One of the biggest concerns many Americans have now is how their future travel plans will be impacted by the coronavirus outbreaks both here and abroad.
With a treatment about two months away and a vaccine about a year out, what happens to those plans to travel abroad or even for domestic air travel once the kids get out of school?
For the most part, at least for now, domestic travel is safe with precautions. As far as going abroad is concerned, you will have to check with health alerts regarding the country to which you would be traveling.
For instance, Italy and South Korea are now both reaching pandemic levels, so I would rule those out. If you had planned on traveling to Japan for the Summer Olympics, Japan has had more than 200 cases reported and five deaths so far, with 13 people in critical condition at this time.
So, you may want to reconsider those plans but also realize that it is several months out, and we do expect to see treatment drugs available within the next two to three months.
What Can You Do?
Research – there are plenty of resources available the latest information on travel advisories as well as the CDC site itself. Check them both regularly if you have upcoming travel plans.
For the latest travel advisories, click here.
For the latest CDC updates, click here.
Carry Disinfectant – load up on hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes when you travel. Before sitting down in any seat, give it a thorough once over with sanitary wipes, especially the headrest and armrests.
Watch What You Touch – one of the fastest ways for this disease to be transmitted is through touching a contaminated surface. If an infected person has sneezed or coughed near a surface and you touch it afterward then touch your own face, you could get infected.
Wash Your Hands – before eating any meal or even touching your face in the eye, nose, and mouth area, be sure to thoroughly wash your hands. Wash them with a disinfectant or anti-bacterial soap for about a minute and use disposable towels or air dryers in public spaces.
Wear a Mask – if you are going to be in congested public areas, buy a face mask and wear it at all times to protect yourself. Until we have treatment drugs, just walking by someone that is infected and having them sneeze in your general area could get you sick, so forget about fashion and don a mask when you travel.
Know the Signs, Go to the Doctor – the symptoms of this virus are very similar to what you would experience with the flu or pneumonia. Shortness of breath, coughing, fever, etc. If you have them, stay home from work and make an appointment with your doctor. If your doctor cannot see you right away, go to the hospital to get checked out.
Protect Your Trip – now, more than ever, protect your travel plans by purchasing travel insurance. This is usually a waste of money but with everything so uncertain, take out the policy (they are usually offered directly with the airline) to protect your purchase.