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World Health Organization Declares Global Public Health Emergency
January 31st, 2020
World Health Organization Declares Global Public Health Emergency
Direct Travel would like to inform you that on Thursday, January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus a global public health emergency as the outbreak has continued to spread outside of China. This declaration follows the over 10,000 coronavirus cases and over 200 coronavirus-related fatalities that have been reported worldwide.
U.S. Coronavirus-Related Updates
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the State Department are advising U.S. citizens to avoid all nonessential travel to China. To further help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, U.S. travel officials have recently expanded the enforcement of screenings to 20 U.S. airports. Passengers traveling from China to U.S. screener airports are subject to undergo these screenings. Currently, screenings consist of requiring passengers to answer a short questionnaire regarding past travel information, any known physical symptoms, and contact information. CDC staff will also take these travelers’ temperatures using a handheld thermometer.
In response to the growing spread of the coronavirus, United Airlines, Delta and American Airlines have recently suspended flights to mainland China.
Additionally, several confirmed cases of the coronavirus have been reported in the U.S. Please be aware you can help protect yourself from becoming infected by the coronavirus by practicing good hygiene, including washing your hands with soap and water regularly. This is especially important in areas with high foot traffic, such as airports.
Canadian Coronavirus-Related Updates
The Canadian federal government is strongly advising that Canadian travelers avoid all travel to mainland China. All international passengers arriving at major Canadian airports will be asked via an electronic kiosk or directly by a border services officer to answer a health screening question that will help officials determine if they have traveled to Wuhan, China. Passengers who have traveled to Wuhan will need to undergo additional screening measures.
Following the growing concerns of the coronavirus, Air Canada has announced it will suspend all direct flights to Beijing and Shanghai through February.
While, currently, only a single coronavirus case has been confirmed in Canada, it is important that Canadian residents continue to practice good hygiene and stay up-to-date regarding the situation.
Please note, the information in this message is fluid and subject to change. Direct Travel will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates whenever possible.
For further assistance, please reach out to your designated Direct Travel team…
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Please note: The Direct Travel Crisis Process is initiated whenever there are world-wide events that could potentially have a negative impact on ticketed travelers. Our “Travel Alert” communications are sent immediately to key customer contacts to advise of the pending or immediate travel-related situation.
