1. Should I cancel my trip? I can't decide for you, but here are the things I'd consider:
1a. What does the Australian Government recommend? Check the overall advice level for your destination at smartraveller.gov.au/consular-servi… If the recommendation is "do not travel" or "reconsider your need to travel" you should probably cancel or postpone your trip.
1b. Are you elderly/have pre-existing health issues? If yes, you should be aware that you could be at increased risk of severe infection if you are infected with #COVID19 & it would be prudent to avoid or delay travel to affected areas. See your doctor for further advice.
1c. Are you going to a country on the following list? www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/… If so, be aware that in addition to the potential risk of exposure, any plans you have within 14 days of your return (e.g. your brother's wedding) might be impacted. Current recommendations include...
1c (cont). All people returning to Australia from China or Iran should isolate themselves for 14 days. More on what this means here: health.gov.au/resources/publ…
1c (cont). Healthcare/residential aged care workers returning from Italy or South Korea are advised not to attend regular work for 14 days health.gov.au/news/health-al…
1c (cont). Anyone returning to Australia from Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore or Thailand is advised to self-monitor for symptoms, practice social distancing when outside the work place, and isolate themselves immediately if they become unwell within 14 days
1c (cont). Social distancing means: avoiding crowds and mass gatherings, avoiding small gatherings in enclosed spaces (e.g. family celebrations) and attempting to keep a distance of 1.5m between yourself and other people where possible vox.com/2020/3/3/21161…
1c (cont). With a growing number of countries and territories reporting #COVID19 cases (76 in the latest @WHO Sitrep who.int/emergencies/di…), advice is subject to change, so check relevant credible sources (Department of Health, Smartraveller, WHO etc) for up-to-date advice
1d. Does your travel insurance cover #COVID19 related medical or cancellation costs? There is a lot of variation between providers, so your best bet is to check with your insurer. You should also consider what level of medical care is available at your destination.
1e. Will you be able to relax and enjoy yourself? If you're really anxious about #COVID19 and are likely to spend the entire trip worried about getting sick, you might want to cancel anyway.
2. Are my kids at risk? Comparatively few children have tested positive for the virus, and deaths in children are rare. Read this article by @peripatetical, @AshaBowen & @ChrisBlyth74 for more on what we do and don't know about #COVID19 in kids: theconversation.com/worried-about-…
3. Should I wear a mask? You should wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing, or if you're taking care of someone suspected to be infected with #COVID19. Beyond this, there's essentially no evidence that masks protect healthy people. who.int/emergencies/di…
3a. If you choose to wear a mask, make sure you use it and dispose of it properly (clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or soap and water).
New data from a preprint contact tracing study suggests children are at similar risk of #COVID19 infection as adults (though less likely to get severe symptoms). Approx 15% of household close contacts of a case developed infection. medrxiv.org/content/10.110…
For those based in the USA: CDC has posted some #COVID19 FAQs for travellers - advice includes to avoid travel to countries with a level 3 travel health notice and reconsider #cruise ship travel to or within Asia at this time bit.ly/2HqjXft
