Rights of travelers for the coronavirus: cancellations, refunds and other travel advice

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Italy: life in cities affected by coronavirus 2:32

(CNN) - The spread of the new coronavirus makes travelers around the world nervous. Much is still unknown about the outbreak, but health authorities are asking for caution.

Travelers who cross the world should be aware of the virus, stay away from heavily impacted areas and exercise the same types of preventive measures they would use to avoid the flu and other diseases.

So far, more than 81,200 cases have been confirmed in 41 countries and regions and almost 2,800 deaths worldwide.

This is what travelers should know about the virus outbreak.

• Under Trump the United States is less prepared for an outbreak of coronavirus
• All continents, except Antarctica, have reported cases of coronaviruses

Air travel is part of the way viruses spread

For parts of the world outside the heavily affected region, air travel is likely to be at greater risk, says Dr. Yoko Furuya, due to the greater likelihood of meeting international travelers from areas with high incidence of the virus.

"When it comes to the global spread of outbreaks, air travel is usually transmitted quickly from one country to another," says Furuya, associate professor of medicine in the infectious diseases division of the Irving Medical Center at Columbia University.

Dr. William Schaffner, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University, says that the spread of winter respiratory diseases on airplanes is always a concern. "More than once, I am quite sure personally that I have acquired a winter virus on the plane while traveling or working in crowded airports," he says.

• The CDC assumes that the coronavirus will spread in the US.

Washing your hands is a strong defense; the masks are less effective

Schaffner says he has received many questions about whether people should wear masks to avoid infections.

He says that this is culturally very common in Asia, but says that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States does not recommend it to the general public because “the scientific basis that shows that people in the community wearing masks actually has some benefit is very thin and questionable. ”

Tighter respiratory masks can be worn in medical settings, but they are generally not practical for the general public, says Schaffner.

Good hand hygiene is a better defense.

It is unlikely that most travel insurance will cover this situation.

Airlines are relaxing their policies and some of the major hotel chains are giving up cancellation fees, but recovering all costs associated with canceled trips due to fears of coronavirus is far from guaranteed.

An outbreak of a virus is not covered by most standard travel cancellation insurance policies, according to TravelInsurance.com.

MIRA: How did the outbreak of coronavirus become global in two months?

"However, for those who bought an optional Cancel for any reason (CFAR) update, some travel cancellation protection measure may be available," according to Stan Sandberg, co-founder of TravelInsurance.com.

"For those who have an existing travel insurance policy, they should contact their travel insurance providers to find out if their plans have any coverage," Sandberg advises.

About travel to places at risk

The warning of travel to China by the US Department of State is at the highest level: Level 4, that is, DO NOT travel.

The CDC's travel notice is also at the highest level for China and South Korea, urging travelers to avoid any non-essential travel to the country.

The CDC issued new travel warnings to and Japan, Iran and Italy related to the coronavirus outside of mainland China. The health agency put notices for those three places on Level 2 alert, advising travelers to "practice more precautions." And in Hong Kong, there is Level 1 travel alert, which refers to the usual precautions of care.

These precautions include avoiding contact with sick people and cleaning their hands regularly and thoroughly. The agency also advises people to seek medical advice if they have spent time in Hong Kong or Japan during the past two weeks and feel sick with fever or respiratory symptoms.

The United Kingdom and Canada are among other nations that have issued travel warnings for China.

The World Health Organization stated that the new outbreak of coronavirus was a public health emergency of international interest, after an emergency committee met on January 30 in Geneva.

• How did the coronavirus outbreak become global in two months?

Several airlines suspend flights to China

Airlines around the world have canceled flights in the middle of the outbreak.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates that the total loss of global revenue for airlines could be $ 29.3 billion due to the coronavirus.

Delta Air Lines has suspended flights between the United States and China until at least April 30.

American Airlines also suspended flights between the United States and China until March 28. American has also canceled some flights to Hong Kong.

Other airlines, including British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, Air Asia, EgyptAir, Cathay Pacific, Air India and Finnair have similarly cut or suspended the service.

Many airlines have offered exemptions on exchange rates or the option to cancel the flight in exchange for credit for future flights.

Travelers with future plans should check with their airlines and look for notices posted on the airlines' websites.

Tips for travelers who cannot avoid traveling to China

Travelers who cannot delay the trip to China should take enhanced precautions avoiding contact with sick people, animals and animal markets and wash their hands frequently and thoroughly, the CDC recommends.

The CDC recommends washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. An alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can be used when soap and water are not available.

The CDC also recommends discussing trips to China with your health care providers and notes that older adults and travelers with underlying health problems may be at greater risk.

Travelers who have visited China in the last two weeks and who feel sick with a fever, have a cough or shortness of breath should seek treatment immediately and call ahead to inform medical providers about recent trips to China and their symptoms.

The CDC also advises potentially infected travelers to avoid contact with other people, not to travel sick and make sure to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve (not their hands) when coughing or sneezing.

Some of the above precautions apply to all travelers, particularly during the winter respiratory illness season.

Cruise ship cases

With more than 600 cases of coronavirus diagnosed on board, the Diamond Princess cruise ship has been the site of the largest virus outbreak outside mainland China.

A few weeks ago, the deaths of two Diamond Princess passengers, a man and a woman in their 80s, were confirmed.

Hundreds of passengers disembarked the Diamond Princess in Yokohama, Japan, last week after a two-week quarantine.

The U.S. Department of State evacuated more than 300 U.S. citizens and their immediate relatives of Diamond Princess through charter flights on February 16.

Of those passengers, 14 tested positive for the virus after disembarking from the ship and were isolated in a "containment area in the evacuation plane", according to a statement from the State Department.

Most evacuated U.S. passengers will remain in quarantine in the United States for 14 days at military bases in California and Texas. Some of those who tested positive were transferred to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

Another cruise, the Westerdam of Holland America, was rejected from several Asian countries for fear of coronaviruses before they could dock in Cambodia on February 14.

Although initially no cases of coronavirus were detected upon landing, one of its passengers tested positive for the coronavirus during a stopover in Malaysia the next day.

In a statement, Holland America Line confirmed the case of the virus, but insisted that everyone on the ship had been examined on February 10, five days before the positive diagnosis.

Precautions on cruise lines

The International Cruise Lines Association (CLIA) has issued improved protocols for its members in an effort to prevent the introduction of the disease on board ships.

"The health and safety of passengers and cruise ship crew is and remains the number one priority of CLIA and its member lines, which represent more than 90% of the capacity of ocean cruises worldwide," CLIA said in a statement.

"CLIA members must deny boarding to all persons who have traveled, visited or traveled through airports in China, including Hong Kong and Macao, within 14 days before boarding," reads one of the guidelines of the organization.

It is also noted that boarding will be denied to anyone who has had close contact with someone suspected of having coronavirus.

Individual cruise lines also have their own screening policies and procedures to prevent the introduction of the disease.

Travel advisors are seeing the greatest concern among travelers with planned trips to Asia in the coming months.

Even in Asia, the likelihood of meeting someone who has been exposed to the virus is asymptomatic when boarding the ship and developing symptoms during a trip is "very, very low," according to Dr. John Lynch, who has disease specialties. Infectious and travel medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

"I think there is an extremely low risk of getting a new coronavirus on a cruise ship," Lynch said.

Cruises to and from mainland China have been canceled, according to Cruise Critic, an online cruise community and a review site. Many other trips in the region have been modified or canceled due to virus concerns.

The Diamond Princess ship in quarantine will be disinfected and inspected and will not sail again until April 29, Princess Cruises announced.

The United States intensifies precautions to stop the spread of the virus

Any US citizen who has been in the Chinese province of Hubei in the last 14 days is subject to up to 14 days of mandatory quarantine upon returning to the United States, in accordance with the regulations implemented by the Department of Homeland Security in early February.

US citizens who have been in the rest of mainland China in the last 14 days must undergo an inspection at one of 11 designated US airports and up to 14 days of self-quarantine.

The new rules also mean that most foreigners who were recently in China will be temporarily denied entry to the United States.

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