If you’re able to catch one of the last flights home, make sure to bring these essential products that’ll keep you clean and less paranoid.
PHOTO Wendy HungThis week, I decided to leave Paris where the coronavirus situation was worsening on a daily basis. My alternative plan was to be in Taipei – my other home country – most likely the world’s safest place on earth right now. Thanks to Taiwanese government’s organized expertise, coronavirus outbreak hasn’t at all erupted on mainland China’s neighboring island of 23 million residents. Three nights prior to my 12-hour flight, I slept horribly. Mainly suffering from extreme anxiety and thoughts of being confined in airplanes and airports, let alone at CDG – one of the busiest airports in the world. Determined to be overly prepared, these were products I brought for hygiene, self-protection and a peace of mind. In case you’re finally able to book one of the last available flights home, don’t forget to pack these essential items in your carry-on.
1. Mask
Amazon. MaskSince social and human contact is one of the main causes of COVID-19, sitting in any cramped space for a long period of time with a plane full of passengers is not ideal. Hence, wearing a mask covering your nose and mouth is not an option. It’s an obligation. I was so paranoid that my mask action happened as soon as I hopped inside the private car that I ordered (didn’t even want to risk with an Uber.) This is when you throw away rules of fashion faux pas, self-protection should be a top priority. It’s not necessary that you use a surgical mask. As a frequent traveler, I always carry a mask made from fabric in my travel bag (you never know how odorous a long flight can become,) and it worked just fine. Keep the mask on throughout the entire flight except during meals, but especially in the airplane bathroom.
2. Gloves
Amazon. GlovesMost passengers on my flight wore rubber gloves, but I had a pair of suede winter gloves that I knew I could throw into the wash right after the flight. One dangerous way for coronavirus to spread is through touching the eyes, mouth and nose. My personal routine was to first sanitize my hands, then put on my gloves. Of course, the most inconvenient part was having to take off my gloves every time I needed to type on my phone, so I’d highly suggest using a pair of screen-friendly gloves. Again, I left my gloves on throughout most of the flight. When I wasn’t wearing them, hand sanitizer was my saving grace.
3. Sanitizer
Amazon. Eco-Friendly SanitizerAlcohol is essential to killing bacteria and germs, so a tiny bottle of sanitizer quickly became my bestie during the flight. Anytime I had to use my phone, I took off my gloves. Before putting my gloves back on, I’d pour a few drops of the sanitizer. Essentially, I never wore my gloves with a pair of dirty hands. If I felt extra paranoid, then I’d wipe a little sanitizer over my phone and lightly rub over the case and screen protector.
4. Wet wipes
Amazon. Biodegradable Wet WipesWet wipes are perfect right before you sit down anywhere. Thinking that I would be an anomaly by using wet wipes, I brought it mainly for chairs in the airport and my seat on the plane. As it turned out, quite a few passengers were also wiping down their seats prior to sitting. The most important parts to clean are seat belts, entertainment monitor and table / tray, but I went further by wiping down bottom parts of my seat and bag storage areas. Let me tell ya, even in business class, these areas are clearly not on the cleaning staff’s radar.
Now, make sure to have a glass of champagne then try to relax. Your immune system needs to be boosted in order to fight against any virus, paranoia certainly doesn’t help.
PHOTO Wendy Hung