Traveler’s Guide to dealing with COVID-19
So, if you’re a lot like us and have travel plans booked during COVID-19, your thoughts were probably along the line of “I hope this doesn’t screw things up for me”. Well, chances are, they are screwed up or will be soon, and now it’s time to assess the situation and figure out your options.
Now, to preface, we are not doctors. Our focus here is on how the virus is going to impact you, as a traveler. In this article we try to cite as many reliable health authorities as possible, but should there be any points that are unclear, we recommend you do your own research online, and ensure that you are getting your facts from a reliable source like the World Health Organization (WHO), Center of Disease Control (CDC), or your government’s official COVID-19 response page.
So, let’s start broad from the top to ensure we’re all on the same page, and get down to the nitty-gritty below.
COVID-19 FACTS
What is COVID-19 and what are the effects?
COVID-19 is a Coronavirus which is a family of viruses that include the common cold, MERS, and SARS. COVID-19 is a novel strain that can be transmitted between humans. WHO reports that common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing? Infection in severe cases may also cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and death.
Not all individuals infected with COVID-19 will display symptoms, but asymptomatic or individuals still within the virus incubation period may still transmit the disease.
The CDC recommends that if you have been in contact with somebody infected with COVID-19, reside in a community with an ongoing spread of COVID-19, or develop symptoms to call a local healthcare provider or your local COVID-19 hotline if this is available in your region for recommendations on how to proceed.
How can I prevent the spread of the disease?
The easiest way to prevent the spread of the disease is to consistently wash your hands with soap & water or with a hand sanitizer and to practice social distancing of at least 1 meter between yourself and anybody who is coughing or sneezing according to the WHO. As the virus is transmitted primarily through respiratory droplets produced from infected individuals, it is important to ensure that you avoid touching your face, and practice conscious etiquette should you be coughing or sneezing.
HAVEN’T LEFT YET
What should I do if I feel sick or am scared of contracting the virus during my travels?
If you are sick or are worried about getting sick, we suggest you cancel immediately. Health care options in many countries as a traveler may be limited or poor; you are much better off staying home nearby a medical system you understand and have access to, period.
You may be subject to quarantine and face considerable hardship if you attempt to travel while displaying symptoms similar to those of COVID-19. Please read the WHO advice page on COVID-19 before travelling, and conduct research on what the current policy is for travelers coming into the country prior to departure. For the most up to date information, check your destination’s government website, or phone the government directly if the information is insufficient online.
What should I do prior to travel?
If you have travel plans, we first, recommend cancelling them immediately and seeking reimbursement through your booking agency, hotel, airline, and insurance. As stated above, you may be subject to quarantine or may get sick during your travels and be forced to rely on unfamiliar medical systems.
Furthermore, with the ever-evolving situation of borders between countries, you face a significant risk of being locked out of your end destination or may be limited in your options to return home.
That being said, if you absolutely must travel for one reason or another, we first recommend you do your own research to check for any entry restrictions that may have been applied by all countries you are planning to visit, particularly if you have traveled in or through a country affected by COVID-19 recently. The New York Times has an updating article that contains travel restrictions, but we also highly recommend that you do your own researching into the local travel authorities to ensure that you have the latest information. As this situation is evolving rapidly, travel availability may change on a day to day basis.
You should additionally check to ensure that all visas or electronic travel authorities that have been issued to you are still valid. You should verify this information on a regular basis, including immediately prior to your departure.
We also recommend that you check with your airline to ensure that there have been no changes to schedules and to check if you need to reroute your flights. We recommend that you check your government’s travel advice for all countries that you are intending to visit and that you check for any health advice specific to COVID-19 issued by your government before you leave for your trip. Finally, it is crucial to check with your travel insurance provider that your government’s travel advice does not invalidate your travel insurance. The only thing worse than being quarantined is being strapped with significant medical bills during a recession.
If you are travelling to a destination with less than adequate access to medical services, we recommend also looking into a medivac service like Global Rescue should you encounter a medical emergency or in the event of border shutdowns.
What can I do to protect my travel investment?
Be sure you have travel insurance that at the very lease covers medical evacuation and repatriation coverage of $200,000 USD covering your travel dates and locations. We also recommend trip cancellation insurance, but be sure to understand the fine print of cancellation insurance, as many policies will not cover COVID-19 related cancellations as they deem it a “known” factor. If you have any questions, we suggest you speak with your insurance provider.
ALREADY ON THE ROAD
What happens if I get sick while travelling?
If you experience illness, especially consistent with symptoms of COVID-19, we recommend you to first, immediately take precaution to avoid additional transmission of disease. It is advised to wear a mask to prevent your spread of the disease through respiratory fluids while you are showing symptoms.
Where possible, you should isolate yourself as quickly as possible, and call a health care provider or public health authority for professional advice. For your own benefit, you should look for means to get yourself back home as soon as possible as you may soon be subject to further quarantine. Should you be unable to secure transit home due to border or transportation lock-downs, it would be best to contact your country’s embassy for advice as they may be able to assist in securing passage back home.
You may be subject to quarantine in your current location or home country upon return. For precaution, it is advised to call into your local COVID-19 hotline or medical service provider, get tested should this be available to you, or to self-quarantine for 2 weeks.
I am currently abroad during the outbreak, what should I do?
In this scenario, you have two real options. Stay, or return home. Please note, most government agencies are advising travelers to go home.
Returning Home
Should you plan to return during the pandemic, we recommend mapping out what airports in your intended destination are closed and planning accordingly. As regular flight routes may not be available at this time, it is important to identify what airports remain open, and which flight routes are closed at this time.
To get the cheapest flights, play around with the dates, transit route, and final destination.
For example, if you are flying from Lisbon Portugal to Edmonton Canada, as Edmonton International airport is no longer accepting international flights, Google will route you to an airport that will accept international flights prior to sending you onto a domestic flight. With this in mind, routing to Calgary and then finding alternative transportation will get you the lowest rates.
Staying
With the ever-evolving and escalating situation of the global pandemic, your options to return home may become limited over time. Should you be staying abroad, ensure that you have enough funds to sustain you well beyond your intended length of stay—potentially months, and the ability to access additional funds should you require it.
As some airports may be closed to international travelers but open to domestic, flight booking systems may send you on more expensive routes. Please visit your airline’s website or call them directly for the latest information regarding flight cancellations and status.
What other risks should I be thinking about?
Some risks to think about, besides the virus itself, include cancelled flights, sudden travel bans due to your nationality or recently visited countries, cancelled transit stops, inability to purchase new flights, mandatory quarantines, sudden denial or cancellation of visas, and difficulties returning home, among others. These are not situations that you can have any control over, so the best we can do is make sure you are aware of these risks and help offer whatever advice we can.