• Published on: Jun 10, 2021
  • 1 minute read
  • By: Dr Rachana Choudhary

How To Travel Safely During COVID Times.

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As more people are vaccinated for COVID-19, many are looking forward to being able to travel again. While many restrictions have been lifted, COVID-19 has not gone away. So how safe is it to travel?

Vaccination- So what is the most important step to ensuring safe travel Without a doubt, the most important thing people can do to protect themselves is to get vaccinated for COVID-19. I recommend that all eligible people get vaccinated for COVID-19. That is going to dramatically decrease your risk of getting infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and also dramatically decrease the risk that even if you were infected, you could transmit it to others.

Masks – The most important thing is to know if fully vaccinated travelers still required to wear a mask on an airplane. Yes, because we still have a considerable number of people in who are not vaccinated yet. And on airplanes, people are in close proximity for a longer period of time.

Beyond getting vaccinated for COVID-19 and wearing a mask in airports, and on planes, buses, and trains it's also still important to practice good hand hygiene and keep your area clean with disinfectant wipes.

Monitor Symptoms & Quarantine - What steps should we take when you return from travel? When people return from travel, some may wonder whether they should be tested for COVID-19. The need to test depends on where they're traveling from. There's no need to be tested and there's need to quarantine. Most importantly we should continue to monitor for symptoms.

If at any time during or after travel people start to develop symptoms that are consistent with COVID-19, such as, fever, shortness of breath, or loss of taste or smell, they should be evaluated by a provider and likely be tested for COVID-19.

What should people who are traveling with children do?

For families looking to plan a summer getaway with children who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated for COVID-19, they can still travel safely. It just takes a little bit of thought and planning. If you have children who are unvaccinated, that is probably not the time to bring them to areas where lots of people are congregating because we know they're still at risk of getting infected with COVID-19 if other people in that area are not vaccinated for COVID-19 and can transmit the virus. Even if your children are fastidious masking, there's still a risk.

If you have unvaccinated children, I think it's still safe to fly. But of course, they will always be masked. If you go to places that are more outdoors in more open space, where you're not congregated with lots of other people, I think it's very safe. You just have to think through the steps of what's going to happen on the vacation and position things so that you're not putting your unvaccinated children at risk."

Whether traveling or just attending events with large amounts of people, the bottom line is precautions still need to be taken.

We still do have people getting infected with COVID-19. We still have people being hospitalized. And, unfortunately, we still have people who are dying, as well. So, we're not completely done with this. We still have to be careful.

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Secondmedic Lunch & Learns: How Combining Skill Building and Health Education Transforms Workplace Wellness

Corporate wellness is no longer limited to annual health checkups or fitness challenges. Modern organisations recognise that sustained employee wellbeing requires continuous learning, awareness and engagement. Secondmedic Lunch & Learns are designed around this philosophy, bringing together skill development and health education in a format that is practical, engaging and easy to implement.

By using informal lunchtime sessions, organisations create a safe, relaxed environment where employees can learn, ask questions and apply knowledge immediately.

 

What Are Lunch & Learn Sessions?

Lunch & Learn sessions are short, focused learning programs conducted during lunch hours.

They:

  • minimise disruption to work

  • encourage voluntary participation

  • promote informal learning

Secondmedic enhances this format by integrating health education with essential workplace skills.

 

Why Combine Skill Development with Health Education?

Health and performance are deeply interconnected.

Employees who understand:

  • stress management

  • nutrition

  • ergonomics

  • mental wellbeing

are better equipped to:

  • focus

  • collaborate

  • perform consistently

NITI Aayog workforce reports highlight that health literacy directly influences productivity and engagement.

 

The Growing Need for Workplace Health Education in India

India faces a rising burden of lifestyle diseases.

According to ICMR and NFHS-5:

  • a large portion of the working population has undiagnosed risk factors

  • stress and sedentary behaviour are increasing

  • health awareness remains low despite access to information

Workplaces offer the ideal platform for preventive health education.

 

How Secondmedic Lunch & Learns Are Structured

Secondmedic Lunch & Learns follow a structured yet flexible format:

  • short expert-led presentations

  • interactive discussions

  • real-life case examples

  • practical takeaways

Sessions are designed to be concise, engaging and actionable.

 

Health Topics Commonly Covered

Health education topics include:

  • preventive health and early detection

  • stress and mental wellbeing

  • nutrition for working professionals

  • sleep health and fatigue management

  • posture and ergonomic safety

These topics address everyday challenges faced by employees.

 

Skill-Focused Learning Areas

Alongside health, sessions also support professional growth through:

  • communication skills

  • time and energy management

  • resilience and adaptability

  • decision-making under pressure

This dual focus enhances overall workplace capability.

 

Benefits for Employees

Improved Health Awareness

Employees learn how daily habits affect long-term health.

Practical Skill Application

Skills taught can be used immediately at work and home.

Higher Engagement

Interactive sessions increase participation and interest.

Reduced Stress

Knowledge empowers employees to manage stress better.

 

Benefits for Employers

Stronger Wellness Culture

Learning-driven wellness signals genuine organisational care.

Better Productivity

Healthy, skilled employees perform more consistently.

Reduced Absenteeism

Preventive education lowers illness-related leave.

High ROI Initiative

Lunch & Learns are cost-effective and scalable.

EY-FICCI reports show that preventive wellness programs deliver long-term savings for organisations.

Why Lunch Hours Work Best

Lunchtime sessions:

  • feel informal and relaxed

  • encourage open participation

  • avoid meeting fatigue

Employees are more receptive when learning is integrated naturally into the day.

 

Virtual and Hybrid Lunch & Learns

Secondmedic adapts sessions for:

  • in-office teams

  • remote employees

  • hybrid workplaces

This ensures consistent learning experiences across locations.

 

Role of Medical and Subject Experts

Sessions are led by:

  • doctors

  • nutritionists

  • mental health professionals

  • trained facilitators

Expert-led content ensures accuracy and trust.

 

Encouraging Behaviour Change Through Education

Information alone does not drive change.

Secondmedic focuses on:

  • practical examples

  • small habit shifts

  • realistic goal setting

Lancet behaviour change studies confirm that interactive education improves long-term adherence.

 

Measuring Impact of Lunch & Learns

Organisations often observe:

  • higher session attendance

  • improved employee feedback

  • increased health screening participation

  • better engagement scores

These metrics demonstrate sustained value.

 

Aligning Lunch & Learns with Preventive Healthcare

Lunch & Learns complement:

  • preventive health checkups

  • wellness campaigns

  • digital health initiatives

They reinforce messages and encourage proactive health decisions.

 

Customisation for Organisational Needs

Secondmedic customises sessions based on:

  • workforce demographics

  • industry-specific risks

  • organisational goals

Tailored content improves relevance and impact.

 

Long-Term Value of Continuous Learning

Wellness is not a one-time intervention.

Regular Lunch & Learns:

  • reinforce healthy behaviours

  • build long-term awareness

  • create a learning culture

WHO emphasises continuous education as a pillar of workplace health promotion.

 

Conclusion

Secondmedic Lunch & Learns represent a modern, effective approach to corporate wellness by combining skill development with health education. These sessions empower employees with knowledge that improves both personal wellbeing and professional performance. Easy to implement, cost-effective and highly engaging, Lunch & Learns help organisations build healthier, more capable and more loyal teams. When learning and wellbeing come together, workplaces thrive.

 

References

  • Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – Workplace Health and Lifestyle Studies
  • National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) – Adult Health and Risk Factor Data
  • World Health Organization (WHO) – Workplace Health Promotion Guidelines
  • Lancet – Health Education and Behaviour Change Research
  • NITI Aayog – Workforce Productivity and Preventive Health Reports
  • EY-FICCI – Corporate Wellness and Employee Engagement Studies

See all

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