Minefield

 

M is for...Mask

 

Air travel over the last two years has become dominated by masks and jabs and tests and certificates. A layer of extra, tedious health procedures shaving a major chunk off the pleasure of travel. Even within the country, different Indian states had different protocols at different times. And international travel, omg! it’s a minefield! At one point of time in 2021, one had to take a test and be covid negative to transit through Heathrow. We had to get a transit visa as well as a negative RT-PCR test to stopover at Singapore a few days ago.

Adding to the mayhem is the frequency with which the protocols change – at one time, airlines were giving free PPE kits to the passengers on the aisle seat. At another, only masks were mandatory. In 2020 and early 2021, there was a 72 hour window for the test for flying to USA, now it is 1 day. Apart from showing proof of vaccination, of course. Every country has it's own little set of rules and protocols. It’s hard to keep up. And it makes planning any travel super fraught.

 

For Fiji, we had not only to take a covid test 2 days before the flight but also prebook a test for 48 hours after landing. Relocations, much as I am used to them, have a stress quotient all their own, the covid protocols spike that off the charts. Our tests were administered yesterday and turned in a negative result. Another thing to be thankful for! Mask protocol has been changed to optional here except in closed, indoor spaces where social distancing cannot be observed. So my mask is coming off after two years and heavens, does it feel marvellous or what?! Hello, lipstick!

 

A-Z Challenge 2022