Travel Alert: Latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
All countries of residence (Advice as at 4 March 2020; update to advice posted Friday 31 January 2020)
How may Coronavirus impact your travel plans?
New cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to be diagnosed worldwide and it is an evolving situation with more outbreaks of Coronavirus being reported in over 200 countries.
If you are planning on traveling overseas, you should be aware many governments are restricting or banning travel to many parts of Asia including China, Japan and South Korea and Iran. This is despite the World Health Organisation on 29 February advising “against the application of travel or trade restrictions to countries experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks.".
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also published helpful advice on preventative measures travelers can take to help prevent catching the Coronavirus. These include food safety, tips on the use of surgical masks and other helpful information.
If you are planning on traveling, please check any travel advice issued by the country in which you live and monitor the situation through local and international media as it may affect your travel insurance policy.
Helpful links:
- US Department of State Advice
- UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office
- Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Government of Canada
- Health Canada
- Australian Government Smart Traveller
- NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Safe Travel)
You can also read about how Coronavirus might affect your travel insurance policy and we have some helpful articles about the Coronavirus.
If your travel plans are affected:
- Contact your airline, cruise or tour operator to check if your travel arrangements are affected.
- Consult our Coronavirus FAQs for more information about what’s covered and how your policy coverage may be impacted. If you already have a World Nomads policy, please refer to your policy wording for more details on what is covered and not covered.
- Injured or ill? Contact the emergency assistance team as soon as possible. Their details are also listed on your Certificate of Insurance.
- In the event of a claim covered by your policy, you must do everything you can to minimise and reduce the cost of the claim and provide all supporting documentation of the event and expenses incurred. If you intend to submit a claim, please complete the claim form and if you need help doing this, contact us.
