Information for travellers

1. Should I reconsider travelling to Asia at present, privately or for business?

At present, most cases are being reported in China, with a smaller number of cases reported in certain other Asian countries. The likelihood of becoming infected in other countries across Asia is currently considered low and the World Health Organization has not advised against travel to these areas. However, the outbreak is evolving very rapidly and the risk of infection is therefore changing. (See the list of areas with presumed community transmission). Follow the travel advice provided by public health authorities in your country of residence.

2. What should I be most cautious of when travelling abroad, including trips to China?

When visiting China you should: 

• avoid contact with sick people, in particular those with a cough; 
• avoid visiting markets and places where live or dead animals are handled; 

• follow general rules concerning hand hygiene and food hygiene;  
• wash your hands with soap and water OR use an alcohol-based disinfectant solution before eating, after using the toilet and after any contact with animals; 
• avoid contact with animals, their excretions or droppings. 

Wherever you travel, you should apply general hand hygiene and food hygiene rules.

Data

Advice for travellers: outbreak of a novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV

Brochure - 30 Jan 2020

3. What if I have recently been to China and have become ill?

If you have been to China and within 14 days of your return you feel sick or have a fever, cough, or experience shortness of breath, you should: 

• Seek immediate medical attention. Before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room, call them and tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms. 
• Avoid contact with others. 
• Ensure you do not travel while sick. 
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing. If you have easy access to surgical face masks, use one, and dispose of it safely after use. Remember to wash your hands after disposing of a mask. 
• Follow appropriate disinfection/hand washing rules to avoid spreading the virus to others.

4. What about on a plane or in an airport?

If it is established that a COVID-19 case has been on an airplane, the people who were at risk will be contacted by public health authorities.  Should you have questions about a flight you have taken, please contact your local health authority for advice. The risk of being infected on an airplane cannot be excluded, but is currently considered to be low for an individual traveller.   

The risk of being infected in an airport is similar to that for any other place where many people gather.

5. Why are people arriving from China not being checked for COVID-19 at the airport?

There is evidence that checking people at the airport (known as entry screening) is not very effective in preventing the spread of the virus, especially when people may not be presenting symptoms or the symptoms of the disease are very similar to those for other illnesses and the timeline coincides with increased activity in seasonal influenza across the EU and in China. It is generally considered more useful to provide those arriving at airports with clear information explaining what to do if they develop symptoms after arrival.

credits: to the owner https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/novel-coronavirus-china/questions-answers