Traveling during coronavirus

You probably have noticed that traveling has become a pretty concerning action in the last couple of months, with the global spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). People are canceling booked trips and have been warned by health officials to minimize contact with already affected countries.

But do you have an international trip which you booked months ago and have been looking forward to in ages? Or maybe you would like to take advantage of the sudden slash in plane ticket prices these last couple of months. If you have decided to travel, for whatever reason, how can you keep yourself safe from the Coronavirus? And will travel insurance cover you if you do catch the disease while abroad?

Is it Safe to Travel During the Coronavirus Outbreak?

Unfortunately, no one can tell you that traveling during the coronavirus outbreak is entirely risk-free, regardless of your age, health, or travel destination. While the COVID-19 fatality rate appears to be relatively low, and you may even return from your trip unscathed and in great health, there are some things you should consider before you travel:

• Your age. The elderly, especially those over the age of 80, are the ones most endangered for complications of the coronavirus disease, whereas ages 10 – 39 have shown relatively low fatality rates (approximately 0.2%). That does not mean that you have a lower chance of infection if you are younger, only that you have a lower chance of the disease becoming fatal. You can still become infected and spread the disease around.
• Your medical history. People with pre-existing conditions are also more susceptible to become seriously ill from the coronavirus than those who were previously healthy. If you suffer from any respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, etc, you should reconsider traveling.
• The country you will visit. There have been nearly 130,000 reported cases of the Coronavirus worldwide, and the numbers are constantly on the rise. The majority of the cases are in China, where the virus first originated, but there are other “hot zones” with thousands of reported cases as well – most prominent are Italy, Iran, and South Korea. So, as a precaution, the CDC has warned against travel to these countries, unless it is essential. That is not to say that traveling to countries with a smaller number of reported cases is completely safe as well.

Moreover, chances are you will have to go into self-quarantine for two weeks after returning from a high-risk country, even if you are not infected.

Will Your Travel Plans be Affected by the Coronavirus?

Several countries are taking measures to protect their citizens from the virus. Some have even banned entry or lifted visa exemptions for people traveling from China, Italy, Iran or South Korea. Many US states and regions are closing schools in the midst of the outbreak, and the entire country of Italy has been quarantined until April.  So, yes, your travel plans may be affected while the coronavirus is still actively spreading.

Because there is a lot unknown about the virus, health officials are constantly warning against non-essential travel to affected areas, attending large and public gatherings and urging people to stay home as much as possible if they are in an affected zone.

But if you decide that you do want to travel – either because you want to take your chances, you’re traveling to a low-risk location, or the trip is essential – you have to make sure you take the necessary measures to protect yourself and others.