Coronavirus Travel Advisory: Getting Travel Ready and Protect Yourself when Travelling during the Coronavirus Outbreak

The outbreak of Coronavirus is causing a lot of havoc and affecting the daily routine of people. of coronavirus as a pandemic by the WHO is leading to a lot of chaos and the fear is spreading worldwide. There are more than 78 countries that are affected by this deadly virus and the death rate around the world has crossed more than 4000. Indian sub-continent has also reported cases of Coronavirus affected people and the count so far has reached 73. None of the residents of India have shown any symptoms of Coronavirus but, the ones who have traveled back to India from countries like the United States of America, Italy, and Dubai have been tested positive for Covid-19.  Screenings are done at the airportWith strict screenings and tests organized at the airports for the International travelers, the Indian Government has been able to curb the coronavirus infected people right at the initial stages. Kerala was the first state to confirm the first Novel Coronavirus infected person who had a history of travel from Dubai. Is traveling within the country safe?Well, if you ask; “Is it safe to travel within the country”? The answer would be certainly a, “Yes” However, there are a lot of precautions one must take before the travel. It is important to understand that the situation is under control. The number of recoveries and discharges is higher than the deaths across the world too when compared to the other epidemic diseases that had spread a few years ago. Viruses like Nipah, Ebola, SERS, and MARS had consumed thousands of lives within a short period of time.  There are no medicines or vaccines However, it is also essential to understand that there aren’t any vaccines that are found out to treat the new COVID-19 virus. Since the labs are still conducting experiments and the trials are yet to be released. It is mandatory to stay a little cautious.Mentioned below are the cases from different states in India that are being tested positive for Covid-19 infection.State                          Infected CasesDelhi                                       6Haryana                                 14Kerala                                    17Rajasthan                               3Telangana                              1Uttar Pradesh                        11Ladakh                                   3Tamil Nadu                            1Jammu Kashmir                    1Punjab                                   1Karnataka                              7Maharashtra                         12Andhra Pradesh                    1The numbers look pretty negligible when you look at them per state however; the chances of getting infected can be high since the virus is known to spread quickly. Therefore, it is important to take a lot of precautions while traveling. Traveling within the country is still safe as all the infected people have already been treated and supervised at the dedicated hospitals.AC coaches can be avoidedTaking a bus or a train is compared to be less risky because you could choose to travel in Non-AC coaches and compartments.  Since the virus is known to spread through the air droplets, it is recommended to take necessary precautions while traveling. There are helpline numbers given by the Government and one can get in touch with them immediately. Traveling within the country is still not an issue however; there are a lot of things to be taken care of while you are traveling.  Keep your hands cleanThe Indian Railway Department has ensured to keep the surfaces tidier than before as the virus can quickly breed if the surfaces are dirty. Likewise, you must ensure to keep your hands clean. Do not touch or hold anything unless and absolutely needed. Usage of Hand wash, sanitizers and soaps while washing your hands can be a good option. Use masks Make sure to wear masks that are of high quality and when you are interacting with people, ensure to maintain a minimum distance of 3-4 ft. Do not go close to people who have cold and cough. As already mentioned, the virus is known to spread through the air droplets. Remember to clean your hands for a minimum 20 seconds every time you wash. Use tissues while sneezing and coughingMake sure to use tissues if you are coughing or sneezing and ensure to dispose of them in a closed dust-bins. Ensure to stay away from hugging, shaking hands and kissing especially if the person is suffering from cold and cough.There are health line numbers given to every state, district, and city. If you find that you have developed fever, cold and cough make sure that you do not travel. Call those numbers and seek help. Well, one must be aware of the symptoms too. Common cold and cough do not need any isolation. You must be intelligent enough to keep yourselves safe. Also, do not panic, be aware and make your travel plans accordingly.So, keeping these things in mind traveling to places within the country is still safer. Know these things about Coronavirus – FAQs

There has been a situation of panic everywhere with the outbreak of Novel Coronavirus from mainland China. A lot of countries are going through a tough situation at the moment, especially after the WHO declaring the NOVID Corona-19 a pandemic disease. The disease has so far consumed approximately 4900 lives across the globe with more than 1, 40,000 infected cases. International travelers are being banned and most of the countries have sealed the borders. Visas have been canceled and the flights remain canceled due to the fear of the virus.Apart from mainland China, the virus has affected a lot of people in Italy and Korea according to the latest reports.  Italy is under a complete lockdown situation and Indian travelers are stranded at the airport without security as well. Most of the countries are asking the travelers to obtain a medical certificate of being tested ‘Negative’ for the virus before they are allowed to board the flights.With these things happening around, it is mandatory to think twice to travel to any foreign country. There have been a lot of efforts taken by the government and the labs to come up with an antidote for this deadly virus sooner but, traveling can still be considered riskier.Why should I cancel my travel plans?The virus has been found to spread to several other countries like Spain, Germany, Korea, and Italy, Parts of the United Kingdom, India and the United States. The number of infected cases is increasing by the day hence; your chances of getting infected can be higher as well. Hence, traveling to any international destination can relatively be a bad choice at this moment.Majority of the countries have banned the outsidersSeveral countries like Spain, Greece, and India, parts of the UK and the US along with Italy, Japan, and Bhutan have restrictions from allowing people to enter the country. Airports are on high alert and the passengers are screened at the airport itself. The passengers would be isolated and quarantined if the test results are positive. Along with the others who have travelled with the infected should also go through the procedures of treatment. Hence, an international trip in this situation can turn out to be a nightmare.There are travel bans by some of the countries America has banned entry to 26 European countries and it has relaxed the bans for the Americans that have gone through screenings. People who lived in China and Iran for the last 14 days are allowed to enter the country only through certain airports after thorough screening.  Austria and Australia are a few other countries that have banned International Destination visit unless and absolutely required. Hong Kong has issued a complete ban on travelers that were in China for the last 14 days. India has also been strict in banning the tourist Visas for all the International visitors and people with a travel history of returning from China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, South Korea, and Spain are put under a thorough screening process for 14 days. This includes returning travelers as well.  Isolation and quarantineAll the countries have strict forces being implemented right at the airports and if found positive you would be isolated and quarantined for 14 days. Hence, it can be quite an inappropriate situation to travel.Majority of the attractions are closedInternational destination travel for leisure is to be avoided strictly because most of the attractions and tourist places are shut as there are hardly any people.  Some of the countries have also strictly raised a ban on leisure travel. Also, if you are traveling for leisure and you are unable to visit the major tourist spots then; your travel to that place would be of no use.  Rescheduling does not cost any moneyThe majority of the airlines have agreed to waive off the charges if the flights are rescheduled due to the Coronavirus outbreak.  So, you might not have to worry about the extra money that you have to shell down for re-booking your tickets. Also, some of the airlines have stopped their services as there are no bookings happening due to the outrageous fear of the virus.  The risk of getting infectedSome of the countries like China, Korea, and Italy are being infected largely and if you have your travel plans made to any of these countries, it is recommended that you cancel them immediately. Also, most of the countries have banned international tourists hence; you are left with very minimal chances of visiting international destinations.Well, due to all these reasons it is advisable to reschedule or cancel your travel plans. However, if it is an inevitable travel plan, you must follow the guidelines as published by the WHO. Taking all the necessary precautions as mentioned by the health advisory boards are important to keep yourselves away from Novel Covid-19. Know these things about Coronavirus – FAQs 

The COVID-19 or Coronavirus pandemic, which was first reported from Wuhan, China, on 31 December 2019 has now widespread throughout the world creating havoc everywhere. The symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. As per the current scenario in India, where 63 positive cases of the COVID-19 virus as of March 11, 2020, has been reported is impacting the travel industry in a big way. The constant fear of being getting infected or whether to travel or not has canceled travel plans of many. Also, several countries are now mulling border shutdowns and conducting more strict screenings at the airport. Moreover, those who are traveling back from the infected countries have been asked to quarantine for a few days at their homes or at special healthcare units. Thus amidst all the tension and chaos, one can travel and he should travel intelligently while taking all the preventive measures.  As we know it advances through person-to-person transmission, one should take effective actions to avoid the infection. Therefore if you are not sick and healthy then you can travel, while taking all the preventive measures and here we have some of the best tips to prevent Coronavirus while traveling.Wash your hands frequentlyIt is important to wash your hands frequently with alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. This will help in keeping the virus away from you. So make sure wherever you are clean your hands after every 10-15 mins. There are many hand sanitizers are available in the market, make sure to carry them along. If not hand sanitizer, many wet wipes, and mini hand wash you can carry. Maintain social distancing Maintaining a distance of 1-2 m from the people is advisable, don’t move into crowded places and avoid the rush as much as you can. This will help you in keeping yourself away from the infected people and in spreading the virus. Avoid touching eyes, nose and faceDo not touch your eyes, nose, and face, when you are in public or generally as well as hands can transfer the virus into your body and can make you sick. The idea behind is we as a human have a habit of touching face, nose, and ears, thus when traveling we came in contact with many bacteria and viruses. So it is advisable to avoid as much as you can.Practice respiratory hygieneIts advice to carry your masks along with you and if you sneeze or cough cover yourself with tissue and dispose of them immediately. This will help people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19. There are many kinds of masks available in the market, which will help you in dealing with bacteria and viruses.Maintain a healthy diet and drink lots of fluidsMaintain healthy eating habits while traveling, avoid eating street food and from unhygienic places. Drink lots of water and juices to keep yourself hydrated and away from viruses. This way you will release out toxins from your body and eventually won’t fall sick.Who should avoid traveling?According to WHO, elderly travelers and those with underlying health conditions delay or avoid travel to areas that are experiencing ongoing transmission of COVID-19. That is because the disease, while mild in some 80 percent of cases, can be fatal for people who are above 65 years or who have chronic illnesses.Therefore it is advised to all the travelers to take all the precautions and travel safely, without getting infected or spreading the infection.  Know these things about Coronavirus – FAQs

The ongoing pandemic Corona Virus  COVID-19 caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 SARS-CoV-2 has been confirmed in more than 120 countries. The virus was first reported in Wuhan, Hubei, China, in December 2019. As the fear of the Corona Virus has risen in India, there are many travel restrictions that have been announced by the government and also the aviation and railway sector have been taking stringent measures to let not happen it to spread more. The reason Corona Virus spread from person to person, the Indian government has mandated certain rules for all the travelers as they are already on the edge. The coronavirus pandemic grips the globe, prompting travel restrictions, cancellations, and suspensions. So if you are planning to travel amidst the Corona Virus, you should know that there are many entry bans, airline bans and countries you should avoid visiting. Travel restrictions that we must know-While traveling amidst Corona Virus it is important to take care of all the safety measures, and it is mandatory to carry a mask along with while boarding the flight and entering the airport.-Non-resident Indians NRIs arriving in the country should carry a coronavirus-negative certificate from designated hospitals in the countries they are traveling from.-Self-quarantine is mandated to passengers arriving in India from China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain, and Germany.-Visas have been suspended to French, German and Spanish nationals as well as foreigners with a travel history to these countries. Visas of foreigners already in India, however, remain valid.-The government had also temporarily suspended e-Visa facility for Chinese passport holders and noted that already issued e-Visas are temporarily invalid. Online application for a physical visa from China was also disabled.-The Indian government is expected to extend visa cancellations to more countries with the fresh cases reported in Maharashtra, Delhi, and Bangalore.-Visas canceled for foreign nationals traveling from affected countries-Coronavirus screening, testing and quarantining at Indian airports, Thermal screening has been installed at 21 airports including those in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Cochin to check for coronavirus in India.-However, The cancellation is not applicable to diplomats, officials of the international bodies, OCI cardholders and aircrew although medical screening is mandatory for all. Therefore, if you are planning to travel keep these restrictions in mind before making any booking or applying for visas to avoid any hassle.-What is COVID-19?COVID-19  is an infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus.-What can I do to protect myself and spreading the disease?It’s advised to frequently wash your hands, use alcohol-based sanitizers, avoid crowded places and use a mask. -Are antibiotics effective in treating COVID-19?No, antibiotics aren’t helpful in treating COVID-19, as they help in fighting bacterial infection and coronavirus is spread through a virus. -Is there a vaccine or any drug to treat COVID-19?No, as of now there are no drugs to treat COVID-19-Who is at the risk of developing severe illness?While we are still learning about how COVID-2019 affects people, older persons and persons with pre-existing medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, cancer or diabetes  appear to develop serious illness more often than others. Know these things about Coronavirus – FAQs

With the outbreak of Novel Coronavirus across the globe there has been a catastrophe and chaos everywhere. With the death rates tolling most of the industries, businesses including the share markets have dropped down drastically. The outbreak of the Coronavirus, Novel Covid-19 occurred in early February from the wet markets of Wuhan in mainland China. The virus has spread across the globe and has affected 1, 45,360 people with 5, 423 deaths. It is said that the virus spread largely because of the wet market trading in China. The host as of now is suspected to be bats. There are no medicines or vaccines available for this disease as yet, and the WHO has d it to be a pandemic disease now. Apart from mainland China, the virus seems to have affected largely the population of Italy, Korea, Germany, Greece, Spain, and India. The disease has instilled a sense of fear in people and has created a lot of chaos amongst the travelers. Most of the countries have banned international tourists from entering the country. Borders have been closed and the entire country of Italy is locked down as the death rates in Italy are rapid.  The virus seems to be spreading from one person to person when they come in close contact with the infected person. The air droplets from coughing and sneezing are known to contain the virus which in turn can be inhaled by the person leading to infection. The symptoms are cold, dry cough, mild fever, and fatigue along with shortness of breath. When all these things are experienced, the chances of getting screened for Covid-19 can be high. There are many people who have recovered and have been discharged from the hospital. Deaths have generally occurred in old age people due to lack of immunity or weak immune system.With the increasing fear of Corona; the travel and tourism industry have taken a major toll and most of the international travel remains canceled. The airports are on high alerts and the travelers are being screened and isolated for 14 days irrespective of the destination they are traveling to and from. There are a lot of things that people are worried about Coronavirus and Covid-19. There are several rules and regulations imposed in every country due to the outbreak of the virus. In this write-up, we have made an effort to answer the Frequently Asked Questions on Coronavirus. These FAQs may come handy to you especially when you are traveling.Should I cancel my travel plans due to coronavirus?At this point in time with the death rates increasing and the disease seems to have spread to almost all the countries across the globe, a lot of countries have banned visas for international travelers. Hence, making a travel plan for a foreign country at this time can be quite unwise. You would be unaware of the co-passengers and if any one of the passengers in the flight is infected everyone on the aircraft would be screened, isolated and quarantined for 14-24 days. Hence, making international travel plans at this point in time is not a recommended one. Should I travel during the coronavirus outbreak?It is the choice of an individual. If there is a pressing concern and if you have to make an International trip, you may have to check with the concerned embassy. As the majority of the countries have banned entry to International tourists and travelers, the process of traveling can be quite tedious. The United States of America has banned the entry of people from 26 UK countries and parts of China. India has banned the entry of all international visitors. Returned people are also asked to get their screening done due to the outbreak of coronavirus. Hence, traveling during the coronavirus outbreak can be pretty difficult and a miserable one. What are the Coronavirus myths?With the outbreak of Coronavirus, there have been a lot of myths that are revolving around this topic and some of them are as mentioned below:Everyone should wear masks to prevent themselves from the virusMasks can save us from being infectedSuspecting everyone who has a common cold, and fever for being infected by CoronavirusThe virus was made in a lab to wage a biological war by one of the countries Coronavirus is the ultimatum; infected people would certainly not make it backEating chicken can cause Covid-19Pets are known to be infected and spread CoronavirusSupplements like Vitamin-C can cure CoronavirusReceiving a package from International destinations is no saferEating Chinese dishes can spread CoronavirusCleaning hands with sanitizers can cure Coronavirus Staying in places with high temperature can kill the virus Taking antibiotics can cure CoronavirusWell, these are some of the myths that are revolving around the Coronavirus. However, there is no evidence to claim anything stated above to be even close to being considered as truth. Hence, one needs to be aware of the preventive measures instead of getting panicked. What are the basic protective measures against coronavirus?Ensure to stay at home if you are having cold and cough.Use your handkerchiefs, masks or even your elbows to cover your nose and mouth while coughing or sneezingRefrain from handshakes, kisses, and hugs especially when the person is having flu-like symptomsWash your hands often and for 20 seconds to get rid of the germs from the surfaceAvoid touching your face, nose, and eyes as the chances of germs can easily infect you by doing theseUse hand sanitizers or alcohol-based cleaning agents to clean your hands as these are disinfectants and can kill the germs Stay as clean as possible and make sure to keep your surroundings clean as wellDo not gather at places where there are too many peopleBe careful when you are traveling the public transport system Make sure to meet the doctor if the cold and cough seems to increase Get medical assistance if fever and cold doesn’t subside within a couple of days of medication Get to know the difference between common cold, cough and flu and coronavirus symptomsDo not panic unnecessarilyKeep the helpline numbers handy and if need be self-isolate Cooperate with the system in getting rid of the pandemic by following the rules and regulations laid by the authorities.What are the protection measures for people who have recently visited areas where COVID-19 is spreading?The ones who have visited the areas where COVID-19 is spreading are to be aware of the following:Should be aware of the rules and regulations of the country or the state and must ensure to abide by the laws laid by the government.Should self-isolate and keep the health ministry informed about the country where they are traveling fromShould ensure to cooperate during the screening and quarantine processShould make sure to wear masks and also protect themselves and others Using sanitizers or any hand wash that is alcohol-based to keep their germs and viruses away from their hands Should make sure to visit the nearest health center and get them screened on their health statusShould maintain a distance of 5ft or more at least from everyone else during interactionShould stay back in their homes and call the helpline numbers to isolate them when the symptoms of coronavirus are foundAvoid unnecessary travel plans and stay back at the place where they are so that they do not spread the disease even more.Make use of tissue papers while sneezing and discarding them away in the closed dustbins should be practiced Use work from home option instead of commuting to office as soon as you return from any of the countries Can we take self-medication to cure Coronavirus?It is always recommended to seek advice from the medical practitioners before administering any medicines by themselves. You may not be aware of the repercussions that the drug might cause. Also, there are no prescribed medicines or vaccines for Coronavirus until now. Hence, there is no self-medication for Covid-19.Can we use antibiotics to cure Coronavirus?Please be informed that antibiotics respond only when there are bacterial infections. Viruses like Corona, Ebola, Nipah, SARS, and MARS cannot be cured with the help of any antibiotics.Are there any alternative medicines to cure Coronavirus?As of now, there are no alternative therapies or medicines that have been developed to cure Coronavirus. There is no such evidence however; consuming general medicines from the alternative line of medicines to improve the immune system can be a little beneficial in fighting the virus.Can the consumption of citrus fruits help in getting rid of the Coronavirus from the body?No, the consumption of Citrus fruits can only help you to make your immune system stronger. With stronger immunity, you may be able to respond to the medicines better than anyone else if you are infected by Coronavirus.Can Coronavirus cause deaths?Yes, in extreme conditions if there is no proper health assistance Coronavirus can lead to fatal deaths. However, the majority of the infected cases are now recovering and getting discharged from the hospitals.What are the countries that have banned Visas for International travelers now?Almost all the countries have tightened their borders and aren’t allowing anyone to enter the country freely. Also, with these travelers from Corona, infected countries are put into a thorough screening process where they might be quarantined for 14 days depending upon the results of the scan.How did Coronavirus spread?The outbreak of the Virus happened in the wet markets of the Wuhan city in China after which the Virus has been spread to several other countries causing casualties and deaths. A lot of people across the world have been infected. While a majority of them are showing signs of recovery, the virus has consumed about 5436 people already. Which are the countries that are affected largely by Coronavirus?The affected countries apart from mainland China are Italy, Spain, Korea, Thailand, Greece, Iran, Dubai, US, UK, India, Germany, Greece, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, parts of Central Africa and many more.Apart from mainland China, is there any other country that has recorded a maximum number of deaths?Yes, apart from China, Italy is the other country that has had a maximum number of deaths. China to date has recorded 3,189 deaths and Italy is at 1,266 amongst the 17,660 total numbers of cases.Are traveling within the country dangerous?With proper precautions in place traveling within the countries is considered to be safe. However, people themselves are refraining from unnecessary travel as of now. Are the transport system up and running?There are no bans on the transport system as yet; depending on the seriousness of the disease the authorities might take a call whether or not to keep the transport systems active.Are the household items available in the markets?Yes, all the household items are available in the market and one can go shopping without any problems.Is it safe to receive packages from foreign countries?Yes, the packages are safe to be received because the germs on the surface can be easily cleaned. Hence, there is no trouble in receiving parcels from foreign countries.Is it recommended to cancel my travel plans for any international destination? As already mentioned, Novel Coronavirus Covid-19 has been d as a pandemic by WHO hence; most of the countries are already on high alert. Unless it is a pressing concern canceling all the travel plans is recommended. Also, most of the attractions and tourist sightseeing places would be closed. Hence, going to a different country for leisure would certainly not make any sense.Well, these are some of the Frequently Asked Questions related to Covid-19 and Novel Coronavirus. We have tried our level best to update you all on all the possible details and we are certain that this guide would certainly come handy when you are looking for some information related to the Coronavirus outbreak and travel plans during the Coronavirus outbreak to infected countries.