Life on the road: How to avoid COVID-19 in a campervan

There’s no need to panic, but COVID-19 is a thing that we should all think about seriously and plan around. For those of us who live on the road, here’s a few ideas, adapted from various sources, about what to consider and how to keep yourself and others safe.

Greetings, earthling
We’re a social bunch, us movanners. But instead of the usual hugging and handshakes at Happy Hour, it’s safer for now to just stop touching each other. Recommended greetings include the “Can’t Wave, Driving” index-finger salute, and the so-called “East Coast Wave” which involves a mutual, speedy raising of both eyebrows at the same time. You can choose whether or not to tilt your chin back - more tilt indicates more excitement in the greeting.

Don’t stand so close to me
A bit of a spin on the “three metres between vans” at the NZMCA parks, but this one is about where you park yourself in relation to others. Try at all times to be about 1.5 metres away from others. This avoids you becoming a “close contact” of anyone who may have the virus, keeping in mind that people can be infectious for three days before they show any symptoms whatsoever.

I call on you, my friend
This is where our networks will really come into play. Make sure you have someone who can assist you if case the worst happens and you are unable to leave your van. You may need medications, food, or other items delivered to you, or you may need to do the delivering. Whatever it is, make sure others know that you’re here to help and check-in with each other… from a distance, of course.

Choose the loner life
I think for us, this mainly applies to where we park. Now that there’s a self-isolation order in place for all folks arriving from overseas, campgrounds may actually be the quietest of places to be, but you’ll be the best judge once you arrive in a place. Avoid the packed places, especially those which have limited facilities as it will be far more difficult to ensure the sanitation of those surfaces. Additionally, it’s best to avoid events or trips which involve being around lots of people all packed into one place.

Do it in the van
Speaking of surface sanitation, it’s probably best to do all your cooking and washing in the van. You don’t know who has been touching those surfaces, after all. If you must use these surfaces, make sure you give them all a good wipe down with an anti-bacterial wipe before and after you use them and follow good hand-washing practices. You know the ones - the way you wash your hands after a particularly icky cassette emptying: 20 seconds of solid scrubbing with soap and water.

Avoid work
I for one am feeling kind of vindicated that I have taken a year off from teaching. It’s like I saw this mess coming and self-isolated in advance! If at all possible, avoid going into places of work especially if you’re even remotely sick. Now is not the time to take concrete pills!

Panic is unnecessary
This is a people problem, not a products problem. We aren’t going to run out of food or loo roll or any of the essentials. Do your weekly shop as you usually would, and don’t hoard anything. It’s not the apocalypse. It’s just an effort to keep the NZ population as well as possible, so we don’t end up with any undue pressure on our healthcare system.

If we all pull together, this COVID-19 pain in the butt won’t become a big deal here in Aotearoa. It’s not “just the flu”, so we do need to be a bit more cautious than normal, but it’s not the end of the world. I hope this and the links below help you prepare for the next couple of months.

Helpful links:
https://info.flutracking.net/
Ministry of Health COVID-19 info
COVID-19 is officially a pandemic
Eight facts about COVID-19
Why we must stop the spread
How to do the East Coast Wave
NSW advice to the public