Coronavirus Travel Advisory
25 March 2020 by News DeskCoronavirus Travel Advisory: Most governments now advise people against all non-essential travel worldwide, including to Australia.
COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. Its caused by a type of coronavirus
Guidance for British people travelling and living overseas during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic from the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-office
Unprecedented Border Closures
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented international border closures and other restrictions. All countries may restrict travel without notice.
If you now need to change or cancel your travel plans, follow these steps:
Contact your airline, travel company, cruise line or other transport and accommodation providers
Get in touch with your insurance provider
Follow the NHS coronavirus guidance: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
If you’re abroad
Travel advice has changed. The UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises British people against all but essential travel worldwide due to unprecedented international border closures and other restrictions.
You must follow the advice of local authorities. Your safety and security is the responsibility of the local authority where you are.
If you wish to leave the country you are in, contact your airline or travel company and your insurance provider as soon as you are able, and keep up to date with the latest developments. International travel may become more difficult. We only organise assisted departure in exceptional circumstances.
Quarantine while you are abroad
If the local authority where you are proposes to quarantine you for your own protection, you should follow their advice. When you are abroad, your safety and security is their responsibility.
If there are suspected cases of coronavirus where you are, you may need to remain in your hotel room or accommodation for 14 days, move to quarantine facilities, take tests for coronavirus and, if positive in some cases, be hospitalised abroad.
You should also contact your airline or travel company, and your insurance provider as soon as you can. We only organise assisted departure in exceptional circumstances.
If your travel is essential
If your travel is essential, follow our checklist before you travel:
Contact your airline, travel company, cruise line or other transport and accommodation providers to make sure you can still travel
Read the details of your travel insurance carefully, and check that you are covered, and contact your insurer if you are uncertain. You may need to consider a specialist policy
Make sure you can access money to cover emergencies and unexpected delays. Take more than one means of payment with you
Be prepared to follow the advice of local authorities abroad. Be ready to comply with local isolation or quarantine requirements, and to rely on the local health system
Make sure you have enough medication with you in case you are abroad longer than planned
Be prepared for logistical and financial disruption to your travel
Arrange extra support for family members, dependants or pets who may need care if you are abroad longer than planned
Check travel advice for your destination regularly and sign-up to email alerts
If you are older, or if you have pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease), you are more likely to become severely ill if you catch the virus. Check the NHS guidance before you travel.
Travel insurance
If your travel is essential, make sure you have appropriate insurance for overseas travel, and purchase it as soon as you book your travel. You should check the detail of your travel insurance to see what it covers, and contact your insurance provider if you have any questions.
You may need to consider a specialist policy. It’s your responsibility to make sure you’re covered. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has published information on the travel insurance implications of coronavirus.
