The minute my sister replied, ‘OMG me too, I feel the same way, I didn’t tell anyone that we travelled in the summer’ to my comment about me feeling guilty that I am travelling, I thought to myself that this is an actual thing. As women we are conditioned to feel guilty about a lot of things, this is a new one that’s been added to the list.
The Covid pandemic seems to have brought about a new era of shaming. We have mask shaming, when someone is criticised for not wearing a mask; social distance shaming, when people are criticised for being too close and now there’s travel shaming.
I guess some people think travelling right now is irresponsible, maybe it’s natural to want to travel shame someone during the pandemic. The question is ‘Is shaming or guilt-tripping people who are not doing what you think is right, effective or counterproductive?’
The rules in Qatar depending on if you are travelling to a ‘green’ country or not, is quarantine for a week either at home or in a hotel and you also have to take two coronavirus tests. Some countries require one to take a Covid test 48 hours before travel and 48 hours before travelling back home as well. If one is taking all the right precautions to travel safely, I don’t think one should feel the guilt.
The questions that come up: Are you selfish and uncaring? Is taking a trip a slap in the face to frontline workers? Are you needlessly putting others at risk, particularly in places that may not be equipped to handle an outbreak?
There is still so much we don’t know about Covid, but a few things research has confirmed: Outside is better than inside, fewer people is better than more, more distance is better than less, and well-ventilated air is better than stagnant.
As long as you’re smart about it, you are not breaking any laws or rules and you’re not putting others unnecessarily at risk, I personally don’t see a problem with travelling, but for the foreseeable future, I think we’re going to have this new epidemic of travel shaming.

* The author is a consultant and coach. Instagram handle: @miss_shefa,  Website: missshefa.com