Showing posts with label disease. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Coronavirus Resources

This post was originally posted as Coronavirus Travel Advice during the early stages of the outbreak when people were wondering if their destination was on lock down or if their cruise line had cancelled their cruises.

We are modifying this post to remove content which may be misinterpreted as suggesting traveling is safe. W\e do have links to help people with travel booked for later in the year. They will need to make decisions, if those decisions aren't made for you by the travel provider.

For example, most cruise lines are extending the 30 day shutdown.

Put simply #StaySafeStayHome #SelfDistancing

Obviously, not everyone can stay home, so then use the guidelines posted on CDC & WHO (and other medical / government) sites. We are home and here to help with any travel questions -- whether Covid-19 travel related or any future dreaming you might be doing.

We are posting a daily "Where is Chris" image for you to guess the destinations. We encourage those with children to find ways to keep them engaged using travel related topics.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Chinese authorities identified the new coronavirus, which has resulted in thousands of confirmed cases in China, including cases outside Wuhan City.

Additional cases have been identified in a growing number of other international locations, including the United States. There are ongoing investigations to learn more.

The following video is very informative - worth watching.

Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) advice for the public

The World Health Organization has a website dedicated to Novel Coronavirus 2019. The advice for the public, including those traveling, is very simple - and it is advice that should be followed all the time.

Wash Your Hands Frequently

Practice Respiratory Hygiene

Maintain Social Distancing

Avoid Touching Eyes, Nose & Mouth

If you have Fever, Cough & Difficulty Breathing - Seek Medical Help

Practice General Hygiene when visiting Live Animal Markets, Wet Markets or Animal Product Markets

Avoid Consumption of Raw or Undercooked Animal Products

Protect Yourself & Others from Getting Sick

Click on Images Below To Enlarge

Additional Resources

Cruise Line Specific Resources

These links are intended to help guests that may have travel booked for later in the year. Cancellation policies are very dynamic - often changing daily depending on the current status of the pandemic. Our recommendation is to stay current on those policies (we are here to help our guests). In most cases, you can wait until 48 hours before scheduled travel to make any decision. Hopefully things will return to normal later in the year, but for now just stay safe and informed.

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Thursday, February 6, 2020

Coronavirus Travel Advice

As the new decade kicks off, so does a world-wide health concern with Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Public Health Agencies, such as the World Health Organization and the Centers for Decease Control and Prevention, have published extensive information on their websites to help educate the public.

(Updated: March 21, 2020)

Most travel is suspended at least through April. Below are resources to the various travel providers websites as cancellation polices vary. If you have trips scheduled for later this Spring / Summer, our advice is to wait until your carrier makes an announcement about your itinerary to make any decision. Most companies are allowing you to wait for as long as 48 hours before departure to cancel. That gives you time to understand the risks of travel (if it is even possible).
Our state is on lock down until April 7th, and many other states / countries have followed this precautionary measure. Links below are useful resources to keep informed.

We are getting calls from our guests, concerned about traveling. Speak to your personal doctors for their advice - they will be familiar with your circumstances. Also, take precautionary measures, which should be standard practice - washing hands, covering coughs and sneezes, staying away from those exhibiting symptoms. Monitor guidance from world health organizations such as the WHO and CDC.

If you are traveling, or even if you are staying local, it is important to know the facts as they are known at this time. Since this is an evolving story, not all information is known but be assured that top health care professionals are seeking the answers. Of course there are often myths (click for some myth busters) that are circulated, so this blog post will try to disseminate links to the official resources that you can use to expand your knowledge.

Cruise lines are monitoring the situation and have imposed precautionary measures including refusing boarding of individuals presenting with certain symptoms. The lines have implemented enhanced policies, which are in effect as of 27 February 2020, built upon those which were first implemented on 31 January 2020 and focus on conservative measures, as the situation evolves, to appropriately and effectively screen every guest and crew member on every ship prior to boarding.

Additional cases have been identified in a growing number of other international locations, including the United States. There are ongoing investigations to learn more.

The following video is very informative - worth watching.

Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) advice for the public

The World Health Organization has a website dedicated to Novel Coronavirus 2019. The advice for the public, including those traveling, is very simple - and it is advice that should be followed all the time.

Wash Your Hands Frequently

Practice Respiratory Hygiene

Maintain Social Distancing

Avoid Touching Eyes, Nose & Mouth

If you have Fever, Cough & Difficulty Breathing - Seek Medical Help

Practice General Hygiene when visiting Live Animal Markets, Wet Markets or Animal Product Markets

Avoid Consumption of Raw or Undercooked Animal Products

Protect Yourself & Others from Getting Sick

Click on Images Below To Enlarge

Additional Resources

Cruise Line Specific Resources

Follow Us On

Sign-up for Exclusive Email Offers

Where have you explored?

Gather your travel and food pics and join us every Wednesday night for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat

Saturday, June 13, 2015

MERS Outbreak Alters Cruise Itineraries

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)

Courtesy: CDC

Royal Caribbean Cancels

South Korean Calls

Since May 2015, the Republic of Korea has been investigating an outbreak of MERS. It is the largest known outbreak of MERS outside the Arabian Peninsula.

CDC does not recommend that Americans change their travel plans to the Republic of Korea or other countries because of MERS. More

Strong Disease Control Recommended (WHO)

"A joint mission by the World Health Organization and the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare to review the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS CoV) in the Republic of Korea has recommended that continuing strengthening of contact tracing, monitoring and quarantine as well as expanded laboratory testing will prevent further spread of the virus."

There have been 138 confirmed cases of MERS CoV (including 1 confirmed case in China) reported in the current outbreak so far, with 14 deaths. The World Health Organization has made recommendations to contain the disease in South Korea which include identification of contacts, quarantine, infection prevention, and travel restrictions for infected patients.

Cruise Line Response

Cruise lines that are sailing in the region are monitoring the situation and taking necessary actions. The first to cancel ports of call in South Korea is Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas will skip visits to Seoul until at least August 2015. Mariner of the Seas also will skip Jeju Island.

Impacted cruises will substitute sea days or visit other ports including Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Okinawa or Nagasaki, Japan.

Passengers and crew are being screened and provided with information about the MERS outbreak and symptoms. If passengers or crew members show symptoms, such as a fever, cough and shortness of breath, the ships' medical staff will isolate and treat patients using anti-viral medications onboard.

Princess Cruises' Diamond Princess also has scheduled stops in South Korea. Princess Cruises is monitoring the situation; we are not aware of any changes to itineraries at this time. We will continue to provide updates as information is made available.

Protect yourself from Respiratory Illnesses

washing hands often,
avoiding close contact with people who are sick,
avoiding touching their eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, and
disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.

Know Before You Go

Before leaving on any international travel, land or sea, we suggest visiting our International Travel tab. The page contains information about passport & visa requirements, travel advisories, health information and much more.

Resources:

WHO recommends strong disease control to end MERS-CoV outbreak
Fact sheet on Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)
FAQs on MERS‐CoV
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Republic of Korea
Learn about MERS (CDC)

If you are traveling in the region impacted by MERS or any other infectious disease, please be sure to visit the WHO and CDC sites for current information.

Cruise With Christine Pappin

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