures come with caveats, however. One or two outbreaks, for instance, in a workplace or nursing home can inflate numbers due to more testing.
A major hospital where higher number of patients are admitted and staff screened can also have an impact on statistics.
However, it does seem in recent weeks some counties have consistently seen low numbers of new cases including Clare, Leitrim, Longford, Tipperary, Wexford, Wicklow, Donegal, Laois, Kerry, Sligo and Waterford. When rates per 1,000 are looked at, Cavan is highest in the country.
Travel corridor
We already have air bridges opening between countries. An air bridge is a travel arrangement between two countries where the Covid-19 pandemic is under control. If the same idea was borrowed within the country, it could potentially see people from Kerry holidaying in Donegal or vice versa.
They would form their own holiday travel bubble or sorts.
Covid-hit cities
Dublin stands out for having more than 12,200 cases of the virus and an incidence rate of 9.08 per 1,000 population.
This has been the pattern with other major cities.
Cork is next with 1,533 cases of Covid-19 and the figures are also high for Kildare and Cavan.
Apart from population, there are a whole host of factors making cities more vulnerable, including the number of hospitals and residential homes.
Counties with more rural populations fare better. Monaghan, Westmeath and Longford are also high on the league table for rates per 1,000.
Travel precautions
People travelling from counties where there is more virus circulating need to be mindful if they are heading for a region of lower transmission.
The spread of the virus thankfully continues to decline, so all parts of the country are benefiting, but it unlikely we will see zero new cases.
There is also the risk of people having the coronavirus, feeling well and being asymptomatic.
Bring face masks to wear, particularly while shopping and if travelling by public transport.
Always ensure you have hand sanitiser in case there is no access to wash basins and always try to main two metres of physical distancing.
You could bring your own cutlery and plates.
If you are hiring a car,
Make use of hand sanitiser while out when it is provided, or bring your own supply
Stagger arrival
In its guidance to the operators of camping and caravan sites, Fáilte Ireland recommends that guests stagger their arrival.
Guests should look out for bins for disposable gloves, masks and tissues.
Camping sites should be limited to registered guests only. Hand sanitiser needs to be provided at entrants, exits and key locations.
Equipment loaned to guests has to be cleaned and disinfected before and after use.
Roadmap
The Government’s roadmap will allow for holidays in Ireland from June 29.