The Coronavirus Pandemic: Is it still safe to travel?

Unless you've unplugged from all forms of modern media, then you've witnessed the overtake of the coronavirus across every headline in existence. With cases and fatalities increasing worldwide, would-be travellers are left wondering, is it still safe to travel?

The short answer is, it depends. Now declared a pandemic, travel is undeniably affected, with bans and advisories changing daily. Most recently, the U.S. has banned all travel to Europe, and as of today Disney has shut down all of its parks. The only way to assess whether it's safe to travel is to keep up to date on official advisories that would affect departure and arrival points.

Now, during the H1N1 pandemic in 2009, I worked as a Registered Nurse in a busy emergency department. I felt the media-driven fear of the pandemic, but I witnessed firsthand that the majority patients who fell ill were perfectly fine. Still, it must be said that the coronavirus has much higher cases and is more widespread. In this post, I'll share current information to assess whether it is safe to travel amidst the coronavirus.

Disclaimer: The advice in this article is anecdotal and is based on current available information through personal research. Seek up-to-date bans and advisories from official government in your current region and would-be destinations.

Coronavirus: A quick overview

The coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is a respiratory illness caused by influenza. Symptoms include body aches, fever, cough, and a runny nose. The virus is spread via close contact with an infected person or their cough or sneeze droplets, or touching droplet-contaminated surfaces. What makes COVID-19 more concerning than a typical flu is that it is much more deadly and is globally widespread.

All of that said, most healthy individuals (96.6% of the population) who adhere to travel advisories and follow protective measures are highly likely to make a full recovery. Those with weaker immune systems, such as older persons or pregnant women, tend to comprise the ~3.4% of fatal cases. And lest we forget, billions of people may never contract the virus at all.

How to plan your travels amidst the coronavirus

With the virus is now present in over 100 countries, some nations have banned all incoming and outgoing flights, while others are quarantining those returning from affected regions. Here's how to best manage your travel plans.

Monitor current regional bans and travel advisories

If intending to travel, review current reputable sources from your departure point and intended destination for bans and advisories. Just this week the U.S. announced a travel ban to Europe for 30 days, and Italy has entirely shut down all travel in and out of the country.

Remember also that large events and conferences are affected, if those are relevant to your trip. New bans are rolling out daily and we cannot emphasize enough: check how restrictions may affect your trip.

Reputable regional sources include:

U.S.A.Department of State for travel advisories & affected countries, CDC health travellers information for reviewing all affected countries where you plan to travelJohns Hopkins global coronavirus map (this map only shows current cases, not restrictions)CanadaCanadian government website for current advisories, plus tips around safety when travelling hereAustraliaAll current advisories & travel restrictions on SmarterTraveller (official government website) hereEuropeRespective countries in the EU and their current travel information listed hereAsiaCheck respective government websites for bans as restrictions are constantly changing from country to country

Johns Hopkins global map of current COVID-19 cases

Check insurance policies on coronavirus specific health and cancellation coverage

Most insurance companies are not covering COVID-19 related claims. This includes situations like contracting the virus before or during travels (including needing healthcare or cancelled trips), or cancellations relating to flights, accommodation, or tours. World Nomads outlines specific coverage by country, viewable here. Most consistently flight cancellations are not being covered, but some non-refundable bookings (such as hotels) might be reimbursed.

Make a plan B

There's no sugar coating it, both regional and global travel plans are being affected by COVID-19. Make a Plan B for your trip, whether that be keeping your explorations local in a trendy AirBNB or choosing a completely different region to visit. Websites like HotelsCombined often provide free cancellation (up to a certain date), providing an option to “sit on” rooms. BookingBuddy often offers car rentals with free cancellation as well, should you decide to road trip instead.

How to prevent contracting coronavirus when travelling

Reducing the risk of contracting coronavirus is extremely important, not just for your own health but to prevent transmission to those with weaker immune systems. Here are 5 easy steps to stay healthy.

1. Wash your hands & don't touch your face

Hand washing with soap and water is your #1 defense against the flu. If you don't have access to soap and water, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Handwashing is most ideal, as santizer builds up a film on your hands over time.

Here is how to effectively hand wash:

Wash for at least 20 seconds (~2 rounds of the happy birthday song in your head).Scrub firmly and make sure to wash between the fingers, under the nails, the back of your hands and wrists.Avoid touching the tap afterwards if you can (e.g. use an elbow or handle with paper towel). Fully dry your hands.

Finally, do not touch your face! Avoid hand contact with the eyes, nose, ears, mouth, and so on, as this allows germs to easily enter your body.

2. Avoid places with travel bans or high infection rates

As mentioned, follow travel bans and considering advisories to minimize viral exposure. Review current official advice as per the above list of resources according to your country of origin.

Remember, if you are immunocompromised such as being aged 65+, pregnant, having chronic disease (e.g. diabetes, heart disease), and more (see definition of immunocompromised people here), you should avoid all areas with high case numbers in general.

3. Avoid crowded public and travel spaces

Tight spaces with lots of people are an ideal setting for disease spread. For this reason, many governments have told citizens to avoid cruise ships, conferences, and large public events.

In regards to air travel, airlines have standards around air purification and santization, with most airlines assuring customers that flying is safe. That said, standards vary by airline. No matter how you travel, practice strict hand hygiene and don't touch your face.

4. Avoid being around sick people

As the virus is highly contagious, infected people should self-quarantine. Where able, avoid close contact with sick people. If you are specifically around someone who has the virus (such as someone you life with), wear a face mask as a protective measure.

5. Wear a mask when recommended

For most people, face masks offer little protection except when recommended. As per the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, here is when you should wear a mask:

If you are a healthy person caring for someone infected with COVID-19If you are coughing or sneezingIf you know how to wear and dispose of it properly (otherwise it is useless, see how to do so here)

If you do wear a mask, it is only effective when used in conjunction with stringent hand-washing, sanitizing, and avoidance of touching your face. Be mindful that the surge of mask purchases has been depleting hospital supply, which is where masks are needed most.

The Thrifty Gist

Travel is still safe to many areas, so you don't necessarily have to cancel you travel plans. Check current bans and advisories before making bookings.If booking, check airline and insurance cancellation policies specific to the coronavirus outbreak in advance.Protect yourself from getting the disease by hand-washing, not touching your face, and avoiding close contact with sick people.Have a plan B for your plans such as a local weekend getaway or travel to a different region instead.

The post The Coronavirus Pandemic: Is it still safe to travel? appeared first on Thrifty Nomads.

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By: Jen Avery
Title: The Coronavirus Pandemic: Is it still safe to travel?
Sourced From: feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThriftyNomads/~3/HDUJZ-zLFaQ/
Published Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2020 05:00:07 +0000