Coronavirus travel guide: What to do when flying in and out of the Philippines

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NOTE: Check out the updated version of this article here - COVID-19 travel guide

Who would have thought that in the first month of 2020 alone, we would be bombarded with a year’s worth of issues? Taal volcano erupted after more than 40 years. Threats of World War III between US and Iran alarmed the rest of the world. Then, as if things couldn’t get any bleaker, basketball legend Kobe Bryant dies in a helicopter accident.

But then, to underscore the seemingly unending list of misfortunes 2020 has brought on so far, there’s the 2019 novel coronavirus—which has spread (pun intended) panic and inspired panic-buying of surgical masks everywhere. The virus’ symptoms are fairly normal: fever, cough, sore throat, and shortness of breath. Seems pretty regular for a flu, right? But this mysterious virus won’t be bogged down that easily. To date, there still is no known cure for the 2019-nCoV. This complicates things for a lot of people, travellers especially.

So, how do you work out your travel plans around the coronavirus outbreak? #PINNED aims to help out with the steps below:

IF YOU HAVE AN UPCOMING TRIP

Photo by Craig Adderley from Pexels

Consider rebooking or cancelling your flights to countries with confirmed cases of coronavirus

Prevention is truly better than cure. We don’t know much about the virus and to what extent it can affect the body. If you’ve previously booked a flight to a country with confirmed cases, contact your airline immediately to ask for a refund or to rebook your flight. Some airlines have declared that they will waive charges for flights to and from affected countries. Check with them through their websites and contact numbers:

Philippine Airlines — (+632) 8855-8888
Cebu Pacific — (+632) 8702-0888
AirAsia — Chat with their Virtual Assistant
EVA Air — (+632) 8864-3800
Cathay Pacific — (+632) 8271-3622
Singapore Airlines — (+632) 7756-8888
JetStar — (+632) 8396-6940
Scoot —  (+632) 7798-4499
Malaysia Airlines — (+632) 8231-3955
Korean Air — (+632) 8789-3700
Thai Airways — (+632) 8580-8424
All Nippon Airways — Chat with their Virtual Assistant

Countries with confirmed cases of coronavirus are:

• China
• Thailand
• Hong Kong
• USA
• Australia
• Taiwan
• Singapore
• Macau
• Japan
• South Korea
• Malaysia
• France
• Vietnam
• Canada
• Germany
• Sri Lanka
• Nepal

Prepare yourself for possible delays due to stricter security measures

If it’s not your first time traveling, then you know delays are second nature to airports and airlines in the Philippines. Well, try to have even more patience as airport officials will be stricter in letting passengers in or out of the country. Just stay calm and cooperate. The more people cooperate, the likelier that passengers with the virus can be detected—and that is ultimately better for everyone.

Photo by VisionPic .net from Pexels

It will cost you more, but if you can, practice self-quarantine

If you’re coming home from an affected country, try to stay somewhere you can be alone for a few days first. Monitor your body temperatures. The virus can take up to 14 days to incubate or “attach” itself to your body before symptoms appear. If you’re sure you are not exhibiting any of the symptoms, then take a flight back home.

Once you’re in the airport, you will go through a thermal scanner before proceeding to immigration. The scanners monitor body temperatures. Now, hear us out… if you get past the scanners, voluntarily alert the officials that you’ve been in a country affected by coronavirus. They will take your temperatures then give you an all-clear if they don’t find anything alarming. Just look at this couple here:

Transparency is one of the keys to keep the virus from spreading.

Limit your interaction with other people

Skip the partying for a while and stay at home until you’re absolutely sure you haven’t been infected. Catch up on some of your fave shows. Read a book. Keep yourself busy—even only for a little while. Disinfect your hands and surroundings often. A responsible citizen won’t put other residents at risk.

IF YOU’RE PLANNING FOR A TRIP

Photo by Element5 Digital from Pexels

Don’t. JK! Just be extremely careful

The virus has affected under 20 countries thus far. There are cases in Asia, Australia, USA, and even Europe. That narrows down your choices quite a bit, huh?

The overall advice here is to just delay your travel, but if you must, must, must go, then you must, must, must practice caution ALWAYS:

• Discuss with your physician if you’re planning a trip abroad
• Wear masks to prevent being infected
• Avoid physical contact with others as much as possible
• Disinfect. Carry an alcohol-based sanitizer everywhere
• Keep away from exotic food (dishes that contain snake meat, bat meat, and the like)
• Take your vitamins and improve your immune system
• Do not travel when sick

Upon your safe return, voluntarily subject yourself to the Department of Health’s precautionary measures.

Be wary of what you bring home as pasalubong

...especially if it’s food. Bringing back souvenirs from affected countries only increases the likelihood of the virus making its way to your home. Food further heightens the risk because it might include ingredients from affected areas (Wuhan, China, for example). So, if you’re looking for a reason to save expenses, you can tick this cost off guiltlessly.

The truth is, we really cannot predict how the virus will behave in the coming days or weeks. We can only hope that a treatment will be discovered soon. Until then, it pays to be careful. Stay one step ahead and err on the side of caution—because what good is your #TravelGoals if you end up getting sick, right? Take care out there!

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Princess Daquigan is a writer, poet, and digital strategist who aims to tell stories that serve the Filipino youth. She helps brands and the causes she believes in to reach the right people through creative, data-driven strategies. She keeps (most) of her poems on her blog, hoping for a book deal.