Worried about Canceling Travel Plans amidst COVID-19?

Flight cancelations are rising. Travelers are questioning their decision to catch flights because of the COVID-19 or the Coronavirus outbreak. However, most of the holidaymakers are taking this decision merely out of panic.

It is wise to cancel non-essential travel plans to China and other level-3 CDC-classified countries such as Iran, Italy, etc.

But canceling travel between the US and India, for instance, or Kenya to Myanmar doesn’t make sense. In the midst of a health emergency, it is vital to not lose composure.

Airlines are working closely with Government and International Health authorities to make sure passengers remain safe and unaffected.

CDC Travel Notice

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a leading national public health institute (NHPI). It is a governmental agency based in Atlanta, USA that aims to prolong the life of humankind.

CDC is filtering countries into categories known as travel notices. The three levels of travel notice are based on the potential health risks associated with COVID-19 or Coronavirus.

1. Watch Level 1:

CDC doesn’t recommend canceling flight booking if you are traveling to countries classified as Level 1. There is no need to panic. Just observe some general precautions such as:

• Maintain distance from sick and unhealthy population
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• Observe rigorous hand hygiene. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds multiple times a day.
• Carry a sanitizer with alcohol content from 60-95%. However, if your hands are visibly dirty, use soap and water.
• Also, clean your hands after using the bathroom.
• Wash your hands before eating.
• Wash hands after sneezing, coughing, blowing your nose, etc.

2. Alert Level 2:

Countries under this classification may pose some risks to people with chronic conditions, otherwise, if you practice the aforementioned precautions you are good to go.

However, according to the CDC, consider postponing non–essential travel

3. Warning Level 3:

Avoid traveling to countries under this classification. This includes China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, and most of Europe. Cancel all non-essential travel plans to such countries.

On the other hand, if you were to go on a vacation, you might consider other destinations. So, get an India air ticket instead of Italy.

What about Layovers?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the same measures for layovers as destinations.

However, if the travel plan is unavoidable and there is a layover in a country with a Level 3 travel notice, don’t leave the airport.

So, make air flight ticket booking without a layover in Italy, Iran and other affected areas.

1. Better to Fly than Float

Aircraft is significantly safer than cruises. This means that airline booking is safe, and cruise liners, not so much.

There is a difference in the way the air circulates within an aircraft and a ship. Moreover, aircraft fleet of major airlines around the world have HEPA.

This High-Efficiency Particulate Air filtration system filters over 99 % of airborne particles.

Germs and viruses cannot spread easily within an aircraft. Therefore, flying is definitely better than cruising this time of the year.

Read on to find another reason why it is better to fly than float:

CDC works with Health Departments

As guided by the federal regulations, pilots must notify CDC about ill passengers. CDC works with health departments of the locality, state, or other nations upon suspecting a passenger of an infection.

The contact information of affected passengers is passed on to the local, and state health departments.

The details are also shared with the health ministry of the country to which the passenger belongs.

Airlines are working closely with federal agencies to find exposed passengers so that it is not an inconvenience to other fliers.

Presidential Proclamation on Returning to the USA

Lawful citizens of the United States of America, or a permanent resident, and their family members are permitted to enter the USA, even if they have been in China in the past two weeks.

However, there is a procedure. Under which, such travelers are routed to one of the 11 US airports where they shall be screened.

So, Should I Cancel My Travel Plans?

There are multiple answers to this. Generally, it depends on the nature of travel.

Abandoning plans to unaffected areas is futile. There’s no use canceling the US to India tickets. On the other hand, postpone non-essential travel at once to China, Italy and other high-risk areas.

Lastly, Airlines and Governmental authorities are doing their part to ensure safe travel. Just remember the simple precautions as listed in the article and you are safe to trot the globe.