I’ve been searching the internet for trustworthy, expert information and practical travel advice regarding Coronavirus and I’ve found facts and updates from some of the most trusted professional sources in the world to share with you here.
Every morning when I wake up these days there’s a new article about the Coronavirus and people are seriously in a panic over it. We haven’t had to deal with a potential pandemic in a long time. And there is an entire ocean of information and MISinformation out there to try and navigate. I’ve collected some of the best and most reliable sources I could find to help you make your own decisions about travel and how you might best protect yourself and your loved ones.
The obvious place for me to start is the WHO or World Health Organization. Here are the first two things on their list:
Wash your hands frequently
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
Maintain social distancing
Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
And this very informative and worth-your-time video:
My next visit was to the CDC.
They have an entire section of their website set up to answer your questions about traveling at this time…
These are the areas with the highest concentration of cases directly from the CDC:
“Affected Geographic Areas with Widespread or Sustained Community Transmission”
Last updated February 26, 2020
- China
- Iran
- Italy
- Japan
- South Korea
They also have a FAQ page for travelers. Here is an excerpt from their FAQs regarding “Should I cancel or postpone my trip?”
Watch Level 1: CDC does not recommend canceling or postponing travel to destinations with level 1 travel notices because the risk of COVID-19 is thought to be low. If you travel, take the following routine precautions:
- Avoid contact with sick people.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Clean your hands often by washing them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60%–95% alcohol. Soap and water should be used if hands are visibly dirty.
- It is especially important to clean hands after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
Our own State Department has issued a Travel Advisory regarding Coronavirus.
Before you travel
Due to the current public health situation, many countries have begun implementing strict screen
ing procedures in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19.
Any U.S. citizen returning to the United States who has been in Hubei province, China in the previous 14 days may be subject to up to 14 days of quarantine.
Any U.S. citizen returning to the United States who has been in the rest of mainland China within the previous 14 days may undergo a health screening and possible self-quarantine.
Please read these Department of Homeland Security supplemental instructions for further details.
U.S. citizens are encouraged to monitor media and local information sources and factor updated information into personal travel plans and activities. You may also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
If you travel, you should enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive updates.
There are currently 11 State Department Travel Notices regarding Coronavirus at the time that I am writing this article. Here is a link to that search on their site.
It was interesting to me that Italy has so many cases that they’ve made it onto the advisory list. Here’s what the State Department has to say: UPDATED ON 28 FEB 2020 5:49PM to reflect upgrade to level 3
Reconsider travel to Italy due to a recent outbreak of COVID-19.
There is an ongoing outbreak of COVID-19 caused by a novel (new) coronavirus in Italy. Many cases of COVID-19 have been associated with travel to or from mainland China or close contact with a travel-related case, but sustained community spread has been reported in Italy. Sustained community spread means that people have been infected with the virus, but how or where they became infected is not known, and the spread is ongoing. The CDC has issued a Level 3 Warning for Italy. At this time, CDC recommends avoiding non-essential travel to Italy. Travelers should review and follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidelines for the prevention of coronavirus if they decide to travel to Italy.
Here’s what the CDC has to say about the Level 3 Warning for Italy
What is the current situation?
CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Italy. There is limited access to adequate medical care in affected areas.
A novel coronavirus is causing an outbreak of respiratory illness (COVID-19) in Italy. Illness with this virus has ranged from mild to severe. Signs and symptoms of infection include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Sore throat also has been reported in some patients. Some patients also have reported diarrhea without other symptoms. This new coronavirus has caused severe disease and death in patients who developed pneumonia. Risk factors for severe illness are not yet clear, although older adults and those with chronic medical conditions may be at higher risk for severe illness.
I also found this handy article from NPR to be practical and helpful in our every day efforts to deal with the possibility of a pandemic.
…what does preparedness look like in practice? The short answer: Don’t panic — but do prepare.
That “means not only contingency planning but also good old-fashioned preparedness planning for your family,” says Rebecca Katz, director of the Center for Global Health Science and Security at Georgetown University. In other words, what you’d do in case of a possible hurricane or another natural disaster.
Several airlines and cruise lines have issued their own travel advice regarding Coronavirus.
Click the links below:
Airlines
Cruise Lines
It’s so very important that in times like these when we could face a potential pandemic, that we remain focused on facts and practical advice from implicitly trusted sources. I’ve been searching the internet for trustworthy, expert information and practical travel advice regarding Coronavirus and I’ve found facts and updates from some of the most trusted professional sources in the world to share with you here.
Have you found any truly helpful and practical advice not included here? Share it with us in the comments, please! And be sure to share this article with your friends and family!
Do you or someone you know need assistance with booking or rebooking your upcoming travel plans?
