2019 Corona virus – travel safety tips
2019 Corona Virus – Travel Safety Tips: Since the outbreak of the current Corona Virus in December 2019 in China, most travelers have become health conscious with majority cancelling or postponing their travel plans to various travel destinations especially in China and other Asian countries.
The 2019 Corona Virus, also referred to as 2019-nCoV, is respiratory virus that belongs to a family of corona viruses like SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). The current corona virus is known as the severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The virus outbreak was first reported in the Wuhan City in the central province of China. Since the coronavirus outbreak, many people in China have been infected and the death toll seems to be raising at a fast rate. The virus has spread to more than 60 countries as well, with the most affected countries being South Korea, Italy, and Iran. More than 5,000 cases have been reported in South Korea, 3,000 in Iran and more than 2,000 in Italy. Other affected countries include USA, Australia, Canada and few confirmed cases in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Russia, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, and Senegal to mention but a few.
Although there aren’t confirmed cases in majority of the African states, tourists travelling to various safari destinations in Africa have to take precautions in order to guarantee your safety while travelling.
First thing that travelers need to take note of are the signs and symptoms of the 2019 Coronavirus which start appearing 2 to 14 days after being exposed and these include;
- Fever
- Dry cough
- Shortness of breath
- Colds and flu
- Severe headache
- Muscle pain.
In more severe cases, the coronavirus can cause other illnesses such as pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and multiple organ failure which eventually leads to death.
Individuals who are most affected by the deadly coronavirus are elderly people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease. Such people are more likely to become severely ill after contracting the coronavirus disease.
How Travelers can protect themselves.
Travelers planning to travel to tour destinations like Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other African safari destinations, can practice good personal hygiene, such as;
- Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly well. Health experts say that this practice is crucial in the fight against the spread of the Coronavirus disease.
- Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. It is advisable that you use disposable tissue and properly dispose of it in a trash can/bin after use.
- Avoid having close contact with relatives, close friends or anyone infected or suspected of having the coronavirus disease.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- If possible wear a face mask, preferably the N95 respiratory mask which health personnel believe is the best to protect one from easily acquiring the corona virus.
- See a doctor in case you are experiencing symptoms like those shown by individuals infected by the coronavirus.
- Avoid eating uncooked animal products such as milk, beef, and eggs to mention but a few. In addition to this, keep away from stray animals such as cats, dogs, birds among others. Take extra precaution when in markets especially those selling live animals.
- Contact your doctor when travelling in order to know if you can visit your planned destination or not. In case you are planning to travel to a country where corona virus cases have been reported, you may be advised to cancel your travel plans.
Travelers are being checked at various borders and major entry points in countries they are travelling to. Those suspected of having contracted the Coronavirus, will be isolated and tested for the coronavirus.
Travelers who test positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus will be isolated in a hospital where you will receive further treatment for the coronavirus disease. Given that there is currently no vaccine to protect against the coronavirus, isolation is the best way to prevent infection to avoid contracting the virus or being exposed to the sick.
