Coronavirus And Travel: Updates, Notes And Suggestions For February 2020

There are now more new cases of the coronavirus reported each day outside China than inside the hardest-hit country, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday. With over 81,000 confirmed cases around the world, the virus has so far claimed over 2,800 lives in at least 47 countries.

International travelers are especially concerned. There is no blanket recommendation against traveling the world, except to specifically impacted places. but prepare for increased disruption to travel and events. Major travel disruptions are already occurring in Asia, and these will multiply even in areas where there is currently no reported coronavirus.

To avoid misinformation about the coronavirus, COVID-19, stay informed with reputable news. Travelers should consult the websites of their home country and their intended destination to understand newest policies.

I will keep updating, day by day, regarding travel-related issues.

Recent warnings from the CDC and State Department:

— Check the website for the Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. health protection agency, which tracks the coronavirus around the world. The CDC currently recommends that travelers avoid China (not including Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan) and to postpone nonessential travel to Japan and South Korea.

— The CDC currently hasn’t yet recommended canceling or postponing travel to other parts of the world, including Italy, where cases are growing. Alitalia says that it flew 40 passengers from northern Italy, which had more than 528 victims by Thursday – back to Rome. Officials in Mauritius told them they could either return to Italy or be quarantined at local East African hospitals.

But travel disruptions continue to spread, with the United Arab Emirates saying it would suspend all travel to and from Iran, the Middle East’s coronavirus epicenter. The outbreak there has been linked to most of the more than 210 confirmed cases of the virus across the Mideast. 

Health authorities in Bahrain, Iraq, and Oman also announced new cases Tuesday. In Iran, an opposition lawmaker and the deputy health minister were among 95 people who’ve tested positive for the virus.

Algeria has reported its first case, and Brazil has reported its possible first patient.

Suggestions for Travelers

— Reconsider traveling to affected areas, and realize you may not be able to return home if quarantined. For information on countries and territories which have COVID-19 related border restrictions affecting foreign nationals (some of which may affect travellers in transit), please see the International Air Transport Association website before you travel.

— Get a flu shot and necessary vaccinations, rest, stay hydrated, eat well, exercise and stay healthy before traveling.

— Consider refundable rates whenever possible when making reservations at hotels and for rental cars. They may be more expensive, but worth it if your plans change. Read the fine print. And note the cancellation window on your hotel booking.

— Check with cruise lines, as policies vary. If you have questions about the impact of COVID-19 on your plans for an upcoming cruise, contact your travel agent or cruise operator. Also check Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), outlines their policies to prevent the spread of COVID-19. All CLIA member cruise lines are required to implement these policies.

Many have been giving vouchers to travelers who change their plans because of the virus. Cruise ships are frequently sanitized, and follow protocols in place for norovirus.

— Travel insurance coverage varies; read the terms and conditions carefully. Most plans provide coverage if a traveler becomes ill during a trip. Depending on coverage, this might including emergency medical expenses and medical evacuation back home. If in doubt, take the Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) option. But note that with some plans you may just get a partial refund, and/or future travel credits.

— Although most masks are incomplete protectors, while traveling you should wear one if you are sick. Avoid coughs and sneezes from others, and cough into your elbow. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, and don’t touch your face.

— Note these protective hygiene suggestions while flying. Planes are cleaned on a regular basis and the depth of the cleaning varies, depending on turn times and type of flight.

Traveling on airplanes and in airports should be safe because, unlike chickenpox or measles, the virus doesn’t appear to be airborne, and probably does not linger suspended in the air, Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, M.D., an infectious diseases specialist told The New York Times.

So if someone on a plane did have coronavirus, you would most likely need to touch the same surface they touched or sit near them in order to potentially be infected.

— To avoid crowds in affected areas, visit sites at off-hours. In high risk areas consider independent tours, room service and other safety measures.

Travel-Related notes as of 2/27/20

Dr. William Haseltine, the president of ACCESS Health International, said “We should never consider stopping air travel or locking down cities. If we were treating this like we’d treat the flu, there’d be no lockdowns. There’d be no flight restrictions.”

Professor Eyal Leshem, a global expert on infectious diseases, added that authorities would do best to implement social distancing—school shutdowns, telecommuting to work, cancellation of public gatherings, and closure of public transportation—over a quarantine or travel lockdown. Daily Beast, 2/27

In Europe, Denmark, Estonia, Norway and Romania all reported their first cases, while several other countries registered new infections that illustrated the diverse ways the pathogen could cross borders. Two new cases in Britain, for instance, were linked to Italy and to Tenerife in the Canary Islands of Spain. — New York Times, 2/27

A senior member of the International Olympic Committee said that if it proves too dangerous to hold the Olympics in Tokyo this summer because of the coronavirus outbreak, organizers are more likely to cancel it altogether than to postpone or move it. A decision could be put off until late May. —Associated Press, 2/26

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Romania confirmed its first case — a man who returned three weeks ago from Italy. The number of cases in Italy more than doubled in the last day, topping 322 as of Tuesday morning, according to Italian health officials. The contagion was particularly strong in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto. Italy’s neighboring countries have committed not to close their borders, Health Minister Roberto Speranza said, as Rome’s government struggles to contain the biggest coronavirus outbreak in Europe.

Germany, Croatia, France, Switzerland, Greece, (the nation of) Georgia, and Pakistan are among countries with new cases.— Reuters with CNBC, 2/26

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A fourth person who traveled on Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess cruise ship has died, Japanese broadcast network NHK reported on Monday. Three other passengers from the Diamond Princess have died after being quarantined for coronavirus.

As of Wednesday morning, there were at least 705 confirmed cases of coronavirus that stemmed from the Diamond Princess. — USA Today, 2/26

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Hotels have been locked-down in Austria and the Canary Islands. Business Insider, 2/26