Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Coronavirus and Travel: How Can I Prepare During the Crisis?

Going on vacation? Learn about coronavirus and travel. Whether for national or international tours , discover everything about the new corona and ensure your safety and rest!

The new virus has already caused the closure of tourist attractions, companies and businesses, has led the population to a race for masks and alcohol gel. But, after all, is there a reason to panic? Check out!


Coronavirus and travel : what should I know?

The increase in cases of the new coronavirus in the world is worrying people who already had tickets purchased for places that today suffer the consequences of the pandemic.

Since January , several flights to China have been canceled , museums in France have been closed , Italy has been quarantined, and many countries have taken the precautions they need to prevent an increase in the pandemic.

Is there reason to splurge? What to do with the tickets and reservations already purchased?

We answered these and other questions to demystify rumors and clarify the truth about the new coronavirus.

CORONAVIRUS AND AIR TICKETS: HOW WE CAN HELP YOU

It is important to point out that Passagem Promo understands and respects the decision of its customers to postpone or cancel their trips.

Your security will always be a priority, especially in the face of an atypical situation like the current pandemic.

If you have trips booked to places that are being affected by the coronavirus, consider canceling the trip and getting the credit offered by the airline. This procedure is exempt from fines .

The closure of borders and the recommendations of the WHO (World Health Organization) have a strong impact on the decision of many passengers to change their vacation destinations.

Therefore, our service will be available to assist you in case of doubts and demands, in the best possible way.

We ask for a little patience, as we are currently overwhelmed with requests for cancellation and postponement of travel.

Because of this, we try to prioritize emergency cases of closer trips.

But do not worry! We are doing everything possible to maintain our flow, so we make it possible for everyone to be properly served.

Our main guideline at this point is that our customers try to request cancellation with credit or postponement of the trip.

Thus, they will be able to guarantee the conditions of the purchase and obtain the benefit of being exempt from fines . Be sure to check the conditions and dates established by each airline.

We will keep our platforms as updated as possible. Thus, we keep you well informed in the face of this situation.

Mainly about the processes related to postponements, purchases, sales or cancellations of airline tickets.

CORONAVIRUS AND TOURISM

We are, as we have already said, experiencing an atypical moment in which several sectors of the economy are suffering from the advancement of the new coronavirus . The tourism sector is one of the most impacted .

And for always prioritizing transparency and sincerity in all of our processes with our audience, we kindly ask that if you have the chance to postpone your trip instead of canceling it, postpone it.

Help us to go through this delicate moment of our planet TOGETHER. This crisis will pass and you will return to travel and live incredible experiences! And if you allow us, we would love to be part of that trajectory!

Let's strengthen tourism: postpone your trip to the near future!

Check out at the end of this article the main measures taken by airlines in view of the current situation.

What is the coronavirus?

Coronavirus is basically a family of viruses that causes infections and respiratory complications .

The new coronavirus, or COVID-19 , is a new agent of this virus , and was only discovered in late December 2019.

What few people know is that most people have been infected with this virus family at least once in their lives.

The most common types of the virus are among the most common to target children, for example.

Older variations of the coronavirus are already known to scientists: SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV have made victims worldwide and have been properly controlled.

Now, the challenge is different: researchers and specialists today are studying COVID-19 in search of answers about the virus , which appeared in late 2019 with new characteristics.

How is the coronavirus transmitted?
The first type of coronavirus , discovered in the 1930s , reached humans through contact with animals : cats and dromedaries were the agents that brought us to Sars and Mers, respectively.

This time, however, no one knows how the first transmission took place.

What is known is that the infection now goes from person to person . It is speculated that a victim of the new virus could pass it on to two or three other people.

The transmission takes place by air or by personal contact with contaminated secretions , such as saliva droplets, sneezing, catarrh, cough or even contact with objects or surfaces contaminated.

However, there is no reason to panic : for comparison, a common flu virus has a much more intense contagion than the new coronavirus.

What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

The symptoms of COVID -19 are, in general, similar to those of a common cold : fever, cough and difficulty breathing.

Much of the symptoms reach the airways and can cause complications such as pneumonia in people with compromised immune systems, requiring more care to overcome the disease.

What is the incubation period?

The incubation period is basically the time between the transmission of the virus and the appearance of the first symptoms in the patient.

In the case of COVID-19 , this period can vary between 2 and 14 days.

It is worth remembering that viral transmission happens only when the patient has symptoms , that is: asymptomatic cases or those that are in the incubation period are not contagious.

Is there any treatment?

There is still no specific treatment for COVID-19. In general, the patient is advised to rest and stay hydrated, in addition to being medicated in case of fever and pain.

For relief of cough and sore throat , it is recommended to use an air humidifier in the room or even a hot bath.

If symptoms persist or are more severe, seek medical attention.

How can I prevent myself?

The prevention is indeed the best medicine for the new coronavirus. The good news is that basic care is enough to reduce the risk of contracting or transmitting COVID-19.

The Ministry of Health recommends that hands are frequently washed with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. You can also use alcohol-based disinfectants for this cleaning.

Remember not to put your hands on any part of your face if you have not washed your hands. It is also worth avoiding contact with sick people.

Don't forget to protect your mouth and nose when coughing, if possible, with tissue paper . Then, throw the tissue in the trash.

Remember to clean and disinfect frequently touched objects , such as a telephone, television control or even light switches.

Finally, an important tip: if you are sick, avoid contact with other people.

Stay at home to avoid a potential proliferation of COVID-19 cases and only leave home if you need hospital care .

Travel insurance and coronavirus : what does it cover in this case?

Insurers, in general, do not offer medical coverage to the “excluded risks” list , that is, cases related to outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics.

The COVID-19 crisis was declared a pandemic on March 11.

Thus, insurers can theoretically fail to cover the costs of hospital and medical expenses for symptoms and treatment of infection.

Read your travel insurance policy carefully to find out the situations covered by the insurance company you have hired.

The coronavirus pandemic declaration is also not so good about canceling trips.

If the reason for canceling the trip is the coronavirus , you may have difficulty getting reimbursement from the insurer.

Coronavirus and travel : international destinations

Coronavirus and travel are now a global issue. Already cases were recorded in all continents , which has generated initiatives to reduce the movement of people in several countries.

The China came close factories in Italy put millions of people in quarantine , the France closed museums and Israel prevented access of visitors to monuments and tourist spaces.

Thus, it is recommended that you seek to know how the situation is at your destination if you are planning a trip abroad.

Should I cancel my trip because of the coronavirus?

The Ministry of Health recommended rescheduling trips to the countries most affected by the coronavirus, such as China and Italy . However, it is a recommendation, not a rule.

As long as the coronavirus does not complete its full cycle of propagation and contagion, which should still take a few weeks, traveling to countries affected by the disease can be of little benefit.

Several destinations have taken restrictive measures , often without prior notice, and what is working normally today may be banned tomorrow.

So, if you have a trip to the Northern Hemisphere in the coming weeks, it is worth checking the conditions for rescheduling and canceling your trip.

If this is not possible, take care of hygiene to avoid contagion.

Cancellation of the trip is only recommended in cases where the traveler already has symptoms, such as fever, cough and difficulty breathing.

Traveling on the plane: is it safe?

Are you scheduled to travel for leisure or work, can't cancel and are afraid of being infected on the plane? So we have good news!

You will be pleased to know that the risk of getting a viral infection by touching the armrest, seats or other surface of the aircraft is very low.

This is because air conditioners on airplanes are as modern as those used in operating rooms.

In other words, there are hardly any chances of being contaminated on an airplane, unless you interact directly with passengers who are already infected with the coronavirus.

Are tourist attractions open?

Italy suffers from travel restrictions, Portuguese museums are closed and, in Paris , you will only be able to visit museums like the Louvre and Versailles if you have a ticket by appointment.

Thus, if you have a trip scheduled to a country that has registered cases of coronavirus, you must follow the restrictions that may be announced day after day .

Travel and coronavirus : main risks

So far, coronavirus mortality rates are relatively low: around 3%. This value, however, is still inaccurate and may change over time.

This means that it is prudent to place the coronavirus on the radar of concern for travelers . After all, prevention is better than cure.

Find out about restrictions adopted by the country you intend to visit and be careful with contamination to avoid problems.

If you are policing yourself when washing your hands and have changed habits when coughing, you probably have nothing to worry about.

How are airlines dealing with the coronavirus?

PROCON has received hundreds of complaints from consumers interested in canceling or rescheduling trips due to the pandemic that have not been addressed in their demands.

The airlines and travel agencies , in fact, are not obliged to cancel the trip , but negotiation is up.

The government advises companies and customers to sign an agreement on the issue, such as offering flights to other segments at promotional rates.

My ticket has already been purchased, now what?

Cancellations for public health issues are not provided for by the National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac).

Thus, we are facing an extraordinary situation , which demands understanding from the airlines.

According to PROCON-SP , airlines cannot refuse to offer alternatives to the consumer.

If you have already purchased your ticket, contact the airline to negotiate: the Consumer Protection Code provides for the protection of the interests of the weaker side, in this case, the consumer.

Can I postpone the date of my trip?

To put it bluntly: postponing a travel date will be easier than canceling . Especially when presenting a formal justification.

Many airlines have even offered to postpone travel at no additional cost in the case of flights to areas at risk.

Contact the company and try to negotiate the postponement . Chances are that you will be able to change the date of your trip without any major problems.

Can I change the destination of my trip?

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, many airlines have already canceled flights to some destinations and offered other routes as an alternative.

The Association of Travel Agencies is already negotiating so that tour package providers do not impose fines on consumers who prefer to postpone or change the destination of a trip.

With an official justification , you should be able to change the destination of your trip, probably at no additional cost.

Imported orders: is there any risk?

Contamination by the coronavirus can happen through contact with secretions, such as saliva or phlegm. However, the virus is unlikely to contaminate commercial merchandise .

Even in the case of contamination, it is very unlikely that the coronavirus will survive a trip as long as from China to Anywhere in world. Thus, you can receive your order without fear of contagion.