golfkat Travel Blog

Cancel a trip yet?  My cousins cancelled their trip to Japan this month.  But I am boarding a plane tomorrow for a short flight to Vegas.  What should you do?

What is corona virus?  Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that spreads from person to person. Around 80% of people recover without requiring special treatment. The virus, which first appeared in Wuhan, China, has since spread to 53 countries. Of the roughly 84,000 reported cases, China accounts for over 78,800. Older people and those with preexisting conditions – including high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes – are the most likely to develop a severe illness as a result of COVID-19.

Well, I definitely would stay out of Asia.  And not just because of the Corona virus, but because much of the region is second and third world for medical care.  It appears much of South America is safe for now, though I would also be wary of the quality of medical care.  CDC:  To avoid infection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommends forgoing all non-essential travel to China, the epicenter of the outbreak, and South Korea, where the affected areas offer limited access to proper medical care. The CDC also recommends a high level of caution for travel to Italy, Iran, and Japan, where the outbreak has recently escalated. For travelers to these locations, checking advisories issued by each country is imperative. In Italy, for instance, 11 towns in the Lombardy region near Milan are under quarantine, and Venice’s cancellation of Carnival has turned the bustling city into a ghost town. However, nearby cities like Florence are still safe to visit, and most of the country has been unaffected by the outbreak.

But is this any different than flying after 9-11?  Most people stopped flying for a short period.  Mike and I went golfing to Spain and Portugal, shortly after.  We decided that we were not going to change our lifestyle for some events that we had no way of predicting.

Is this any different?  Perhaps.  But if you are in good health, and just behave smartly, I think travel to anywhere but Asia is fairly safe.

And did you get your flu shot last fall?  From what I have seen and heard, the flu season is still in full swing.

Just make sure to take along a good supply of comfort medications, drink plenty of water, and stay away from foreigners from Asia.  I said it, and it sounds rather racist!

I have been wearing a mask when I go to work.  But it is mostly a precaution against the common cold.  For some reason, I have caught FOUR colds this past season!  I know it looks crazy to wear it, but whenever employees have young school age kids, the chances of a cold seem quadrupled!

But I carry hand sanitizer, and even sanitizing wipes.  And I do not use the toilet on the plane!  (But it is a short flight)

Another good idea:  If you’ve yet to book travel for 2020, arm yourself with travel insurance. A “Cancel For Any Reason” (CFAR) travel insurance policy ensures travelers receive 50-75% of a trip’s prepaid costs in the event a cancellation isn’t covered under standard protections.

Is this enough?  Who knows, but I am not going to let the hysteria dictate my life.  And I am going to enjoy my Corona beer.