It is not a weakness to be concerned by the news of a virus that has already claimed many lives. According to USA Today, as of February 9th, the global death toll has gone up to more than 4000 people. This was as of 9th February 2020. In the US, 22 deaths have been linked to coronavirus. The question that is lurking on everyone’s mind is who knows when it will end?
These are some serious times. Our hearts go out to the friends and families of those who are affected by the virus. Perhaps you’re already familiar with these figures. If fear has gripped your mind as a result of the media, we do not blame you. It’s understandable. We all are concerned about the current situation.
Despite the terror of these occurrences, we still have to get on with work. Medical scientists around the world and international specialized agencies like UNICEF and WHO (World Health Organization) are working relentlessly to put an end to the epidemic. However, do you know one thing that isn’t a solution? Evasion! Surely, you already know that we simply cannot recluse in our homes and put away our work because of this epidemic. If we do, certain areas of life like the economy are going to suffer more.
Our world has seen more horrific times, and we came through. The fact that we cannot stop our daily activities despite the coronavirus outbreak begs the simple question: How can we effectively prevent ourselves from contracting this deadly virus? Thankfully, there are simple steps that you can take to help prevent contracting the virus.
Whether it is work or leisure that’s got you traveling and using car rentals, there are a few tips to remember that will help significantly reduce the probability of contracting the COVID-19 virus. That is what the rest of this article is about – protecting yourself, especially if it is with car rentals. You will soon find that the responsibility lies primarily with you than it does with the car rental business.
So how do you effectively deal with this threat? Read along for answers to this very important question.
KNOW YOUR ENEMY: What is the coronavirus?
Many types of coronaviruses (CoV) exist. Coronaviruses are families of viruses that cause ailments ranging from light cases of the common cold to critical diseases such as the once-famous Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). The virus we are battling with right now is referred to as the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
A novel coronavirus is any virus that has previously not been identified in humans. Although different viruses cause certain ailments, persons with cold, flu and other viruses show similar symptoms such as slight fever, sore throat, a cough, and running nose. In rare cases, severe illnesses such as pneumonia, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulty may occur.
This makes it more difficult to tell the difference between a person that has the mild flu and someone who’s carrying the COVID-2019. And that is an issue of concern among experts. Health officials and the rest of the world are concerned because the virus spreads quickly, and it’s pretty tricky to identify an infected person. It is impossible to identify a person that might be infected with the virus without conducting a laboratory test.
There is nothing to worry about as only 3% of reported cases have been proven fatal. Also, COVID-2019 is fragile and easy to kill just by using simple disinfectants according to the World Health Organization. This leads us too…
How is the coronavirus transmitted?
COVID-19 is transmitted primarily through contact with an infected person. That’s why you have to be extra careful in your contact with people. Especially in places where the highest effects of the outbreak are felt – a place like China, for instance. The overwhelming majority of coronavirus cases are from China.
We would advise, if you can, refrain from traveling to the country altogether. The risks of contracting the virus are higher there. We’re not the only ones saying this. Both the US Department of State and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have advised travelers to cancel non-essential trips to mainland China.
DISINFECTING THE RENTAL CAR
Whatever car rental company that you decide to use this season, the ride becomes incredibly safer when a disinfectant is used to clear the germs in the air of the interior of the car. A germ fogger is a useful tool that can be used to help eliminate the germs in the car. When you use this tool you can rest assured that the probability of contracting the virus is greatly diminished. When you want to rent a car from a car rental company, make sure that they are eager to take precautionary steps towards disinfecting the rental car. This shows that the car rental company cares about the health of its clients which is something that clients will appreciate greatly.
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR HEALTH AND WELLNESS
So far, we have spoken broadly about the need for you to understand what you’re up against. To decrease the spread of the COVID-2019 threat, we cannot talk down about personal hygiene. You must adhere to the simple rules of personal hygiene. Here are some of those rules, adapted for the coronavirus situation:
Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. If you have any regard for hygiene at all, then you most likely are aware of washing your hands thoroughly. If by chance, you have come in contact with the virus, washing your hands with soap and water will eliminate them. In addition to washing your hands thoroughly, you also have to do so more frequently.
Use your hand sanitizers more often: While this is not meant to be a total alternative to washing your hands with soap and water, it is a decent substitute. Sometimes, soap and water may be out of reach. In those cases, a small squeeze of an alcohol-based sanitizer will do the trick.
Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing: Whether you’re healthy or not, whenever you cough or sneeze, chances are, something is living in your mouth. That thing, whatever it is (could be saliva, sputum or germs) shouldn’t land on someone else. So be a model of good behavior by covering your mouth with a tissue every time you cough- regardless of whether your ill or perfectly healthy. That way everyone’s sure that germs that may/ may not be leaving your mouth are contained.
Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms. Like we said earlier, the symptoms of COVID-19 are the same as the symptoms of common respiratory diseases. And this makes it challenging to identify a carrier without conducting a test. Nonetheless, as the saying goes: better safe than sorry! You’re better off taking safety precautions than taking a chance with your health by coming near a person showing possible symptoms. According to WHO, if you are too close to a person who has the virus, you could inhale the droplets and become infected. If you see a person coughing or sneezing, or with a runny nose, stay a minimum of 3 feet away from that person. Do it warmly, politely, affectionately, lovingly, and keep your distance!
Try not to touch your eyes too often. On any given day, your hands, likely touch multiple numbers of places – door handles, gas pumps, paper money, table surfaces, the list is endless. Each one of those surfaces is a potential source of contamination. So, you can further limit the chances of further contamination by keeping your hands away from your face.
If you can, stay away from wild animals. Research studies from the World Health Organization; reveal that wild animals, such as bats, are the origin of the SARS virus. Now, the source of COVID-19 is yet to be discovered. But it’s suspected that the initial cases that led to the recent outbreak were initiated by transfer from a wild animal to humans. By the way, you don’t have to keep away from your domesticated animals. Common pets, like dogs and cats, have already been extradited from the list of potential sources for the virus. If possible avoid contact with wild animals.
Final Thoughts: Why Choose SNA Auto Rental for Your Next Road Trip?
If you think about it, you will most likely agree that a rental car will typically be used by several people from different walks of life. Taking a shared transfer like these increases the possibility of contracting the virus. We may not have data to prove the validity of these arguments, but with a bit of common-sense reasoning, one can assume that a person using a rental car has a higher chance of contracting the virus.
Do not panic. The tips discussed here are gathered from suggestions from WHO, an organization you can trust. Adhering to their suggestions during this time would make us closer to coming to safety. Here’s a word of assurance: the world has seen worse times and we will weather this storm out.
If you are traveling down to the California area, and you need to rent a car from a reputable car rental company that you can trust for top-notch service and cleanliness, SNA Auto Rental is your go-to place. We have a dedicated team of staff who put the health and safety of clients first before anything. You don’t have to worry about contracting any sickness or disease when you decide to rent from us because any car you rent from us has already been cleaned and disinfected. Knowing that the state of your health is safe, your driving experience will be much more enjoyable.
We are a local car rental car company in Orange County, California. This makes it possible for us to offer the best customer support and experience to each of our customers. We also have a select variety of cars that will surely fit our customer’s needs. And yes, we will do all we can to ensure that you get a clean car rental. When you are ready, make your reservation with us today.
