Covid-19 Update

All Roads North 

Covid-19 Statement 

Updated March 12th, 2020

As the world has seen the rapid emergence of Coronavirus, or more specifically Covid-19, we’d like to communicate our approach as this situation evolves. Our clear priority is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our clients and staff, but we’re also acutely aware that the situation brings uncertainty with regards to booked or planned travel, and we’re committed to working together with our clients to minimize the impact. 

If you have any concerns or questions regarding upcoming or planned travel, we encourage you to get in touch directly at (310) 402-3021 or email ask@allroadsnorth.com

In terms of facts to inform and guide our decisions, we closely monitor Government travel advice, and as a United States based company planning travel within the United States, our primary sources of travel advisory information are the Center for Disease Control (CDC), as well as the U.S. State Department. This information is supplemented by the World Health Organization (WHO), to obtain information regarding the virus and its transmission, as well as our partners on the ground, who can provide first hand information and insight. 

The Current Risk Assessment for the United States (Source – CDC 11th March):

Current risk assessment:

• For the majority of people, the immediate risk of being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to be low. There is not widespread circulation in most communities in the United States.
• People in places where ongoing community spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 has been reported are at elevated risk of exposure, with increase in risk dependent on the location.
• Healthcare workers caring for patients with COVID-19 are at elevated risk of exposure.
• Close contacts of persons with COVID-19 also are at elevated risk of exposure.
• Travelers returning from affected international locations where community spread is occurring also are at elevated risk of exposure, with increase in risk dependent on location.

For the latest updates in cases in the United States, please visit the WHO website

Are there any restrictions with regards to entering the United States?

On Wednesday March 11th President Trump issued a Proclamation that stated that all inbound travel from Europe (to include only the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland) would be suspended for foreign nationals, from Friday March 13th at midnight. This does not apply for US legal permanent residents. For US legal permanent residents travel back from Europe would still be possible after this cut-off time, however, they may have to return through specific designated airports (to be communicated by the administration in the next 48 hours).

To slow the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) into the United States, entry restrictions have also been placed on people who have recently spent time in specific countries. This currently affects China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea. Further information regarding these procedures can be found on the CDC website.

Should I cancel an upcoming trip within the United States?

The situation is changing daily and the decision whether to travel or not is an entirely personal one. You’ll need to consider several factors, including when you’re traveling, where you’re coming from, your personal health, and the specific destination that you’ll be traveling to. We’d encourage you to get in touch to discuss the specific details of your trip.

I am planning to travel soon. What is your practical advice for staying healthy on the road?

According to the CDC, a few everyday steps can significantly reduce the risk getting sick, either at home or while traveling:

• Wash your hands often with soap and warm/hot running water. Doctors recommend lathering your hands—including between your fingers, the backs of hands, and under the nails—for 20 seconds.
• If no running water or soap is available, use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol.
• Avoid touching your face, particularly your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick or presenting symptoms such as frequent coughing or sneezing.
• While in transit, use an EPA-registered sanitizer that both cleans (removes germs) and disinfects (kills germs). Proper disinfecting often requires the sanitizer to remain on the surface for several minutes. If you’re using wipes, that means it may be necessary to use more than one wipe to keep the surface wet for the necessary amount of time. (Read more about disinfecting here.)
• Pay attention to your health during travel and for 14 days after you return.

What happens should I decide to cancel my booking? 

At this stage, should you decide to cancel your booking, our standard booking conditions will apply and there will be cancellation charges levied depending on how close to departure the trip was cancelled. If this is your prefered option, we suggest you contact your insurance company as soon as possible to see whether you are able to recover any of these costs.

Is it possible to postpone my trip? 

Yes, we are happy to look into the options for transferring your trip to a later date and we will do our best to keep the costs of doing this to an absolute minimum. However, please do keep in mind that the closer to the departure date, the more likely it is that will incur costs transferring your trip. 

Should I buy travel insurance and will it cover the costs of Coronavirus related travel disruption?

While we are not a licensed insurance provider or agent, we strongly recommend that all of our clients purchase travel insurance prior to their trip, as this offers important protection in the event of travel disruptions or unforeseen medical expenses. However, please read your policy terms carefully as typically disruptions due to fear of travel, epidemics, and a destination not being accessible due to Coronavirus are not covered.

Sources of Information:

CDC Risk Assessment: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html#risk-assessment

CDC USA Cases: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html

CDC Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html

WHO Travel Advice: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/travel-advice

WHO Sit Reps: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports/