nic medical conditions should consider postponing nonessential travel “(Iran, Italy, Japan). These pages are worth reading even if you have no intention of traveling; find them at CDC.gov.
U.S. State Department travel section:
The Department of State currently advises all U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel due to COVID-19. U.S. citizens who live in the United States should arrange for immediate return to the United States, unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period.
If you were thinking of going abroad, head to Travel.State.Gov and type in your destination to see what’s up in that country. In addition to alerts ranging from 1 (“exercise normal precautions”) to 4 (“do not travel”), selected country-information sections, such as the one for Japan, now include COVID-19 updates. In addition, the website has a special section on the topic.
Your healthcare professional:
Check with your doctor; they will likely be able to allay some fears (maybe even warn you about things to watch out for). Besides, with the potential health risks out there, getting a physical before traveling sure couldn’t hurt.
Follow These Recommendations
1. If you are sick, stay home. That means, don’t go to work and do not travel. During past pandemics, some airlines would look passengers over carefully and refuse boarding to anyone who appeared to be ill.
2. Wash your hands often. And not just a quick rinse under a faucet; according to the CDC, you have to use soap and running water and keep it up for at least 20 seconds.
3. Use hand sanitizer. These wipes can be great on a plane; use them to clean tray tables, armrests, lavatory handles, whatever you think you’ll touch.
4. Do you need to wear a mask? The World Health Organization (WHO) has an entire section on its website devoted to this question, including charts and videos about different masks and how to use and dispose of them.
It states, “If you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with suspected 2019-nCoV infection.” It goes on to say, “Masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.” When in doubt, talk to your doctor and always keep up with information provided by local and federal public health authorities.
5. Don’t go to any country or city that officials declare off-limits. Again, check with Travel.State.Gov.
Stay in Contact With the Airline
You bought your tickets, got a great deal and everything’s a go. Or is it? Be sure the airline has your phone and email so it can contact you if anything changes. Be aware of situations when the carrier may have to cancel or change flights, as this could mean waived change fees for you or even a refund.
Think About Travel Insurance
Travel insurance could be a lifesaver; it could also be throwing your money away. The best thing to do is read any insurance plan thoroughly (especially the fine print), then get on the phone to ask the insurer more questions. If you can’t reach anyone by phone or they blow you off (“Don’t worry about a thing”), look for another policy.
Only you can make the decision to travel. But again, the more you know, the smarter decision you’ll make. At the moment, we don’t know what’s going to happen with COVID-19. All we can do is take care of ourselves—wherever we are—and stay informed.