The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) as it is being called by the world health organisation (WHO) has many travellers confused about their travel plans and destinations. It has had a major effect on the global travel industry; the hardest hit being the trillion-dollar corporate travel industry.
That is why it is imperative to equip oneself with (verified) facts about the developing situation with COVID-19 as a way of dispelling fears on the back of misinformation.
Globetrotters should be well informed about the virus and take the necessary preventive measures to avoid the flu and other illnesses.
“I strongly believe that knowledge is power. I can appreciate that it may be somehow rude to talk about travel packages for the upcoming Easter holiday, but we do have to remember that holidays are so vital to a healthy work-life balance. It gives travellers, families and couples a chance to re-charge,” said kechi Richard Sheidu, the head of Kahera Travel Agency in Abuja, as her company’s recent travel advisory on COVID-19.
According to Sheidu, the top seven travel tips for holiday seekers are that they should first consider travel as a personal decision. “Ultimately, the decision is yours, and we suggest that travellers take extra precautions or steer clear of heavily impacted areas with a high reported case of COVID-19. Various countries have advised against non-essential travel to China,” she stated.
Speaking further, Sheidu said there is no need for any sick individual to consider traveling, as nothing is more important than health; so if you are sick, please stay home and contact your doctor. There is also a need for research to familiarise with the latest information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), local health professionals, and airlines/travel agents in case of flight disruptions.
Sheidu equally urged travellers not to wear a face mask because it is a false sense of security and that the World Health Organisation (WHO) advises that people only wear a mask when coughing or sneezing, looking after a sick person and that face masks are only effective when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soap and water.
There is also no need for frequent touching of the face, rather people should ensure their hands are fully sanitized before touching their face as that is one of the quickest way for the virus to spread, especially when wearing a mask as they would need to adjust it often. Similarly, travellers stay in contact with your airline/travel agent just to be sure the airline and the travel agent has their contact details should any changes occur.
According to Sheidu, there is also need for Travel insurance due to the on-going situation with COVID-19. “…be sure to protect yourself with the relevant upgraded travel insurance in case of last minute cancellations as most travel insurance options do not cover an outbreak of a virus,” she stated.
However, there have been no official travel bans to certain countries apart from non-essential travel to China, extra precautions to affected countries such as Italy and Iran. “This virus shouldn’t deter you from booking that all important vacation. Your favourite destinations are still very available for you to enjoy,” said Sheidu who stated that the WHO advises travellers to continue with their travel plans with extra measures regarding hygiene.
She opined that travellers should consider destinations with lower population density; beach holiday or places close to the sea, as the air has 100 times less germs than in a city center, which are still considered as fantastic options for travellers.
