The 2020 Corona virus outbreak is causing increasing health and travel concerns for British travelers, currently within and outside of the country and those with impending travel plans.
The Foreign and Commonwealth office (FCO) presently advise against…
-All travel to the Hubei province
– All but essential travel to the rest of Mainland China – including Hong Kong and Macau
-All but essential travel to Daegu and Cheongdo in South Korea
-All but essential travel to ten small towns in Lombardy and one in Veneto in Northern Italy (currently being isolated by Italian authorities).
See www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for up to date advice before you travel – especially to areas that may have been impacted by the virus.
- Travelling against the advice of the FCO is strongly advised against and would invalidate your insurance. Any feasible travel to areas advised against would therefore need to be specifically agreed upon directly with your insurance company or broker, considering your circumstances.
- Travel insurance is particularly important during this outbreak – as a precaution. We don’t recommend travelling without sufficient insurance.
- Essential travel does not include for holiday purposes.
- Older and sick people, especially those with respiratory conditions, are particularly advised to take extra care not catch the virus.
- Some cruise line passengers have experienced disruption to their travel as a result of new measures taken by some countries, individually, trying to combat Coronavirus. If you are due to travel on an international cruise, contact your travel company for up to date information.
- Your travel insurance may cover some non-refundable cancellation costs, in some cases – such as when you or a member of your travel party is advised not to travel, by medical or government advice.
- Travel insurance won’t cover you just based on disinclination to travel – if your dates and destination are deemed safe to travel to by the FCO.
- Your first port of call regarding cancellations and claiming compensation should be to contact your airline or tour operator directly.
- If you make alternative travel plans, you may be able to transfer your travel policy over for your new trip – providing your new trip is within six months of your original departure date, for the same duration and same geographical zone. Your broker can advise on this.
- If you or a family member are already abroad and are considering returning to the UK before you had originally planned, due to the outbreak, you likely won’t be able to claim and you should contact your travel agent for availability regarding flights home.
- If you are in a country directly affected by the outbreak, please follow safety advice including good hygiene and avoid visiting animal or bird markets and other people who have virus symptoms.
We strongly advise practicing excellent personal hygiene to avoid catching or spreading the virus…
- Wash your hands thoroughly. As with any virus prevention, this is key to stopping the spread of germs that lead to a virus.
- Carry and use hand sanitiser for when you don’t have access to running water.
Coronavirus infections are transmitted in the same way as many other respiratory illnesses. The virus spreads through droplets in the air from a cough or sneeze spread to a person within six feet – via their nose or mouth and is possibly inhaled into the lungs. Symptoms emerge within 2-14 days and can include fever, a cough and shortness of breath.
If you cough or sneeze, without having a tissue handy, instead of covering your mouth with your hands – that will leave germs on your hands and spread onto other surfaces – cough or sneeze into your elbow instead. This is subsequently less likely to spread viruses and bacteria from taking to the air.
- Keep surfaces in your home clean. Alcohol is a good disinfectant for combating viruses.
- Properly dispose of tissues after use.
Check with your broker if you’re unsure and are concerned about possibly being left uninsured.
Useful links
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/world/coronavirus-maps.html
https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus