Distant Horizons COVID-19 Protocols and ProceduresAugust 3, 2020

In order to protect travelers and staff Distant Horizons has been working on several measures we plan on adopting when travel resumes

To a large extent these guidelines follow those provided by the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease Control and the State Department but we will be taking additional measures to minimize the opportunity for any

person on a program we operate to contract COVID-19.

Prior to a tour

We recommend that each traveler arrive on the first day of the program with a negative Covid PCR test no more than 72 hours old confirming that traveler is not infected with the novel coronavirus. Anyone who cannot provide this will not be permitted to participate in the program.

Each traveler will need to sign a consent form agreeing that they agree to honor, respect and comply with all procedures including wearing a mask at all times, having their temperature taken each day and possibly by museums and restaurants in the course of the day and following all social distancing requirements. They must also agree that they will be responsible for any charges incurred as a result of having to leave the tour due to being suspected of acquiring or having severe illness from COVID-19.

Each traveler will be required to bring a mask and a personal supply of hand sanitizer for their use only.

Getting to the tour by Plane is probably a lot safer than you think.

Because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes, most viruses don't spread easily on flights. At first thought, a narrow metal tube in which strangers are crammed together for hours might seem like a flying petri dish. The reality is much more nuanced. While there are risks associated with flying, it is safer than you think. The air quality on a commercial airliner is high, with the air volume in the cabin being completely refreshed every

two to four minutes. Air flows into the cabin vertically — it enters from overhead vents and is sent downward in a circular motion, exiting at floor level. Once air leaves the cabin, about half is dumped outside, and the rest is sent through HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters, similar to those used in hospitals, before being mixed with fresh outside air and entering the cabin again. Passengers and crewmembers moving up and down the aisles can disrupt this airflow, altering the path of any airborne particles but airlines are taking great steps to minimize movement of both crew and passengers. And while the HEPA filters used in commercial aviation can filter out 99.97% of virus-sized particles, they can’t capture every respiratory droplet or viral aerosol before someone else inhales it.

In early July of this year, Arnold Barnett, a statistics professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management found that the risk of dying from catching COVID on a flight are less than 1 in half a million. Barnett's calculations are based on numerous assumptions, including that all passengers are wearing masks. Although his figures did not assume that the middle seat was kept empty, he suggests that there would be a measurable reduction in Covid-19 risk when middle seats on aircraft are deliberately kept empty. Certain airlines – including Delta, Southwest and JetBlue – are committed to doing this.

Advice While Flying

Print a boarding pass at home and use this to go through security and board the plane. Hundreds of passengers scan their phones, and many lay them flat on the glass so avoid this touch point!

A window seat may be the best seat to choose. Having a wall on one side automatically reduces your number of close-proximity contacts. A window seat also protects you from the inadvertent close contacts that can occur when other passengers are getting on and off the plane and lifting or removing bags from overhead bins.

Keep the overhead vent open and toward your face—continuous airflow creates a small, invisible ‘wall’ that restricts (at least slightly) the exhaled air from other passengers.

You will be given a disinfecting wipe when you board and while airlines follow enhanced cleaning these days, use your wipe to treat every surface you touch (seat arm, table tray, etc.)

On Tour

From day one of the tour to the end of the program, each traveler will have their temperature taken every morning and afternoon with a non-contact thermometer. If anyone develops a temperature, they will be directed to a medical professional and will not be permitted to continue with the tour until a physician determines it is safe to do so. Any costs associated with this will be the responsibility of the traveler

All travelers and staff including tour guides, drivers and speakers will be required to wear masks

Whisper devices, with the travelers name printed on them, used will be thoroughly sanitized prior to distribution.

Travelers will be encouraged to maintain a 6 foot distance while visiting sites.

During lectures and briefings seating will be assigned so that any individual traveler (those without a room-mate) will have seats on either side of them empty.

Land Transportation

During this period there will be no seat rotations. Travelers will be assigned a seat which they must sit in every day. Individual travelers (those without room-mates) will be encouraged to sit in window seats and will be guaranteed an empty seat next to them.

Getting on and off the bus will follow a strict procedure. Boarding will be done beginning at the back of the bus – and ending at the front. Those sitting at the front will be asked to get off the bus first. Travelers will not be permitted to stand in the aisle during this boarding process.

All motor coaches and tour vehicles will be sanitized regularly throughout the day. Any restroom on board vehicles will be locked and will be used for emergencies only.

Hand Sanitizer will be available on the bus although travelers will be encouraged to use their own sanitizer.

Accommodations

Distant Horizons will only use hotel accommodations which follow the American Hotel and Lodging Association guidelines which include:

Washing Hands and Hand Sanitizer

CDC guidelines shall govern the duty of all hotel employees to engage in frequent hand washing and use of hand sanitizer.

Dispensers shall be placed at lobby reception areas and employee entrances, but could also include any other reception areas, entire hotel lobby areas, restaurant entrances, meeting spaces, elevator landings, pools, exercise areas and other public areas as applicable to the property.

Employee and Guests health

Responding swiftly and reporting to local health officials any presumed cases of COVID-19 at the hotel property shall be a staff-wide requirement.

Employees exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 shall remain or return home.

While at work, employees who notice a coworker or guest exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 shall immediately contact a manager.

Hotels shall follow CDC guidelines for employers and businesses, including instructing employees to self-isolate for the required amount of time, as defined by the CDC, from the onset of symptoms and be symptom-free for at least three days without medication.

Well-being checks of all employees, including physical temperature checks where required by law, shall be carried out.

All employees shall receive COVID-19 safety and facility sanitation protocols training recommendations from the CDC with more comprehensive training, consistent with the CDC, for employees with frequent guest contact including Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, Public Area Department, Hotel Operations, Security, Valet/Door/Bell Services, and Maintenance/Engineering.

Cleaning Products and Protocols:

Hotel Guest Elevators: Button panels shall be disinfected at regular and frequent intervals

Back of the House: Cleaning and disinfecting of all high touch areas at least twice per day in high traffic areas. Handwashing stations and access to hand sanitizer should be convenient and highly visible.

Public Spaces and Communal Areas: Cleaning and disinfecting shall be frequent (multiple times per day) with an emphasis on frequent contact with hard non-porous surfaces

Shared Equipment: Shared tools and equipment shall be disinfected after each shift or transfer to a new employee. Room Recovery Protocol: In the event of a presumptive case of COVID-19 the affected guest room shall be removed from service and quarantined. The guest room shall not be returned to service until undergoing an enhanced cleaning and disinfecting utilizing EPA approved products within CDC guidelines.

Guest Rooms: Cleaning and disinfecting protocols will require that particular attention is paid to high-touch, hard nonporous items including television remote controls, toilet seats and handles, door and furniture handles, water faucet handles, nightstands, telephones, in-room control panels, light switches, temperature control panels, alarm clocks, luggage racks and flooring. The frequency of room cleaning during a guest’s stay may be altered based on guest requirements. Electrostatic spraying is advised between check-outs and new check-ins. Hotel rooms should be empty for at least 6 hours before new residents enter.

Laundry: Linens, towels and laundry shall be washed in accordance with CDC guidelines, including washing items as appropriate in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Dirty linen shall be bagged in the guest room to eliminate excess contact while being transported to the laundry facility.

Food & Beverage: Food and beverage service shall reduce in-person contact with guests and buffet service and also minimize dining items for increased sanitation. Traditional room service shall be replaced with a no-contact delivery method. Sneeze and cough screens shall be present at all food displays.

Hotel Front Desk, Concierge, and Parking Services:

Front desk agents shall practice social distancing including utilizing every other workstation to ensure separation between employees whenever applicable and possible. The use of technology to reduce direct contact with guests, lobby population and front desk queue is encouraged, where feasible.

Contactless payment processes are encouraged, and when not available, employees should minimize contact as much as possible.

Mobile Key

Most hotel chains now provide “Mobile Keys” and travelers will be advised how to download the apps to take advantage of having a Mobile Key on their phone which can be used to open their rooms

Elevators

Depending on the size of the elevator, we will limit the number of travelers allowed in the elevator

Restaurants

Restaurants have all been checked and are maintaining a high level of cleanliness. Tables will be at least six Feet apart and there will be NO buffet meals or printed menus

Meals will be scheduled at non-peak hours or reserved privately for our groups to minimize the number of strangers sharing the restaurant space.

Tour Directors

Tour directors will have to show a negative COVID PCR test taken 24 hours prior to the first day of the trip.

Tour director will provide their cell number of all travelers and make themselves available 24/7

Each tour director will be briefed on protocols and will be responsible for enforcing them and providing clear, consistent and up-to-date communication to travelers on all health & hygiene protocols

It is possible that an itinerary may be amended if the tour director deems that is necessary to ensure protocol compliance. Travelers will be reminded several times a day to avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth, to cover coughs and sneezes, to clean their hands often especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.

Each morning the tour director will be responsible for taking everyone’s temperature (including their own) with a non-contact thermometer

Tour director will distribute bottled water twice a day to travelers wearing gloves

Tour director will be the only person permitted to use the motor coach’s entertainment system

Participants will be required to bring their own luggage to the bus and the tour director, wearing gloves will be responsible for the loading and unloading of luggage.