There is a lot of breaking news and opinions about the corona virus or COVID-19 epidemic and how it impacts travel. Don't panic! Here are some tips, the facts and take precautions before, during and after your travels.
Before traveling, do
The virus is only contagious through respiratory fluid. Just as you would to avoid the regular flu, wash your hands regularly, sanitize your shared spaces (doors, handles, tables), and wear a mask in crowded areas.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these include
- Washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- If soap and water are not available, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol
- Avoiding close contact with people who are sick
- Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in the trash, and washing your hands
- Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces
- Staying home when you are sick
The Coronavirus Cases Spread Across the World
This interactive map shows the spread of the COVID-19 virus around the world since late January. Health officials in China first announced they were treating dozens of cases of an unknown illness on Dec. 31 and reported the first known death from the coronavirus on Jan. 11. The data used to compile this map comes from Johns Hopkins University, which first shared its dashboard of cases, deaths and recoveries for affected countries on January 22nd. (sourced from nbcnewyork.com). Watch the Coronavirus Cases Spread Across the World
Traveling around the World during this time
- Except for flights to China, all other countries are still flying normally. There may be few cutbacks on the number of scheduled flights due to reduced demand. If you need to reschedule or reroute, most airlines are offering penalty fee changes.
- It's always good to have travel insurance for delays and interruptions, though note that unless you have a policy that covers "cancel for any reason," a fear of epidemic will not be covered.
- Lastly, if you believe you have the Coronoa Virus, treat it the same way as you would the flu. Stay home, rest, drink fluids, take over the counter medication. Even if you get to a hospital, you will be given outpatient care unless you have pneumonia or an extreme condition.
Contact us to get more advise related to traveling in Tanzania: Curiousontanzania@gmail.com or @curiousontanzania on IG DM.
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