The World Health Organization’s (WHO) emergency committee has declared the coronavirus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and is taking further measures to contain the outbreak.
While WHO has not recommended that any travel or trade restrictions are put in place based on the information currently available, the organisation has recommended that China should conduct exit screening at international airports and ports, with the aim of early detection of symptomatic travellers for further evaluation and treatment, while minimising interference with international traffic.
Meanwhile the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has issued an advisory against all travel to Hubei Province due to the virus outbreak. “If you’re in this area and able to leave, you should do so,” said the FCO in a statement.
The FCO also advises against all but essential travel to the rest of mainland China (not including Hong Kong and Macao) adding that the Chinese government continues to impose further restrictions on movement within China and that many airlines were suspending flights to and from mainland China.
“It may become harder over the coming weeks for those who wish to leave China to do so. If you feel that you may want to leave China soon, you should consider making plans to do so before any further restrictions may be imposed,” added the FCO.
eTNW reported yesterday that TIC would provide full cover for emergency medical and related expenses should a traveller contract the virus on a journey. As WHO has not imposed any international travel restrictions, TIC policy holders will not receive payouts if they cancel trips due to apprehension or concern about travelling.
“Disinclination to travel – anxiety, concern – will not be covered. Should the coronavirus lead to flight cancellations or travel bans, travellers who purchased insurance within 48 hours of paying for their trip will qualify for ‘unspecified event cancellation cover’ on the non-refundable portions of their unused travel arrangements,” explained TIC’s sales and marketing manager, Simmy Micheli.
Uriah Jansen, md of Oojah Travel Protection, which administers Hollard Travel Insurance, told eTNW that Hollard would also provide full medical cover if any of its policy holders caught the illness while travelling.
Policy holders would also be covered for ‘unexpected illness’ cancellation cover if they contracted the illness in South Africa and had to cancel a journey while ill. Policy holders on Hollard’s comprehensive and business policies also qualify for ‘cancellation for any reason’ cover if they purchased insurance within 24 hours of booking. This allows them to receive cover for the non-refundable portion of their unused travel arrangements, provided that trips are cancelled more than 48 hours before travel.
