Pre-traveling during COVID-19 Pandemic
I usually travel 10-15 times per year. I usually travel to different places in Quebec, Canada, or to other countries. This pandemic impacted my startup, which took a toll on my health and well being. I needed time off.
The government of Canada suggests Level 3 notice - Avoid non-essential travel.
Level 3 notice means: “Travel health notices include a warning to avoid non-essential travel in order to protect the health of Canadian travellers and the Canadian public. The notice outlines specific precautions to take when visiting the region and what to do if you become ill during or after travel. A notice at this level would be issued during a large-scale outbreak in a large geographic area, or if there is increased risk to the traveller and an increased risk of spreading disease to other groups including the Canadian public.”
Some may consider traveling irresponsible; others agree with the mental and well-being benefits. It’s subjective and debatable.
I decided to travel (and my booked flight) before the Quebec second lockdown, which started October 1st, 2020. I could have traveled within Canada, but I didn’t feel like it, and the risk seemed pretty similar to traveling to other countries…
How I made my decision:
To be quite honest, HealthyVoyage made me comfortable with travel + health.
Am I at high risk?
I’m healthy, with no underlined health conditions, young. I also worked in hospitals during the pandemic… which probably was a higher risk than traveling.
Am I a danger to others?
I will keep my distances; I won’t be moving much within the visiting country; and I will wear my mask and wash my hands. I will do my 14 days quarantine when I return to Canada (it’s planned already). I also don’t have any COVID-19 symptoms.
Am I traveling to a place at a higher risk than my country? Also, is the health system in the visiting country or region safe and reliable?
My startup was in travel health, so I do know the safest areas, and so on. I also researched the countries that had the least COVID-19 and followed the trends during August and September. I initially wanted to go to Greece, but the COVID-19 cases were going up.
Considering the healthcare systems, Africa and Asia were not on my list. South America was not either (considering the worrisome COVID-19 levels in Brazil and other countries). I preferred Western Europe and less Eastern Europe (I’ve been to both). The USA was scratched off my list, considering the number of cases. I’ll skip Antarctica for this trip. Australia and New Zealand seemed far. Even if some countries within the listed continents may have excellent hospitals, doctors, and care system, I am used to Canada’s healthcare system and hospitals. We always look for something similar to feel comfortable. I also had to consider the worst-case scenario: What if I can’t come back!? Is this a country where I would feel safe?
The last options were Europe or some spots in Central America.
What I considered:
The number of COVID-19 cases.
The number of cases: I went on the John Hopkins COVID-19 map and assessed the risk. I looked at the countries with the lowest to the highest COVID-19 cases.
Is the country open to visitors?
Here is a well-done map about the countries that are open/closed or re-opening.
Quarantine requirements (at destination).
Also available on this map, but I doubled checked with embassy websites or visiting country websites.
COVID-19 test requirements.
Also detailed on the previous map, but also again, doubled checked on other websites.
Things evolve very quickly with this coronavirus. So I was looking at the visiting destination news, Covid-19 information, lockdown, etc.
My final decision was: PORTUGAL. I have visited Portugal already (which increased my comfort level), and I wanted to surf, I wanted a change from my country, and I wanted somewhere safe. Other countries such as Cuba, The Bahamas, Aruba, etc. are open to visitors. Please keep in mind that all this can change in the matter of a second! Stay updated if you decided to travel.
4. Can I have COVID-19 travel insurance?
My credit card travel insurance (which I usually use) did not cover for COVID-19, so I needed to get another one. I was not only going surfing (which require special travel insurance). I was also traveling during a pandemic. Two travel insurance in Canada cover for COVID-19: SSQ and Croix Bleue (Blue Cross). SecuriGlobe can help select the right travel insurance for you (good service and its the same price as buying directly from the insurer). You can also opt for other travel insurance that is more global, such as VisitorsCoverage. You even have options if you have pre-existing conditions. VisitorsCoverage did not cover for surfing.
TO CONSIDER
a) READ THE WHOLE POLICY. Yes. All of it. The 47 pages +. Look at all the exclusions and if that corresponds to you. Please, read the whole policy. It’s important. I did read mine. You don’t want to think you are covered for something when you are not.
b) Make sure they specify in the contract that they cover for COVID-19. Croix bleue for example (the insurance I finally purchased) did not. So I asked the agent to send me an email mentioning that they cover for COVID-19 (emails usually have a legal power). Her email was actually different that what she had mentioned…
Here is the original version of the agent’s email (french):
“Je vous confirme que l’assurance Croix Bleue couvre les soins reçus à la suite d’une infection par la COVID-19 en voyage, à condition que vous ne présentez pas de symptômes de la COVID-19 dans les 3 mois avant votre départ et que vous n’avez pas reçu un diagnostic de COVID-19 dans les 3 mois avant votre départ.”
So they had conditions:
Not presenting symptoms of COVID-19 within 3 months before your departure
Not having received a COVID-19 diagnosis within 3 months before your departure
Thanks for the clarification, which is not specified anywhere... I had to ask for this information; they don’t just say it, which I find inappropriate and unethical.
I also called the assistance company just to double check (thank god I had knowledge regarding this industry with my startup).
For your information: Insurance company sells the insurance, Assistance company will provide the services/assistance/repatriation when abroad. Often two different entities, but some Insurance companies are also Assistance companies.
In my case, Blue Cross is the insurance, CanAssistance is the assistance company.
The assistance company mentioned this:
IF THE COUNTRY YOU ARE VISITING PASSES FROM LEVEL 3 TO LEVEL 4, YOU HAVE 2 WEEKS TO ADVISE YOUR INSURANCE. OTHERWISE, YOUR INSURANCE IS CANCELLED, AND WE WON’T BRING YOU BACK TO YOUR COUNTRY.
I called the insurance company again. It felt like they were asking me to stay updated or connected 24/7. While I agree that it is my responsibility to make sure I am safe and staying up to date with what is happening. Don't insurers have an obligation to inform me about the importance of knowing the advisory level if they are offering COVID-19 travel insurance? At least send a notification or something, no?
I’m speaking about Blue Cross, but this is applicable to any travel insurance. I still ended up getting Blue Cross travel insurance! Just had to double check a couple of things… All this to say: make sure you read the policy and that you are covered for what you want coverage for.
5. Be well prepared.
HealthyVoyage, the startup I had founded, was all about being prepared. My vaccines were up to date, and I made sure I packed enough stuff for the trip. Here are things I packed in my health kit.
Antibiotics (in case of travelers’ diarrhea). While Portugal is not at risk, I’m going during the rainy season, I’ll be in areas that are not so touristy (Peniche), and I’m leaving for 5 weeks.
Tylenol, allergy pills (cetirizine or loratadine), Epipens (I have anaphylactic shocks sometimes…), Gastrolyte, Gravol or something for nausea, band-aids, clotrimazole cream, antibiotic cream, masks, hand sanitizers, and other things you may need… (Stuff we help you with @ HealthyVoyage)
Sunscreens —> See Sunscreen Blog Articles to know what I recommend (coming soon).
Conclusion: If you want to travel during a pandemic, make sure you check all the critical points.
Stay Safe!
Dr. Stephanie El-Chakieh, Pharmacist