If you are planning an outdoor adventure trip after the CMCO is lifted, do take a look at our Covid-19 protocol so you will know what to expect and can help keep us and yourself safe.

A few days after the first case was recorded in Malaysia, Nomad Adventure implemented our safety protocol to handle Covid-19. We based it on the protocol we developed in 2003 for SARS, and fine tuned it with the current understanding of the Coronavirus, based on the latest updates from WHO, CDC, iSOS, NHS and other highly reputable research and medical institutions. We have studied advisories from governing bodies of various mountain-sports and whitewater rafting, as well as the industry best practices from many organizations around the world and applied them to our specific local situation.

This document is intended to be a resource for outdoor enthusiasts, schools, adventure tour operators, and outdoor educators so that we can all get back to enjoying the activities that we are so passionate about. If this pandemic has taught us anything, it is that ALL of us have to practice responsible behaviour so that EVERYONE can be safer. It is our intention that this document will be updated frequently with the latest findings, so please check back here from time to time.

The following is a list of the measures that we have taken and constantly adapting based on new findings. In developing these practices, our philosophy has not been just looking at “what are the minimum steps we can take in order to comply with directives?” but really thinking deeply about, “what additional steps can we take that will give our clients and staff more confidence to enjoy their long-awaited adventure experience?”

All advisories have to be read in the context of instructions from local government and health authorities. As such, be sure to find out as much data as you can about any area that you want to visit, and also pay attention to the recent historical data about that place. The Malaysian government has categorized all districts in the country into red, yellow, and green according to the number of active cases in that district. Nomad is very blessed to be in Gopeng, which is in the district of Kampar, Perak. In the beginning, our district had zero cases and this lasted for quite a few weeks until there were 2 cases recorded in the whole district. They have been treated and we are back into being a green zone with no new cases. Of course, this doesn’t mean we are taking the situation lightly as one of the things that we learn in outdoor adventure is to always be prepared. We monitor this situation daily and are careful to obey the standing orders from authorities.

2. Staff training on prevention of infection.

Knowledge is power! As we face this disease, it is important that everyone understands the facts of how Covid-19 infection is transmitted, how to assess the risk of infection and how to implement basic hygiene measures to protect against infection. As such all Nomad Adventure staff from operations, maintenance, and sales have taken an online course and received certification from the World Health Organization that we have the level of knowledge necessary to protect against infection from acute respiratory disease.

As a condition for us to accept your booking, you must be willing to declare that you have been symptom-free for the last 14 days and have not been exposed to anyone who has been diagnosed as Covid positive. Your full contact details will be collected so that health authorities can get in touch with you for contact tracing. Upon arrival, you will have your temperature taken as well as be screened for any other symptoms of ill health like running nose. Be assured that all client information will be kept confidential and stored in accordance with the Malaysian Data Protection Act and Nomad’s data protection policy. If you do have a temperature, you will be turned away from the trip, so check yourselves before you venture out!

Since February, we have been taking the temperature of all staff and visitors at Earth Camp on a daily basis. Those records are available for the client’s viewing. Prior to your trip, we will send you a document with the health record of your guides for the last 14 days.

When you book a trip with us, you can be assured that your trip will only have your friends and family with you. We will not mix multiple groups together. Your raft will only have your participants, and if you select a land or high ropes activity, your groups will be “sports distance” apart from other groups. (6m distance for low-intensity exercise to 10m distance for high-intensity exercise).

6. Exclusive transport and lunch sites and staggered starts

We ask our customers to only carpool and travel with people from their household. Where logistics permit, we will ask you to travel in your own vehicle to minimize your exposure. If we transport you in our vehicles, the vehicle will be exclusive for your group, have maximum ventilation or even be open-air and be sanitized before you use it. Your group will have a separate lunch area just for yourselves. Our trips will have staggered starting times to prevent cross-contact with other groups.

Your guide will be trained to maintain appropriate distance throughout the trip. In the areas where our clients gear up and fit their equipment, we have marked spots on the floor so that appropriate distance can be maintained. Face masks and face shields will be provided for staff and clients. In situations where close contact is unavoidable (for example dispatching a client on a zipline or abseil), Nomad guides will have both a face mask and a face shield. Face shields provide additional protection to eyes and prevent you from touching your face.

Dr Eli Perencevich from the University of Iowa tackles the question, Are Face Shields Better Than Face Masks for Coronavirus? The IRF does not advise face masks for whitewater rafting or any water activities as face coverings are not effective once wet. Therefore during our whitewater rafting or SUP trips, clients and guides will use face shields instead of face masks. Also, face shields may be used by themselves in situations where the guide is giving instructions from more than 6 meters away. Face shields promote clear communication because they allow visibility of facial expressions and lip movements for speech perception.

Hand washing or sanitizing facilities will be available throughout the trip. There will be hand cleansing breaks at timely intervals during the trip. Nonetheless, it is our aim to keep your trip action-packed so that your hands will be too busy to touch your face!

All personal protective equipment that is used on your trip (lifejackets or PFDs, helmets, harnesses and ropes) will be washed in soapy water that kills the coronavirus but does not deteriorate the equipment material. Hard surfaces such as floors, tables, and seats will be cleaned with hospital-grade disinfectant after each client group has used that venue or item.

Please let us know if there is anything else which you think we can be doing. We welcome feedback and suggestions on how we can lower infection risks for our clients and ourselves. We must remember that there will never be any intervention — even a vaccine — that can guarantee 100% effectiveness against the coronavirus, so don’t hold anyone protocol to that standard. Instead, by deploying a wide variety of strategies we aim to mitigate the risks of infection and to have in place safety nets to manage worst-case scenarios.