Peggy Prosser, director of Deaf World Adventures (DWA) at D-travel Agency talks about DWA’s recent tours to 6 different countries. Peggy shares her experience and information about border restrictions, in-country protocols, CDC health and safety advisories, current trends, and the downside of traveling during the COVID Pandemic.
Following is a text script. Scroll down for the YouTube video.
Hello People and Travelers!
Some know me, some don’t. I’m Peggy and I’m here with Deaf World Adventures (DWA) by D-travel. We just finished a long 6-country journey and returned home. As you may know, there are only two people running the DWA office and we’ve been pretty busy lately.
We appreciate everyone’s interest and questions about traveling during the COVID pandemic. We realize, we can’t answer one person at a time. So today, I’m responding to you with a video and text script. Also, we will open this video to the public too.
Ok, I’m ready… starting with the first most question we get.
Can we travel during the COVID pandemic?
Can we travel during the COVID pandemic? I answer, yes, because I did a trip very recently.
However, it’s not like just hopping on the plane and going wherever you want. There are restrictions and protocols “strict government rules for controlling the pandemic” set by each country for entry and also re-entry, that we must abide by. The hardest part about this is that each protocol varies from each country. We must make time to sit down and educate ourselves about each country’s protocol.
I personally had to study about 6 countries protocols and 3 more additional home-bound countries for our traveler’s return. That’s a total of 9 sets of national COVID-19 protocols to remember to follow. I’ve come across some interesting border crossing restrictions and in-country protocols.
Next, I want to explain the restrictions and protocols.
Border Restrictions
At present time there are 4 types of border restrictions adopted around the world.
- Closed – no entry to the country. This is changing rapidly. To date of this video, Australia and New Zealand still have their borders closed. And some countries may be closed to other countries and open to some others.
- Quarantine – entry into a country but isolated at someplace for a period of time, usually 14 days (2-weeks). Some countries have a shorter time like 10 or 7 days.
- Negative PCR Test Documentation – travelers including returning citizens must prove a negative PCR test before entry to a country or even home country, too.
- Double Vaccine Certification – persons entering a country must prove their double vaccine certification. (if no vaccine certification you may be able to present a negative PCR test result).
Some countries require two or three of the above. Like requiring a negative PCR and vaccine certificate or three like in Japan with negative PCR, vaccine certificate, and 14-day quarantine.
Country Protocols
The most important thing to understand after you are allowed to enter a country is that you will have to agree to abide by the country’s COVID protocols. This part is the most difficult to absorb especially when you are traveling to more than one country. Here are examples of some common country protocols:
- wear masks in public
- agree to a temperature check before entry to a site
- keep your distance from others (you may find public space with markers on the ground)
- Business establishments (theaters, museums, galleries, and others ) must close their services till later. (It happened)
- Restaurants and shops must cut back their hours or be closed (we had almost missed some dinners)
- Some other places (spa, gym, theaters, galleries) must limit the number of people per room or close their services
- Hotels must provide a COVID safety plan such as limiting the number of persons per room, elevator & dining room use and food services
- Some countries have a curfew with public transportation or have seating control and limits
With this, I see that solo travelers will need to do their homework. Travelers on tours can rely on local tour conductors who will advise you on what to do and what not to do.
Health and Safety
As for health and safety, most countries follow their national CDC that includes the following recommendations. It’s pretty much the same around the world. They include:
- Wear a mask
- Avoid crowds
- Avoid closed in space
- Keep a distance from people
- Vent your room as often
- Wash your hands as often
- Be healthy (eat, exercise, and sleep well)
- If you feel unwell stay home, DO NOT TRAVEL!
Some downsides of traveling during the COVID pandemic are:
- Not everyone understands the COVID virus, the pandemic, vaccine, or protocols the same
- You could become asymptotic (because are vaccinated or have a strong healthy body)
- PCR testing costs when it is required for entry into a country
- Protocol updates can confuse travelers, causing errors and delays while traveling
- False alarms such as a cough, a headache, diarrhea, loss of smell are also symptoms of COVID when really it was the common cold, allergy, or some other health condition. One can get paranoid over these symptoms.
Current Trends
The future of travel and the COVID pandemic are changing swiftly. The number of cases is declining and more people are vaccinated. Also, our governments and the travel industry are looking at the number of vaccinated persons per country rather than new COVID cases. The more people vaccinated, the better is how governments and businesses view it. Consequently, many countries are relaxing their border restrictions and many are removing the negative test PCR test requirement, to require travelers to prove a double vaccinated certificate.
UPDATE: CHANGE OF INFORMATION (November 2, 2021)
On November 8th, the US will relax its border restrictions, requiring travelers to prove a double vaccine certificate before entry. Also, the negative PCR result is added back onto the list of requirements for entry into the US for travelers arriving from specific countries. COVID border restrictions and protocols change frequently. If you are traveling soon, check for updates often.
Now the big concern
Ready to go home, your home country requires a PCR test, you take the test and you’re COVID positive.
Please do not panic. This can be a surprise because you feel just fine. You’re probably asymptotic because you are vaccinated and have taken good care of yourself. This is truly a very unlucky situation.
What happens next when you find you are COVID positive. It is with regret that you can’t board the plane because your destination or home country requires a negative PCR test before entry. Airlines just simply will not let you board the plane. You will have to stay behind and ward off the virus to get a negative test result before you can fly back home or to your next destination.
Depending on where you were you took your PCR test, supposed it was at the airport or arranged by the hotel, a quarantine officer may look for you and approach you. They make take you away and possibly isolate you for long hours till they confirm your case. They will examine your health, ask you to take another PCR test or blood test to verify the results as true or false. They may also ask you questions about your health and whether you have any other health conditions or matters.
If they find that you’re asymptotic and mild they may ask you to be quarantined for 14-days at some COVID hotel arranged by the government in their country or they may ask you to go quarantine yourself till negative and then you may go home. Each country has different quarantine protocols. Though if you become COVID positive, you must follow the quarantine protocols of the country you’re are in.
if you are COVID positive and show some health symptoms whether COVID or non-COVID, that need medical attention, you may be admitted to a hospital to recover from your symptoms and wait there till you get a negative PCR test result to be released from the hospital.
Important Note: Travel Insurance
Quarantine time at the hotel or Airbnb and hospital fees are at your expense. Please maouke sure you have travel insurance and that your travel insurance will cover such cases as above.
Ok, I think I’ve given a lot of information and if there are any questions send us an inquiry message on our website. Thank you.