Expeditions India COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines v.1
Introduction
As a responsible adventure tour operator, health and safety concerns have always been at the forefront of what we do. That said, COVID-19 poses new challenges and risks. While we will do all we can to mitigate these new risks, of course we can’t eliminate risk entirely.
Fortunately, river expeditions naturally lend themselves to social distancing and ample clean, fresh air. Moreover, time spent in the outdoors has innumerable other benefits to our well-being.
These guidelines have been developed in compliance with the Adventure Tour Operator’s Association of India (ATOAI) and local and state regulations.
Our Approach
Expeditions India will open mid-November 2020. We will encourage trips that require less transportation time and less contact with local communities. These include Ganga Full Day trips, Ganga Two and Three Day trips, Kayak Sessions, and Kali River trips.
As per government regulations, clients over the age of 65 or with any underlying health conditions are kindly requested to book a trip with us at a future date.
Update to Our Cancellation Policy
If you're unable to make the trip, or the trip needs to be cancelled, due to circumstances which may arise due to Covid 19, we will reschedule you for a new trip up to Dec 31, 2021 (based on availability) OR refund your money: more than one week before the trip start date, less 10% for administrative fees and less than one week before the trip start date, less 20% for administrative fees.
Transportation
We have worked with the same few transportation vendors for years and have established a positive, trusted relationship with all of them. We will ensure that they uphold all Uttarakhand state COVID-19 guidelines, including reducing number of people in vehicles, cleaning and sanitising vehicles, wearing masks, and sanitizing hands frequently. In addition, we recommend that travellers carry a small stock of some packed food, fruits and water to reduce the number of stops at roadside eateries.
On the River
As part of the screening process, each client needs to fill in a Covid-19 self-screening form and under confidentiality, disclose their contact history and symptoms of illness, if any.
Maximum 8 people on one river trip at a time.
Maximum 4 people, plus 2 guides, to one raft at a time.
Equipment (paddles, PFDs, helmets, etc) will not be shared between clients.
Staff will keep health log of all customers and staff on river trip, including temperature readings, as per Uttarakhand state regulations.
Camping
Twin sharing tents for guests from same household or in a social bubble (on private trips). Single tents available on request.
Maintain a 20m separation between client tents and kitchen tent.
Each campsite will have 1-2 water stations with soap (depending on number of clients) for had washing. Hand sanitizer will be readily available at camp.
Ensure that camping equipment issued by Expeditions India will remain be used by same client throughout the trip.
Staff to wash their hands before setting up the campsite and wear masks (washable) while doing it.
Toilet Tent Ratio at least 1:4.
Food
Precautions in Dining Area
Food will be served in the open and under a dining tarp in case of bad weather.
Expeditions India staff to wear masks while preparing and serving food.
Tables, etc to be sanitised on a daily basis.
Utensils, cutlery, and service ware etc. be washed with hot water and food grade/approved disinfectants.
Precautions in the Kitchen/Food Preparation Area
Cooking staff to wear face masks.
Only cooking team to be permitted inside the kitchen.
All tools to get sanitised after each use.
Medical Consideration and Evacuation Protocol
All trips to carry a First Aid Kit and Pulse Oximeter.
If anyone (customer or staff) presents with COVID-19 symptoms, such as cough, cold, fever, difficulty breathing, etc, the following measures will be followed:
Immediately provide surgical mask to the guest.
Maintain a safe distance of 6 feet from the guest.
Check guest travel history to affected area or contact with the affected person.
Encourage guests to sanitise their hands/ wash hands with soap.
Offer medical assistance to the guest if required.
Ensure the person does not come in contact with others. Ask them to maintain a distance of at least 2m from other people.
Call the Uttarakhand Corona helpline number. The guide would have these numbers with him. Immediately inform the nearest medical facility (hospital/clinic) or call central helpline.
Abort the client’s further journey.
In case of an emergency (other than COVID-19 case), when administering first aid, some distancing methods need to be adapted or cannot be used. Guides would use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as face coverings, eye protection gear and sterile gloves. If we may need to make a rapid evacuation due to an emergency situation, speed trumps the potential transmission of the virus. The immediate safety of the guests is priority number one; preventing possible contagion is lower on the list.