Travel
TRAVEL WELL with Kate Springer
W
ith COVID-19 spreading rapidly across Europe, the UK and North America, many of us are rethinking our travel plans - and rightly so. Social distancing is one of the most effective ways to curb the spread of the virus, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). That makes my job as a travel writer a little bit tricky, though, since it’s nearly impossible to keep a “safe distance” of 1-3 metres from other people during transit. The potential of catching the disease or unwittingly infecting others is simply too risky, so I have postponed upcoming trips to Switzerland, Germany, France and the US. It breaks my travelloving heart, but I have optimistic hopes of rescheduling later this summer. Of course, not everyone has the luxury of postponing their trips. For those who have to travel for work, attend a funeral, visit loved ones, or seek out specialised medical care, I’ve compiled a mix of pragmatic advice from the WHO, US Center for Disease Control, and the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (plus my own two cents) to help plan your journey. 1. PURCHASE INSURANCE. If your intended destination is not considered “high risk,” you can still buy comprehensive travel insurance to cover potential flight and hotel cancellations, delays and medical expenses, including emergency evacuation and repatriation. That said, many policies have excluded coronavirus-related claims in the small print, so be sure to read the terms carefully. 2. BE MILITANT ABOUT HYGIENE. Pack lots of hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes in your carry-on, so you can wipe down all of the surfaces - including your tray table, seatbelt, magazines, remote control and armrests - before using them.
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