Should I travel during the Coronavirus Outbreak? If so, where?

This is a very complicated question. The Coronavirus started slow and has now touch most countries across the world. They know about about 90,000 cases, over 3,000 deaths, and over 48,000 people that have recovered.

The issue is that a lot of people who have Coronavirus are not showing symptoms, not testing positive at first, and/or not even going to the doctors because they have a mild case.

As of 3/3/20, there are 54,172 total cases that have been closed. Of those cases, 3,203 or 6% have died. This count does not include misdiagnosed cases, people that have mild cases and have not been tested, or those that don’t seek health care due to lack of insurance or other reasons.

But fear not, just be aware of what you can do and what you should not do. And like anything else, this will past sooner then you expect. Below is symptoms, risk factors, what to do if you think that you have it, and should you travel in 2020.

Symptoms

The general symptoms are believed to appear between 2-14 days after exposure. The symptoms are the following:

• Mild cases
  • Fever
  • A dry cough
• Mild but a bit worse
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Muscle pain
  • Diarrhea (not everyone gets this)
• Severe cases
  • Shortness of breath (about 5 days in and not everyone)
  • Pneumonia sets in
  • Kidney failure

So, basically it feels like a mild cold but can get as bad as a very bad flu. Most cases are very mild and some people might not even realize that they have it. And like a cold or flu, doctors ask that you rest, get plenty to drink, and self isolate to avoid sharing with others.

Side Note: Now anyone that is a mother knows that there is no way to self isolate with young children around and those same wonderful children share everything with you. Good luck!

But the bigger issue comes from a fraction of the cases that become more severe and require hospitalization. These cases are the ones that become fatal.

Risks Factors

Coronavirus basically targets, Everyone! But they effect certain groups worst then others. Most of those who have had to be hospitalized or died have had other chronic illness or underlying conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other items as equal upsetting.

It tends to be worst for everyone over 40 years old. But the rate of death tend to be very high for those over 70 years old.

Men tend to die more then women but the largest sample is in China where most men smoke but most women do not. Therefore, this might just be due to local issues.

But those that are young and healthily tend to just get over the virus quickly and the discomfort of the common cold and flu.

How to avoid getting it and spreading it

It is the same as the common cold which are the following recommendations:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water
• Use hand sanitizes
• Use a disposable tissues to cough/sneezes into
• Make sure you throw away the tissue and wash your hands afterwards
• Use your sleeve if you don’t have a tissue (But think about changing your shirt more then once a day.)
• Wash your hands before touching your face
• Avoid shaking hands with other people
• Avoid contact with people if they are unwell
• Avoid contact with others if you are unwell

Also, they are asking people to not go to the doctors or hospitals if they think that they have it but rather to self isolate. Separate yourself from others and your animals in the house.

Wear a facemask when going to the doctors or when in the same room as other family members or animals.

Call your doctor or the local hospital, if you develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness. And you have traveled to or live in an area with the ongoing spread of Coronavirus. They will determine if you need to be tested and tell you about the next steps.

Should you travel??????

I am going to say it depends. I would say no about going anywhere if you are over 40 years old and/or have with a underlying health condition. This is a time to stay home except for things that you have to do, i.e. work, school, etc.

If you are young and/or healthily, then I wouldn’t travel without a car. The reasons being:

• You are not relaying on others for transportation, i.e. airlines, bus lines, trains, etc.
• You are not in forced to be in close quarters with others who might be sick, i.e. planes, buses, trains, etc.
• You don’t want to be confined to a military base for 2 weeks (The food is not that great! But the Air Force has the best cooks, if you do get stuck.)
• You can control leaving an area that is having an outbreak
• Cruise ships are completely out for me, too much drama. (Unless, you have lots of time and your very healthy. Then the tickets should be a great price even if you end up stick on the boat and traveling around for a bit.)

In trying to control this virus, they are shutting down places that you might want to visit, i.e. Disney Japan and other tourist places. Do you really want to be stuck in your hotel room with no place to go because everything is closed?

Can you really afford to get stuck overseas for a long stay?

If you choose to travel overseas, then make sure that you have enough funds to stay longer in case airports are closed down, the place you are visiting is restricting movement of people, etc. While this can happen at any time, currently this is becoming a larger issue.

Also, ensure that you have a enough water and food for a few days in your room. This is important because if you are required to stay in your hotel and/or room, you want to have water and snacks available until they control the situation.

Call the airport before you check out of your hotel or room and make sure that everything is still running. Keep a good eye on how the hotel staff is acting.

I was at a hotel when 9/11 happened in Juneau, Alaska. The staff was very concerned and acting weird. Telling guests they should go back upstairs and call the airlines or turn on the television. No one was willing to tell them what was happening.

Juneau is land locked, so you can only leave by plane or boat. One guest was with the hotel for over a week before they could get home.

The cost will be more because you need to be prepared for this during this concern with Coronavirus. 14 days is the lock down period. Can you afford and extra 14 days? Are your pets going to be good?

If you choose to travel, then you might want to stay away from friends and relatives that have a greater risk for about 14 days after you get home. Just in case.

The Best Places to Travel with the outbreak going on

If you want a vacation, then look at going camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities. Look to areas within a 4 hours or less drive from your home.

Camping or driving to a hotel close to home is a wonderful idea for the current conditions. Plus their are so many wonderful State and National Parks that have camping at less then $20 a night and some are even Free.

Camping also requires you to have less contact with people. Except for sharing the public bathrooms. You can always stay away from others as most people that are at a campgrounds tend to keep to themselves.

In addition, the chances of touch things that have the virus on them while camping is limited. Just spray down the camp site with a bit of Lysol. If you are using the public restrooms, then spray them down and use your own toilet paper.

If you don’t like camping, hotels are a bit more tricky. A maid has 30 minutes or less per room to change the bed and clean everything up. Many maids take short cuts. Most hotels don’t wash the top blanket every time a guest checks out.

During this time, I will be using Lysol and Lysol Wipes to clean up the room really quickly. Plus take the comforter off the bed and bring my own pillow. The item that has the most germs in a hotel room is the TV turner, so make a special point to clean this items off.

Turn to the outdoor activities for entertainment. When I go hiking, I might see a few people but most of us are going different directions and/or passing each other. It is generally limited contract unless you or they start a conversation.

If you want to go to the beach, then pick a beach that has less people. Newport Beach is wonderful but skip the restaurants and the shops. Head down the way a bit and you can find less crowded beaches.

Also, take a cooler and make sandwiches. Or use a fire pit. Skip restaurants and fast food to limit your exposure. It can save you a lot of money and enjoy simple pleasures of watching the men cook over the grill and the men enjoying showing off their skills.

For hot meals, most parks and rest stops have fire pits. Hot dogs are great but check out my site for recipes over the fire that can beat the best restaurants in town. (Coming soon.)

This spring, summer, and fall. I will be looking to do things that do limit my contact with people until the Coronavirus blows over which I have been reading could take as long as three months which is June. But at the same time, I want to be doing something.

In addition, most people with Coronavirus are not going to be hiking, biking, or other outdoor activities because who going hiking with a fever and breathing issues? That does not sound like fun! Except maybe people with very mild cases.

Therefore, the safe and healthy choose for traveling while the Coronavirus is active is hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities that limit your contact with others. Plus you can lose some of that winter flab and get a bit healthier in the process and save some money.

Camping is a great money saver as the sites generally are under $20 per night and a good tent can be found at reasonable price plus it can be used several times. Food over the fire pit is a lot cheaper then restaurants for a trip.

For the cost of one plane ride over the pond, you can take a family of 4 camping for a week and still have money in your pocket as long as you are not getting all the top gear that you don’t really need.

Day Trips

Think about day trips to all the places that are close to home that you have not done since your last out of town guest arrived.

Currently, I am in Pittsburgh. Day trips for me include local museums, hiking at local parks, Dead Man’s Hollow, Ohioplye State Park, Raccoon Creek State Park, Friendship Hill National Historic Site, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Johnstown, and so many more places.

Check all the things that you live within 2 hours or less from. You will be amazed and how much you can do and see that you have not seen before or that you have not seen since you were a child.

Places not to go!

Any where that you will be touching things that other people will be touching or that you will be confined with other people.

• Movie theaters
• Amusement Parks
• Playgrounds
• Airplane, Trains, Boats, and Buses
• Children’s Museum, i.e. any museum where you and everyone around you get to be interactive
• Restaurants at peak hours (check out your servers health)
• Places with long lines for long periods of time
• Casinos
• Concerts unless they are outdoors with space between you and others
• Any room or area that you are confined with a bunch of people
• Pools (it is not the water but all the things that you touch around the pool.)

Things you shouldn’t touch:

• Other people if you can help it
• Your face before you wash your hands
• Dishes and cups left at a table without washing your hands immediately afterwards
• Public benches or picnic table unless you Lysol them down first
• Any interactive items at museums
• Handrails without washing your hand afterwards
• Door handles
• Gas pumps (use a wipe when you get back in the car)

It is not about being afraid but being aware of your situation. Just washing your hands several times a day can help you not get the common cold.

Hand sanitizes are great but hospital staff are trained to wash their hands at least every third time they use hand sanitizes. Otherwise, the hand satirizes can trap dirt and other things under them.