Should I cancel my trip because of the coronavirus? Experts say it depends

Coronavirus travel

Travelers wear protective mask as they walk through in terminal 5 at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Sunday, March 1, 2020. Public health officials say masks will provide scant help to most travelers. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)AP

CLEVELAND, Ohio — As the coronavirus travels the world, world travelers are getting nervous.

The virus has now spread to more than 60 countries, on every continent but Antarctica, with new cases reported daily. Which is causing many travelers to ask: Should I cancel my trip?

The answer, as with most complicated questions: It depends. It depends on where you’re going, when you’re going, who you are and your tolerance for risk.

Dr. Robert Salata, an infectious disease specialist at University Hospitals’ Roe Green Center for Travel Medicine, urges travelers to check in regularly with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website, cdc.gov, for guidance.

The CDC has a three-tiered system for assessing travel risk around the globe: Warning Level 3, avoid nonessential travel; Alert Level 2, practice enhanced precautions; Watch Level 1, practice usual precautions.

Italy and Iran were elevated to Warning Level 3 over the weekend, joining China and South Korea. Japan is at Alert Level 2.

Travelers should avoid Level 3 countries, said Salata, and reconsider travel to Level 2 countries.

Related: What survivalists say you’ll need in case of a coronavirus outbreak

The outbreak in Italy has been largely limited to the northern regions, around Milan and Venice. Salata said he would probably feel comfortable traveling to southern Italy, although there are risks, particularly if the situation worsens and the disease continues to spread.

“Someone could face the risk of not being able to return and maybe being quarantined,” he said. “That’s another additional concern that folks should consider.”

Travelers who are considered most at-risk — the elderly, people with chronic cardiac and pulmonary disease, and those with diabetes — should be the most cautious about traveling, he said. And if you do choose to travel, avoid large public gatherings, especially in places where cases have been reported.

Arlene Goldberg, president of Action Travel Center in Solon, has heard from numerous clients who are concerned about coronavirus. Almost all have questions, though few have canceled.

Among their concerns: What are the financial penalties if I cancel? Will my itinerary change if I’m scheduled to travel to Italy (or another affected region) on a cruise or tour? Should I go?

Goldberg said cruise lines, in particular, have been aggressive about promoting new policies in response to the coronavirus, including banning all passengers who have been in China, Hong Kong, South Korea and other affected regions in recent weeks. Cruises and tours can also easily change itineraries to avoid high-risk areas, she said.

One client, a family booked on an Asian cruise on the now infamous Diamond Princess this summer, recently canceled. The ship was sequestered for weeks off the coast of Japan last month, filled with quarantined passengers, several hundred of whom were ultimately diagnosed with coronavirus.

“Of course, the whole ship will be cleaned,” said Goldberg. “But they don’t want to step on board that particular ship.” They’re still planning to travel to Asia, however, she said.

Another client was interested in booking a cruise to Alaska this summer. She wasn’t worried about the coronavirus, but the recent stock market downturn has caused her to reconsider.

“We’re here to help our clients,” said Goldberg. “We don’t want them to get ill. We also don’t want them to cancel a dream vacation if they don’t have to.”

Salata said it was good news for travelers that airlines, cruise lines and other travel providers have been generally willing to reimburse travelers for canceled or postponed travel — although that’s not entirely true. Yes, many airlines are waiving change fees for travelers who have near-term plans to travel to higher-risk destinations. But those waivers sometimes have restrictions of their own, including strict rebooking and travel-by dates.

One Northeast Ohio traveler, Crystal (who asked that her last name not be used), had plans to travel to Milan this week — her first trip ever out of the country — but canceled it, and is now scrambling to get some money back (see related story: A cautionary coronavirus travel story: Cleveland couple cancels trip to Italy, hoping for refund).

Travel insurance, generally, will not be much help — the coronavirus is now a known event, and can’t be insured against, unless a traveler opts for pricey cancel-for-any-reason insurance, which is about 40% more expensive than a typical policy and must be purchased shortly after booking the trip.

Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison website, reports a 200% spike in travel insurance interest.

Salata said it’s impossible to say how the disease might spread over the next several months, which is making planning for the busy summer travel season tricky.

Keith Jones of Euclid is scheduled on a Caribbean cruise in October, and is already looking ahead to alternatives. “We are not locked into the cruise until we made the final payment [in August], so for now, we are waiting to see how things play out,” he wrote in an email. Alternatives include flying to Hawaii or Mexico.

Salata said that the risk of contracting the virus in the United States, particularly for domestic travelers, is still very low.

The best advice is to stay well informed. “I don’t think we want to incite panic,” he said. “We need to stay tuned because this is changing day by day. In the end, it’s going to be an individual choice.”

Editor’s note: Have you changed your travel plans because of the coronavirus? Do you have travel-related questions about the disease? Please send your comments and questions to Plain Dealer Travel editor Susan Glaser at sglaser@plaind.com. Please include your full name and city of residence.

Travel tips in the age of coronavirus

From the CDC:

* Avoid contact with sick people.

* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.

* Clean your hands often by washing them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60%–95% alcohol. Soap and water should be used if hands are visibly dirty.

* It is especially important to clean hands after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.

Also:

* If you’re traveling abroad, find out whether your health insurance covers you while overseas (Medicare generally does not). If not, consider buying travel health insurance to cover you in the event of illness or injury overseas.

* Consider, too, adding coverage that includes medical evacuation coverage, which will pay to bring you home if you get sick or injured. Many bundled policies include both basic health and medical evacuation coverage, as well as cancellation insurance (though generally not for coronavirus concerns).

* Travel with alcohol-based hand sanitizer and wipes, and consider wiping down surfaces like airline armrests and tray tables. “It won’t hurt,” said Dr. Robert Salata, an infectious disease specialist at University Hospitals. He doesn’t recommend face masks, which he said are not effective at stopping the spread of the disease.

More coverage:

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Protecting patients, health care workers priorities as Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth and UH prepare for coronavirus

Inside the coronavirus outbreak: Former Clevelander gives account of daily life in Shanghai

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