Sea of Smiles as Panasonic Provides nanoe™ X Protection to Help Strengthen Vaccination Efforts for Children in Quezon City

Panasonic, as part of its global campaign in advocating and ensuring cleaner and fresher air for life, most recently partnered with the local government of Quezon City through a donation in the form of nanoe™ X-equipped air purifiers and portable nanoe™ X generators for the city’s use at its vaccination site in Don Alejandro Roces Sr. Science-Technology Highschool (DARRSTHS), located along Don A. Roces Avenue in Quezon City.

The installation of these products equipped with Panasonic’s groundbreaking nanoe™ X technology, that have been verified to have inhibitory effects on airborne and adhered viruses, including the novel coronavirus* , is part of a bigger program by Panasonic Corporation to provide cleaner and quality air for the community, especially in high-traffic areas that include vaccination sites, hospitals, and most recently, with the news of face-to-face classes soon resuming, schools.

Previous contributions initiated by the Panasonic team include donations to Mandaluyong City, Makati City, Malabon City, Taguig City, and the Philippine General Hospital (PGH); with another donation scheduled to take place at The Far Eastern University – Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation medical school in Novaliches, Quezon City.

VIPs in attendance at the official turnover of products that took place in Quezon City Hall last November 15 included the Honorable Quezon City Mayor Josefina “Joy” Belmonte and General Manager of Life Solutions and Panasonic Country Head, Yosuke Tanaka.

“Panasonic is proud and privileged for being able to share our technology with the community during this time,” shared Yosuke Tanaka during the turnover event. “Hopefully this small contribution opens even more doors, in terms of having this COVID-19 inhibiting nanoe™ X technology accessible across the six districts of Quezon City.”

A total of 20 Panasonic nanoe™ X air purifiers and 30 Panasonic Portable nanoe™ X Generators have been installed at Quezon City’s vaccination site located at Don Alejandro Roces Sr. Science-Technology Highschool (DAARSTHS), in hopes of providing further protection for minors, aged 12-17, receiving their COVID-19 vaccinations.

Members from the Panasonic present at the vaccination site distributed freebies to children, accompanying parents, and even grandparents, in attendance that included nanoe™ X face masks, fans, pillows, tote bags, notepads, and most importantly, supplemental information on Panasonic’s innovative and timely technology.

“Panasonic has leveraged the power of hydroxyl radicals contained in water to purify the air around us,” Francis Serrato, Communications and Product Planning Manager of Panasonic Air Conditioning Philippines (PACPH) shared during his short lecture to parents and children in attendance. “The assurance of breathing in clean air when these products are around is something we, in Panasonic, are glad to share.”

“This makes me feel secure,” shared Maria Adan, who accompanied both her grandchildren to get their vaccinations, when asked about her thoughts on the extra protection provided by Panasonic’s nanoe™ X technology. “It’s nice to know this technology exists to help my grandson and granddaughter not have to go to school crippled by fear of the virus.”

Knowing that the air in this location is free from the virus makes me feel happy,” Nieves Dela Cruz, mother of two, also shared. “Especially now that face-to-face classes are resuming, it’s nice to know my kids can socialize with other kids more freely.”

For more information on Panasonic and its patented technologies, please visit https://www.panasonic.com/ph/nanoe

Live Safe with Defensil Isopropyl Alcohol.

Defensil Isopropyl Alcohol encourages Filipinos to live safe with many establishments slowly re-opening and allowing people to resume their pre-pandemic lifestyles. But we have to keep in mind that establishments are re-opening for the economy and the livelihood of many, not because it's safe or the country is already COVID-free. 

We are still in the midst of the pandemic, but with the nationwide vaccination program in full force, Filipinos can slowly enjoy various activities. These include more dining options, leisure activities such as going to parks and playgrounds, and even physical activities such as going to the gym. In Metro Manila, kids are now allowed entry to malls, restaurants, and other indoor establishments. However, health experts continue to remind everyone to not let their guards down even as we gradually go back to normal.

My son got his first dose of the COVID vaccine, too!

As there are reports of new and potentially more contagious variants, everyone must remain vigilant through following established health protocols and getting vaccinated so we can all continue to live safe and prevent the cases from surging again. Thankfully, everyone in our family is now vaccinated - Yue finally got his first dose of the COVID vaccine last Friday and he couldn't be happier! He says it's an early birthday gift for him (he's turning thirteen in a few days!).

Also, when we do essential errands such as buying groceries, exercising outdoors, or simply going outside, we disinfect our hands and any surface we interact with, and make sure we always, always follow health and safety protocols.

Can't leave home without a bottle of Defensil!

One way to prevent the spread of the virus is by always carrying a trusted rubbing alcohol brand that contains at least 70% alcohol solution whenever we go outdoors.

Defensil 70% Solution Isopropyl Alcohol, the alcohol recommended by the Philippine Society for Microbiology (PSM), can kill 99.9% of common germs and bacteria*, and eliminate them on contact so that we can safely do the activities we love wherever we are. Defensil also provides up to 12 hours of protection upon constant use so that we are protected and can do activities with ease.

Skin dryness from too frequent sanitizing will also not be a worry as Defensil has moisturizing properties and is hypoallergenic, giving us one less thing to worry about when going indoors.

There's always a bottle of Defensil (or two) in Yue's study area.

 "We are 100% behind the government in their efforts to prevent further spread of the virus. Defensil encourages everyone to remain vigilant now more than ever and do our part in this fight towards eventually resuming our normal way of life by adhering to social Distancing and sanitation protocols, especially when doing essential errands outdoors," shared Nikko Cruz, Brand Manager of Defensil Isopropyl Alcohol.

For more information on how to stay protected, you may visit the Defensil Isopropyl Alcohol’s Facebook page at facebook.com/defensil.philippines. 

*Defensil 70% Isopropyl Alcohol was tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli or E. coli and Candida albicans

Makati City Provided with Unique Panasonic nanoeTM and nanoeTM X Technology for Use in Main Vaccination Site.

Panasonic, as part of its global campaign to spread advocacy for cleaner and fresher air for life, recently reached out to the local government of Makati City through a contribution in the form of nanoe^TM air purifiers, and nanoe^TM X generators, that have been verified to have inhibitory effects on the novel coronavirus*. The equipment set-up and turnover were done at the main vaccination site of the city located at the Makati Coliseum.

Panasonic Air-Conditioning Philippines CEO Masaru Toyota, Life Solutions Group Country Head Yosuke Tanaka, Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay, and the Head of Makati Incident Command Post Dr. Roland Unson, were present during the site visit.

It has always been the intention of Panasonic to provide cleaner and fresher air to improve the quality of life for everyone with the introduction of the nanoe^TM in 1997 and nanoe^TM X in 2016.

In 2009, with the help of an independent testing organization, Panasonic verified the effect of hydroxyl radicals contained in water against bird flu and new strains of influenza, and in 2012, in collaboration with an independent testing organization in Germany, again conducted virus clearance testing that showed effectiveness of the technology against highly resistant viruses and unknown viruses.**

Just last year, again using an independent testing organization, Texcell*** – France, further verified the inhibitory effect of Panasonic’s patented nanoe^TM X technology on the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19.

 
The Makati City partnership is part of a bigger program of Panasonic in the Philippines to provide air purifying and anti-covid technology of nanoe^TM X in selected sites in the National Capital Region to protect medical front liners and Filipinos in vaccination areas and to make them and the public feel safer with the theme “Bring Back the Filipino Smile”.

Panasonic works hard to bring back the smiles of the unsung heroes of this pandemic, and the Filipino people, for them to feel safer, breathe easier, and be more secure to smile once again.

For more information on Panasonic and its patented technologies, please visit https://www.panasonic.com/ph/nanoe

Notes:

*: based on the Texcell, global contract research organization, verified the inhibitory effect of the nanoe™ X technology with the benefits of hydroxyl radicals on adhered novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) placed in 45L box. Over 99.99% of adhered novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) activity was inhibited within 2 hours. Note: This verification was designed to generate basic research data on the effects of nanoe™ X on the novel coronavirus in laboratory conditions different from those found in living spaces. It was not designed to evaluate product performance.

**: Main releases on verification cases - May 12, 2009：Positive effects of charged water particles on viruses, bacteria, and agricultural chemicals have been verified. - October 20, 2009： The new influenza virus inhibition effect of charged water particles has been verified. - February 20, 2012：Suppression effect of charged water particles on pet-related allergens, bacteria, fungi, and viruses have been verified. - January 16, 2014：Nano-sized electrostatic atomized water particles effectively break down PM2.5 components and inhibits growth of fungi attached to Yellow Sand

***: Texcell is a global contract research organization that specializes in viral testings, viral clearance, immunoprofiling and R&D or GMP cell banking, for your R&D, GClP, GLP and GMP projects. With more than 30 years of experience and roots within the Pasteur Institute in Paris, Texcell has a long-recognized expertise in viral testing with a broad range of protocols for the detection of adventitious agents. Texcell is the first spin-off of the Pasteur institute of Paris created in 1997.

 

Panasonic and Mandaluyong City join hands to bring back the Filipino smile with nanoeTM X technology.

Panasonic, as part of its global campaign to spread the anti-Covid technology of nanoeTMX has recently donated nanoe air purifiers and nanoeTM X generators that have been verified to have inhibitory effects on the novel coronavirus to the City of Mandaluyong for use in City vaccination centers.

(L-R) Communication & Product Planning Manager Francis Serrato, Mandaluyong City Health Officer Dr. Alex Sta. Maria, Panasonic Air-Conditioning Philippines CEO Masaru Toyota, Mandaluyong City Mayor Menchie Abalos, Life Solutions Group Country Head Yosuke Tanaka, and SM Vice President Christian Mathay.

The social good initiative was welcomed by no less than Mandaluyong City Mayor Carmelita “Menchie” Abalos and City Health Officer Dr. Alex Sta. Maria last September 3, 2021, at the SM Megatrade Hall vaccination site. Panasonic representatives, Masaru Toyota, Panasonic Air-Conditioning Philippines (PACPH) President & CEO, Life Solutions Group Country Head Manager Yosuke Tanaka, and Communication & Product Planning Manager Francis Serrato were present during the turn-over.

“We truly are grateful to Panasonic for providing our city’s health workers and our Mandalenyos with the gift of safety and protection brought by the nanoe and nanoeTM X anti-Covid technology,” Mayor Abalos said.

The Mandaluyong City Health Officer, Dr. Alex Sta, Maria added, “With the nanoeTM X generators and nanoe air purifiers, we can all breathe a sigh of relief as we enter our vaccination sites with a little more confidence in knowing that we have added layers of protection against Covid.”

“We in Panasonic truly believe that we all must do our part, to act together to protect ourselves, our families, and most especially our front liners, our doctors, nurses, and health workers against the pandemic. Our nanoeTM X technology has been proven to help improve air quality we breathe indoors", said Masaru Toyota.

Yosuke Tanaka added, “In the next few months, Panasonic will continue to reach out to a number of LGU vaccination sites to help make these areas safer not just for doctors and health workers but also the vaccinees as we act together against the pandemic.”

To find out more on how one can protect their homes, offices, and other areas against the resurgence of COVID-19, check out https://www.panasonic.com/ph/nanoe/

Vaccinated! | My COVID Vaccine Experience.

I got vaccinated! After weeks and weeks of waiting, I finally got my first dose of the COVID vaccine!

Vaccinated! 06.26.2021

You've probably seen this photo on my Instagram or on my Facebook page (if you're following me, that is). It's been a little over a week since this happened; I actually waited for a few days before writing about my vaccine experience because I was looking out for the side effects. That being said, here's what transpired before, during, and after vaccination day.

A bit of a backstory first... 

We had a COVID scare sometime last April. Two of our neighbors from the same household tested positive, and although I did not have direct contact with them, I was a close contact of my next-door neighbor who had been exposed to them. Upon hearing the news that they tested positive, I became extremely frantic, broke down, cried, and prayed so hard that neither Yue and I got the virus Yue and I immediately went on self-quarantine and spent the next 14 days completely locked up inside our home, not even daring to set foot outside the door.

We were hoping that we would be swabbed (RT-PCR test), but no one from the City Health Office came to our place because we weren't declared as close contacts despite possible exposure and living next-door to two COVID patients. Thankfully, we were able to finish our 14-day self quarantine without a hitch. No symptoms whatsoever. No colds, no cough, no fever, and definitely no loss of smell and taste. 

After that ordeal, I became more hellbent than ever in getting vaccinated. About a day or two after our quarantine ended, I immediately went to our barangay hall and submitted my vaccine registration form (this form was distributed house-to-house by our barangay officials a few days before our COVID scare incident) together with a copy of my government IDs (Philhealth, SSS, and TIN) and a 2x2 ID picture.

Our LGU's vaccine registration form.

Afterwards, I got in touch with doctor friends and relatives working in local hospitals on what I should do next. My Mum, who is a nurse in the UK, strongly advised me to get a blood work done before I get vaccinated because of my hypertension and asthma. I skipped this part, though, out of fear of catching the virus (most of the diagnostic laboratories here also offer rapid antigen testing, and I don't want to be exposed to anybody possibly carrying the virus). 

Thankfully, I was able to secure a medical certificate and an updated prescription from my pulmonologist with the help of my cousin who works as a nurse at the general hospital. Both are required for those under the A3 category aka 'Persons with Comorbidities'.

And so the waiting game began...

About a week or two after I have submitted my registration form, the vaccine rollouts began in my city. First to be vaccinated were the medical frontliners, barangay health workers, and other frontliners for the barangays and LGU (A1 category). Later on, they began vaccinating on the senior citizens (also known as the A2s), as well as those with comorbidities (A3). During these times, the vaccines that were being administered were either Sinovac or Astra Zeneca. 

I have to admit, at first, I wasn't too keen on getting either of these two vaccine brands for myself. Like most people who have heard of the news about blood clots related to Astra Zeneca, or the fact that Sinovac has the lowest efficacy among all the COVID vaccines currently available, I wanted the Pfizer vaccine. But after that COVID scare and with these new COVID variants coming out, I was ready to be vaccinated with whatever brand that's available. Because like what they keep on saying on TV, the best vaccine is the one that's available to you.

The month of May came and went, and still no notification from the barangay or the City Health Office about my vaccination schedule. Entering the month of June, news about the Pfizer vaccine arriving in our LGU started to spread like wildfire. By this time, I was getting excited, at the same time desperate to be vaccinated. From time to time, I would check with my cousin if I already have a vaccination schedule.

After so many, many weeks of waiting, the call that I had been waiting for finally came. Around noontime of June 25, I got the call from the General Hospital that I was scheduled for vaccination the next day (June 26). Luckily, my siblings and I were scheduled on the same day, too. We were advised to come to the vaccination site in the morning, as early as possible, because the vaccination will be on a 'first come, first served' basis.

Vaccination day, finally!

The following day, I was up by 4:30 am, the earliest that I have woken up ever since the lockdown started. By 6 am, my siblings and I were on our way to the Mega Vaccination Site, located in the outskirts of the city, about 2 miles from where we live.

The Mega Vaccination Site, located in Brgy. San Jose, San Pablo City.

There was already a throng of people when we entered the building. They were all seated, already occupying almost half of the seats inside the vaccination site. Thankfully, we were able to secure seats easily, and as soon as we sat down, we were handed a bunch of papers which included a consent form, an assessment form, a monitoring checklist, a discharge form, and some pertinent information about COVID vaccines and what vaccine will be administered to you. 

Vaccine FAQ's + some forms that you need to fill out.

From the get-go, I knew that we were getting the Pfizer vaccine, and inwardly, I was screaming for excitement and joy. I tried not to get too excited though, because my blood pressure might shoot up. 

Now here's what to expect if you're getting the COVID vaccine at the San Pablo City Mega Vaccination Site. First is the Registration Area. This is where they confirm your identity and double check if you are indeed scheduled for vaccination on that particular day. Strictly no walk-ins! 

The organized crowd, sitting in line for the Registration Area.

Step 2 is the Counselling Area. Here, they check and monitor your blood pressure and inform you about the vaccination process. The staff and nurses at this point are nice and friendly, and more than willing to answer all your questions regarding vaccines.

Normal blood pressure, yay!

My brother, also sitting in line.

Next is the Screening Area where a doctor will check your health condition and assess whether or not you are fit for vaccination. 

Step 3- Screening Area.

My greatest fear that day was my blood pressure shooting up and not being able to get vaccinated because of my hypertension. Thank goodness that did not happen and I was given the 'Vaccinate' stamp of approval by the attending physician.

Then, we got to the much-awaited step - the Vaccination Area. The photo above is the line leading to the vaccination room. 

Inside the Vaccination Room.

This photo is inside the Vaccination Room. I asked permission from the doctor if I could take pictures of myself while getting vaccinated for blogging purposes. The kind doctor, Dr. Lucy Celino, asked me to hand my phone over to the nurse beside her so she can take my pictures instead. Thank you, Doc! :)

Good jab! Excuse my fat arms, lol.

Once you exit the Vaccination Area, you go straight to the Encoding Area where they check your forms, your ID, and your vaccination card. Afterwards, the nurses will then usher you to the Monitoring Area where they will once again check your blood pressure and monitor your condition for the next 30 minutes before endorsing you for discharge. The nurses had to check my blood pressure twice because my blood pressure was at 140/90 when I entered the Monitoring Area. 

After fifteen minutes, my blood pressure was back to normal and I was then endorsed to the Discharge Area. This is the last and final step where a doctor will talk to you and explain the possible side effects of the vaccine and what you should do in case you get allergies, feel nauseous, or experience difficulty in breathing. 

And with that, after nearly four hours of waiting/sitting in line, our first dose of the COVID vaccine was done! Thank you to the hardworking nurses, doctors, and staff of the San Pablo City General Hospital who were in charge of the San Pablo City Mega Vaccination Site! You guys are awesome!

Good jab! :)

Any side effects?

Surprisingly, there were no adverse side effects with the Pfizer vaccine. My left arm felt very heavy and the injection site felt quite sore for the next three days, but that was pretty much it. I felt a bit of nausea the day after vaccination, but it was fleeting, like less than an hour. I can't even attribute it directly to the vaccine because I was also extremely busy that day - cooking, cleaning the house, replying to emails, beating a writing deadline, and working on a blog campaign all at the same time. 

I'm hoping the second dose won't have adverse side effects as well. We're getting our second dose on the 18th if there will be no changes to the schedule. 

For those of you who have not been vaccinated yet, you may now register online, especially if you belong to the A1, A2, and A3 categories. The San Pablo LGU is also encouraging those from the A4 (Economic Frontliners) and A5 (Indigent Population) categories to sign-up for vaccination, too. You can now register online with this link: https://tinyurl.com/SPCERegistro

For more information about the registration procedures and requirements, follow the San Pablo City Health Information Center's official Facebook page.

For announcements about the vaccination schedule, follow the City Information Office's official Facebook page.

You may also coordinate with your respective barangay regarding the registration and your vaccination schedule.

Discover the Advanced Way to Relieve Cough in Just 3 Days!

With the threat of the pandemic still very much present in the country, a simple cough is enough to cause heightened anxiety these days because it is one of the most common symptoms of COVID-19. Unlike before where this matter was usually taken lightly by most, the current situation has people rushing to find a solution when the first signs of a cough arise.

Coughs caused by common viruses go away in time.

Coughs are our bodies’ natural response to expel unwanted organisms from our lungs caused by allergies, irritants, asthma, and the most common of all, viruses. Although coughs caused by common viruses go away in time, it's better to treat them as soon as possible and equip our bodies with added immunity for faster recovery.

In the Philippines, only one cough medicine combines the trusted formulation of Solmux with an essential mineral for faster recovery: Solmux Advance, the only one with Zinc! This unique and powerful combination of Carbocisteine and Zinc is proven effective to reduce cough bouts in as fast as 3 days, compared to the usual 10 to 14 days of recovery. The addition of Zinc to Carbocisteine not only liquifies sticky phlegm, but also improves the body’s immunity for faster recovery from cough.

Solmux Advance, the only one with Zinc!

Carbocisteine is scientifically proven to treat cough with phlegm and other respiratory tract disorders, and have properties that inhibit viruses and bacteria, making it more difficult for microorganisms to cause infections. The right levels of Zinc, on the other hand, can help speed up recovery from infections like the common cold through its action on immunity. It also activates white blood cells to help the body fight off viruses including coronaviruses.

Given the continued increase in COVID-19 cases every day plus the occurrence of other viral respiratory infections, Filipinos can protect themselves and their loved ones with a more advanced 2-in-1 solution for faster cough relief.

#SustainAbilidad: Quarantine Waste Management.

There’s no denying that Filipino’s lifestyle, habits and consumption patterns have radically changed after six months into the community quarantine due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). As we are compelled to stay at home, we have relied more on deliveries for food, online shopping, and other essentials – posing additional environmental challenges because of our increased municipal solid waste (MSW) and hazardous waste. 

Even before the pandemic, the Philippines has been navigating through overwhelming volume of waste. According to a 2015 report by the Ocean Conservancy and McKinsey Center for Business and Environment, the Philippines ranks third among the world’s highest contributors to the global marine plastic pollution problem.

But were you aware that household waste contribute to the biggest chunk of solid wastes in the country? The National Solid Waste Management Status Report 2008 – 2014 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) showed that residential waste constitutes the bulk of MSW (56.7 percent), followed by commercial sources and public or private markets (27.1 percent). 

Now, the biggest challenge is for us to break old habits and adopt a more sustainable lifestyle. Through its business activities, Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) has always been committed in engaging in initiatives that solve social issues which include global sustainability. With environment educational campaign dubbed as #SustainAbilidad, APC aims to aid consumers to incorporate sustainable practices into their daily activities. This campaign includes social media promotions featuring Super Suzy and her kid, the main characters representing ordinary people that champion global sustainability to teach and inspire young and old members of their family and community to bring out their “SustainAbilidad”.

Here are a few reminders from Super Suzy on managing our household waste:

Some tips from Super Suzy! Click to enlarge.

While we may have taken a number of steps backwards because of the pandemic, it’s not too late for every household to start sustainable practices. Segregating at source is a good start for every household as proper waste management is crucial not just for the environment but also for mitigating infectious disease transmission. Visit facebook.com/CookmunitybyAjinomotoPH/ to learn more about #SustainAbilidad. 

The Ajinomoto Group is a global company with specialties in the business of food and amino acids, guided by our leading-edge bioscience and fine chemical technologies. Based on the corporate message “Eat Well, Live Well.”, we have been scientifically pursuing the possibilities of amino acids in supporting the healthy lives of people all around the world. We aim for future growth and continuous contribution to greater wellness by creating value through sustainable and innovative solutions for communities and society.

The Ajinomoto Group has offices in 35 countries and regions, and sells products in more than 130 countries and regions. In fiscal 2018, sales were 1.1274 trillion yen (10.1 billion U.S. dollars). To learn more, visit www.ajinomoto.com. 

Emerging Travel Trends Post-COVID-19.

There's no question that the current pandemic is already reshaping the way that people look at travel. In the age of face masks, hand sanitizer and social distancing, normal vacations may seem like a thing of the past. According to digital marketing expert, Larry Muller, who has extensive experience marketing in the travel and hospitality industry, the World Travel and Tourism Council has predicted job losses totaling almost 50 million.  That equates to the travel industry shrinking by nearly 25%!
While traveling plans can feel a little bleak at the moment, there is hope on the horizon. Read on to find out how travel will change post-pandemic.

Photo credit: JEShoots on Pixabay.

Traveling Trends to Look Forward To
As people prepare to travel again in the future, they'll be looking at both the level of risk that locations offer for example, when booking ice cave tours, as well as how to maximize their experience. Here are some of the projected trends in travel to look forward to in the coming months.

Road Trips
Since the demand for air travel is at an all-time low, it's time to hit the open road! People feel much safer in their own vehicles where they can enjoy protection from the outside world. Road trips to relatively close locations is expected to increase as more and more people travel by car to get away. This reduces the amount of places that people can visit, but still provides the excitement of "not being home".

RV and Camping Trips
With RV sales at an all-time high, the great outdoors is calling. Since people are being confined to homes/apartments and small living spaces, the urge to get out into nature has increased. Camping grounds are a vacation hot spot at the moment and most sites are reservation only. Gone are the days of just hopping in the RV and finding a spot - however, you can still find BLM land to camp on if you're savvy enough to find it.

Photo credit: Chanwity on Pixabay.

National Parks
Be ready to reserve your spot months in advance if you hope to visit a National Park in the near future. National Parks have quickly become one of the most popular destinations during the pandemic and will stay that way for some time. They are both safe and affordable, while also being gorgeous and life-changing. If you are lucky enough to live within driving distance of multiple national parks then now is the time to take advantage of that.

Backpacking
Backpackers are expected to be among the first to return to international travel. This group of travelers tends to usually be young, single males that are looking to take advantage of discount hotels and out-of-the-way traveling routes.

Photo credit: Pexels on Pixabay.

The Rise of Travel Advisors
Lastly, one thing that will probably be on the rise again post-pandemic is the usefulness of travel advisors. Having a knowledge of restrictions and safety policies put in place in the locales you're trying to visit will become even more important in the coming months. On top of that, travel insurance will likely now be a must-have in the event of getting sick or contracting the virus.