Protection against COVID-19 as well as other transmissible diseases requires enhanced protocols in hygiene and sanitation. We will put in place additional measures, in line with government health advice and with global health authorities (including the WHO and CDC) to ensure that we maintain the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene.

Hand Hygiene
Handwashing is one of the most important safety measures to prevent the spread of disease. Intrepid will actively reinforce its importance by:

• Implementing a handwashing policy that dictates when, how often and for how long all staff, leaders and crew must wash their hands on-trip.
• Promote the importance of hand hygiene to customers through signage and online customer material.
• Contract suppliers that have hand hygiene protocols in place
• Contract suppliers that provide hand sanitizer in public places (where applicable)
• Educate staff, leaders, crew and suppliers on the importance of hand hygiene via training.

Respiratory Hygiene
Practicing good respiratory hygiene prevents the spread of disease by reducing the number of droplets in the air when you sneeze or cough. Intrepid will:

• Actively reinforce its importance to customers through signage and online customer material.
• Educate staff, leaders, crew and suppliers on the importance of respiratory hygiene via training.
• Contract suppliers who have respiratory hygiene protocols in place.

Masks
In addition, in areas with high community transmission and/or places that are difficult to maintain physical distancing, we recommend the the following at-risk people also wear them. Intrepid follows the advice of the World Health Organisation (WHO) that masks should only be used as part of a comprehensive prevention strategy and that the use of a mask alone is not sufficient to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Physical distancing, hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene must also form part of the strategy.

Medical/Surgical Masks
On our trips, regardless of destination, the following people must wear medical/surgical masks:

• Anyone who develops symptoms of COVID-19 regardless of whether or not they have been tested yet.
• People caring for people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases (outside of hospitals/clinics).

In addition, in areas with high community transmission and/or places that are difficult to maintain physical distancing, we recommend the the following at-risk people also wear them.

• People over 60
• People with underlying health conditions

Intrepid will:

• Provide medical/surgical masks as part of the First Aid Kits carried by leaders.
• Educate leaders, crew, staff and customers on the correct method to wear, handle and dispose of a mask.
• Require all customers, leaders and staff to comply with any local regulations or requirements that require the use of a mask in public or in certain places

Fabric Masks
Intrepid follows the advice of the World Health Organisation (WHO) that it is not necessary for the public to wear fabric masks generally.

However in certain circumstances, in places where community transmission of COVID-19 is high and/or physical distancing is not possible (e.g. on public transport, in shops or in other confined environments) then a fabric mask can be a useful barrier to prevent the spread of virus.

Fabric masks be purchased commercially or handmade, and are generally not standardised like medical masks. Fabric masks should:

• Cover the nose, mouth, and chin
• Be secured with elastic loops or ties
• Include multiple layers
• Be washable and reusable.

Sanitation
Protection against COVID-19 as well as other transmissible diseases requires enhanced sanitation processes. Intrepid will take the following measures:

• Require all suppliers to detail their cleaning and sanitation protocols
• Audit/monitor all suppliers on their cleanliness and sanitation.
• All cleaning and disinfecting products must be approved by health authorities (e.g. WHO).

Accomodation

• All rooms must be thoroughly cleaned between guests with all high touch surfaces in shared areas regularly cleaned and disinfected.
• Hand sanitizer should be available in public areas.
• There must be a process in place for customers to escalate any concerns regarding hygiene or sanitation.
• Staff must be trained and able to answer questions regarding safety protocols in place.

Camping

• All tents must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between use.
• If staying at a campground, ensure all bathrooms are well stocked with hand soap and paper towels. If the area is remote, with limited facilities and/or minimal staffing, then customers should be informed to bring their own hygiene equipment.

Transport

• All mini buses, transfers, charters, overland trucks must be thoroughly cleaned between guests with all high touch surfaces in shared areas regularly cleaned and disinfected.
• Hand sanitizer should be made available
• Close top bins with bin liners should be available on board and disposed of at every stop

Restaurants

• Must be thoroughly cleaned at the end of each day
• Tables and chairs must be disinfected after each guest use
• Avoid buffets where possible. If buffets are used, prevent customers from handling food and operating machines (e.g. self-serve coffee stations)
• Either disinfect shared use objects (e.g. table salt) between guest use. Where possible, Intrepid will try to source safe alternatives to single serve packaging.
• Staff must be trained and able to answer questions regarding safety protocols in place.
• Preferred: Provide hand sanitizer to guests at the door before entry

Activities

• All equipment must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between guest us
• Staff must be trained and able to answer questions regarding safety protocols in place.

Contactless/low touch
Limiting the number of surfaces touched by large numbers of people helps prevent the spread of disease. Therefore, it is important to proactively move towards contactless or low touch solutions for travel. Intrepid will:

• Prioritise contactless/low touch as a key feature when sourcing new tech or solutions.

Brand Material

• Remove any paperwork required on the ground (e.g. signing forms, feedback cards)
• If details must be entered using a shared device (e.g. insurance details), then it must be disinfected between each customer. Preference is to move entirely to digital solutions.

Contracting

• Accommodation should provide online check in (no paperwork)
• Contactless keys (e.g. QR codes)
• Contactless tech (e.g. lights)
• Online ticketing for attractions and transport
• Online payment

Physical Distancing
Physical distancing is important in the preventing the spread of COVID-19 as it can be transmitted via droplets sprayed when coughing, sneezing, singing, yelling etc…
Intrepid will take the following measures:

• Require all suppliers to detail their physical distancing protocols
• Follow local regulation and advice on the need for physical distancing.

Accommodation Intrepid operates product that is based on twin share accommodation and allows single travellers the chance to share accommodation with a stranger.
We will continue to offer this as an option. Single supplements are available for single travellers who do not wish to share a room. We will work closely with accommodation suppliers to ensure increased availability of single rooms.

Camping

• Consider whether it is appropriate to offer single tents for solo travellers as customers will be much closer together then in a traditional room.
• Consider whether staggering meal times may reduce the number of people sharing a dining tent.

Transport
Intrepid will consider the following factors when designing or amending transport options on trips.

• Local laws or requirements regarding physical distancing on transport
• Hygiene protocols of the transport provider
• Level of active community transmission in the destination

Possible risks include:

• Using designated seating on transport. Customers have assigned seats throughout the trip.
• If trip is longer than 15 minutes and air conditioning is available, it must be set to external airflow rather than to recirculation or windows should be opened for the duration of the trip.
• Designing or amending itineraries to reduce the duration of travel.
• Increasing the size of the vehicle, using multiple vehicles.

In Public

• Educate all leaders, crew, staff and customers to maintain a 1.5m distance wherever practical in public (e.g. queueing at a museum).
• Proactively design product to avoid crowds by visiting attractions at off-peak times.
• Proactively design product to avoid crowds on public transport or at airports where practical.

Restaurants

• Follow local regulations on table spacing and guest seating in restaurants. Wherever possible, try to ensure groups are sitting at their own table without strangers in restaurants.
• Proactively design product that focuses on experiences that assist with physical distancing (e.g. picnics over crowded marketplaces) if relevant for that destination.

Health Screening & Tracking
Screening for COVID-19 helps isolate anyone with COVID-19 symptoms and stops the spread of disease. It is likely to become more common for future travellers.

Pre-Departure (Brand Material)
Customers should be informed as part of ‘Essential Trip Information (ETIs) or other similar trip notes if their trip is likely to include any of the following:

• Testing for COVID-19 before being able to pass through immigration and/or board planes.
• Negative test results to be uploaded for visa purposes.
• Thermal temperature checks in airports, train or bus stations, major hotels or attractions.

Pre-Departure (Customers)
Pre-departure, all customers are required to fill out an online questionnaire (“self- declaration/assessment” form) to identify any high-risk customers before travel.

Extra qualifiers will be included to address customers with symptoms that can be contributed to pre-existing conditions (e.g. breathlessness to asthma).

Customers answering YES to any question should be removed from the departure and appropriate arrangements made.

COVID-19 Testing
Intrepid will not require a negative COVID-19 test as proof of health from customers or leaders at this stage unless it is required by local law or regulations.

This is partially due to the lack of availability of testing for people with no symptoms in many parts of the world and may change in due course.

On Trip

• Ask customers, leaders, crew and staff to monitor their own health
• Display appropriate signage on COVID-19 symptoms
• Educate leaders, crew and staff on how to identify COVID-19 symptoms
• Describe COVID-19 symptoms in group meetings

Removal of customers, leaders, crew
If customers, leaders or crew show symptoms of COVID-19 and are either unable to or unwilling to be tested, Intrepid reserves the right to remove them from our trips to prevent any risk to others.

Flexible Booking Conditions
Customers will be supported by flexible booking conditions to stay home if unwell or displaying symptoms

Flexible Work Conditions
Intrepid will support leaders and crew to stay home rather than lead a trip if they are unwell or displaying symptoms. Schedules will need to be created with back up availability of leaders/crew.

Data Collection & Health Tracking
Intrepid will assist government health departments in tracking and tracing any customers, staff, leaders, crew or suppliers at risk of contracting COVID-19 via exposure to a known case and/or outbreak by providing relevant details in line with privacy laws and regulations.

COVID Tracking apps
Intrepid strongly recommends that customers and staff download COVID tracking apps (e.g. COVIDSafe in Australia, StayHomeSafe in Hong Kong) to assist in reducing the spread of disease within their communities.