There are always risks when travelling, even in non-corona times. You could have an accident, be bitten by poisonous animals, be attacked by muggers, or perhaps contract a tropical disease. Right now, of course, the risk of contracting the coronavirus is on most people's minds. We certainly don't want to minimise the problem or the risks. But what about it, is the coronavirus panic exaggerated?
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The progress of the coronavirus
The new coronavirus, Covid-19, is designated as a socially dangerous disease and has currently (6 March) affected more than 100,000 people worldwide. The vast majority of these are in China, but there are now also thousands of people affected in South Korea, Iran and Italy. The numbers change from day to day and you can check the current situation here:
- Public health authorities
- ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control)
- Gisand data (Global Cases by John Hopkins)
Concerns about the Coronavirus?
It is difficult to predict exactly how the virus will spread, and to what extent the spread can be stopped. Not everyone infected becomes seriously ill, but the virus can be very hard on the lungs. About 1-2 per cent die, according to preliminary data, and even if you survive, there is a risk of infecting someone close to you who is more susceptible. So it's not surprising that many people are worried.
do you need to panic?
Many are worried, but do we need to panic? In Sweden, a total of 101 people have now (6 March) been infected. The number will probably rise, but it is too early to say whether there will be a spread of infection in the country, or whether the infection will be kept relatively limited.
We will of course make wise decisions to avoid spreading the infection further, and we will take this seriously. But do we really need to stock up on tinned food for several months because just over 100 people have fallen ill? Could it be that newspapers are fuelling the coronavirus panic just because they want clicks - and thus make money (through paywalls or advertisers who pay per view)?
A little perspective
In a normal year, lots of Swedes are affected by "seasonal flu" and several hundred die (I have seen figures of 200, 300-700 and "up to a thousand"), most of whom are elderly or have other risk factors. But do we panic when the seasonal flu arrives? No, we kind of have it accustomed to.
There are of course some important differences between the coronavirus and seasonal flu. For example, there is no vaccine against COVID-19, which means that more people are affected if the infection spreads, and that those who are susceptible cannot protect themselves in the same way. So, there is cause for concern. But maybe we should still sit down and take a few deep breaths?
The coronavirus and risks when travelling
The situation in Sweden is one thing, but do you dare to travel now in times of corona? There is no straightforward answer, and of course it depends on where you are travelling, how you are travelling and how your health is. First and foremost, you should of course follow UD's guidelines, which currently (6 March) means advised against:
- all trips to Hubei Province in China
- non-essential travel to other parts of China, with the exception of Hong Kong and Macau.
- all trips to Iran
- non-essential travel to the regions of Piedmont, Liguria, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Trentino-Alto Adige, Valle d'Aosta, Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Marche and Tuscany in northern Italy.
- non-essential travel to Daegu city and Gyeongbuk province in South Korea
However, the MFA does not advise against all areas where there is a risk of infection, but mainly against areas where the effects and burden of the infectious disease are high on society. Whether or not the MFA advises against it, travellers must make their own decisions about their trip.
We also recommend that you keep track of the spread of infection in different countries (see links above) and that you are careful about hand hygiene. Then, of course, it is important to feel what you are comfortable with.
Other risks when travelling
We find it interesting how people perceive risks when travelling. Even in non-Corona times, we humans tend to worry about all sorts of things - but perhaps not always what should logically be the most dangerous. For example, I think flying can be unpleasant, but I rarely worry about getting into a car, and how logical is that? Which of the following things do you usually worry about before travelling, and which do you think is the most dangerous? actually?
- Aircraft accidents
- Tropical diseases
- Other diseases
- Robbery
- Road accidents
- Boating accidents
- Drowning
- Other accidents
- Dangerous animals
- Acts of violence
- Poisoning
- Natural disasters
- Other
We have no facts, but according to Expressen, for example, 124 Swedes died in Thailand in 2015, mostly due to road accidents or drowning. We guess that traffic is one of the biggest risks in many travel destinations, but how often do you hear someone worrying about traffic?
Travelling despite the risks involved?
What do we want to say with this? Discourage everyone from travelling because they might get sick or die? No, not at all! In fact, when you are alive, you always risk getting sick or dying. Even when you are at home in Sweden.
Risks can sometimes increase when travelling. There may be risks on the way to or at the destination, you may live differently on holiday, or you may simply have less control than at home.
You should of course take precautions when necessary, act wisely and not expose yourself or others to unnecessary risks. But you shouldn't stop living either. It is important to find a balance here. What are your thoughts?
You might also like:
Food is more than nutrition - a public health scientist's thoughts on food and health
Tips on healthy eating - when does it become lecturing?
Public health and medicine - two different perspectives
Do we worry too much when travelling? (Or sometimes too little?)
Dare to travel to Uzbekistan? - we answer 17 questions
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Maria's Memoirs says:
Very sensible and well-written post 🙂 Among my biggest fears when travelling are traffic accidents, other accidents and illness (eg food poisoning or other things where you get in really bad shape and maybe end up in hospital).
For my upcoming corona trip, I have found out what my travel insurance covers and does not cover, and I have booked an apartment instead of a hotel - which makes sense right now because my insurance does not cover the extra costs that arise if I were to be isolated in a hotel ...
07 March 2020 - 9:13
Ama de casa says:
Thought for a while and came to the conclusion that what I worry most about before/during travel is missing the plane/bus/boat/train. Therefore, we are always out in very good time. Then I worry about delays if we have a connection to make.
Sure, the corona is worrying, but we live on as usual. Although a cruise with Princess cruises to one of the most affected areas that we have been looking at, we will wait until the situation is under control. Because it has to be, right?
I still find it strange that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs gives the green light to Hong Kong and Macao.
07 March 2020 - 10:00
Ditte says:
Every day I look at the WHO website and also at what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends. For myself, I am not at all worried and as you also listed, people die every day around the world in accidents, floods and other things.
For my part, I can feel that the media of all kinds are now reveling in this with the Corona virus. And being infected means just that. Not that one falls off the "stick" automatically.
I have friends now who are travelling around Asia, Vietnam and Cambodia by train, and there is not nearly as much focus on Corona as here.
It is constructive to check your insurance properly before travelling, and even when travelling, follow up with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and perhaps the WHO or something else.
07 March 2020 - 10:03
Inga Magnusson says:
Guess a horror with Corona is possibly being quarantined for weeks on a boat or hotel, locked up with sick people.
The disease is also dangerous for those who have other diseases such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular problems. Mortality rates vary with age. Otherwise healthy children apparently always survive, but between the ages of 70 and 80, 8 per cent of those infected die, and between the ages of 80 and over, 14 per cent of those infected die. So Corona is certainly a bit more insidious than other influenza.
07 March 2020 - 10:46
Lisa says:
I don't want to worry unnecessarily, what goes around comes around. Thinking of all who smoke and who know that it poses major health risks but still continue to smoke. Sometimes we humans are a little illogical can seem. One day we will all die but until then we will continue to live. A quote I pinched from somewhere does not preclude us from taking care of ourselves and each other. Have a nice weekend from a sunny Malaga .
07 March 2020 - 11:12
Renate's travels says:
Good article with many good points. I myself am not particularly worried about the virus, but in no way want to be the reason my loved ones get it. Especially not my 80+ year old grandmother. How serious it actually is depends on what you read. Since it is so new, it is difficult to say at this time. Nevertheless, it is obvious that the media "love" the coronavirus, and that creating fear sells more than simply presenting facts in an objective way. For now, I follow the advice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and take one day at a time. Hysteria will never be the solution to a problem anyway.
07 March 2020 - 12:11
Ruth in Virginia says:
Here in the US, Corona is really high-hype.
The president is accused of letting in sick Chinese people.
The President says it's Obama's fault that we don't have vaccines.
He himself has cut funding for research and laid off employees.
"Specialists" are on TV every day. It really does verge on hysteria.
A young family in the family had booked a trip here at the beginning of July.
have now cancelled due to Corona. My daughter is flying to London now
on Monday and have no intention of cancelling.
I am a fatalist. "Whatever will be will be". The only thing I will
remember, which was real, was infant paralysis/polio. My brother got it and many good friends. Everyone was scared, because we knew nothing.
At my age, I think I am immune to most things. 🙂
07 March 2020 - 15:04
Maria / MagnoliaMagis says:
What happens tomorrow or the next hour, we don't really know. Where, when, how, everything can change in an instant. One friend had dance lessons and died on the dance floor at 49. Another was riding a moped home. Then a deer came along. He was 15 years old. I think we all have those who are no longer with us. I'm grateful every day I still hang out with them and those around me. Walking around worrying diminishes life. Of course there are things that worry me, but I don't let them control me. Sometimes you should listen to your worries with good reason, sometimes you need to challenge them. No one but you can decide when what is what.
However, I think it is important to show consideration, for example by not travelling to the worst affected areas. You never know what other people's immune system is like. Even if I'm not afraid for myself, there are many people in society that you meet who wouldn't cope so well.
Then it is interesting how the media today affects society, for better or worse. I saw on FB a comparison of the Coronavirus and the world hunger: "The Coronavirus has killed x number of thousands of people. The world is crying out in panic and has live updates. People are hoarding food and masks. World hunger is killing x number of tens of thousands per day, No media outcry, no panic. It's not something the rich can die from..."
07 March 2020 - 16:30
JoY says:
Of course, life goes on even though Corona has arrived. We still choose not to meet our grandson who has been in northern Italy and tested negative on the return journey. Feel that we do not want or need to be in large crowds. How it will be later in the future when it attracts motorhome travellers, we will have to take then.
Have a nice weekend
07 March 2020 - 16:54
BP says:
A very good post that puts "perspective" on the coronavirus. However, I personally would not get on a plane/train to other countries right now. Why tempt fate.
Admittedly, most people who have died from the virus are older people who have had other illnesses, but still. I know two people who are in home quarantine after skiing holidays in northern Italy. They can work from home for two weeks. A wise decision. I think you should play it safe for a few weeks/months until the "hysteria" is over.
07 March 2020 - 18:19
I Monica says:
There is so much ignorance and misconceptions that I have to comment. The pandemics we have had from the last century and now are all influenza A viruses of the subtype H1N1 so also this current one. Hong Kong H3N2 but still type A. Let's take the Spanish flu first, it was not old grandma who died but almost exclusively people aged 20-40 years. Devastating and up to 100 million deaths have emerged in recent years. Young adults in good health without any diagnoses and I can explain that as a researcher in immunology but it is too long but short: the immune system is strong and intact and takes too much, thus killing too much which leads to physical death. In 2009 we had the same virus in the swine flu and it mainly affected those under 30 years old, over 200,000 died. Virtually no one over 55 fell ill. Asia in 1957 the same, same virus, 2 million dead. Hong Kong 1968, 1 million dead. We have experienced all of these in my family, but we are alive and grateful, it is not a matter of course. And no Swede has direct knowledge of their exact immune system.
07 March 2020 - 21:20
I Monica says:
No, we haven't had the last one yet and hope we don't have to, it's influenza virus type A as well and would like to add that all viruses mutate and make them treacherous so this can kill both old and young. Wrong perceptions that only old people died in China, think the two doctors, 29 and 34 years are quite young and more with them died but info that manages to escape is quickly eliminated. And we'll see, just the beginning here for sure with all the infected returning, think it was 170 now. And hand sanitiser, 70 per cent, kills this type of virus on the skin but runs out unfortunately. Hand washing most important of course, so where you do before an op if it is to have an effect.
07 March 2020 - 21:44
Monica says:
I think it is completely inaccurate to talk about "hysteria and panic" or to insinuate that the media are exploiting the situation to increase their revenues. Personally, I do not think it is relevant to compare an unknown highly contagious and potentially deadly virus with risks such as dying in a road accident, encountering dangerous animals or drowning. This is literally comparing apples to oranges and has no bearing whatsoever on a professional risk assessment of COVID-19. This kind of reasoning is not used by responsible authorities anywhere in the world. We and our entire world are facing an extremely serious situation where human health and the entire world economy are threatened. Just tonight, Sunday 8 March, Italy is taking the extreme measure of quarantining the most important part of the country with the economic engine Milan and the tourist area around Venice. Over 15 million people are affected! And this is happening now with immediate effect. It is also happening in a democratic EU country, very close to us. As evidenced by the fact that the majority of the Swedish cases were infected during skiing holidays in northern Italy. The seriousness of the situation cannot be made any clearer than this.
Otherwise, I agree with my namesake I Monica regarding both the spread of infection and potential other risks. To even think in terms of travelling abroad (which is not of an extremely necessary nature) during such a serious epidemic/pandemic as we have now is incomprehensible to me. This is how this virus spreads. Those who are infected then come home and infect their fellow human beings!
08 March 2020 - 7:45
Lena - good for the soul says:
What a great post. I'm not the worried type in general. If something happens, I take the hit. There is no point in worrying. However, I have full respect for things. I do what I think is reasonable to do to prevent the spread of diseases, both in terms of common colds and all kinds of viruses.
I imagine that I would do pretty well if I got infected, but I don't want to be the one to pass it on to someone who gets really bad. Or maybe even lose their life, woe is me!
Hug Lena
08 March 2020 - 8:46
Bosse Myren says:
Why question, as many do in the public debate, the fact that Northern Italy is closing its "borders" for travelling in and out of Northern Italy due to the Coronavirus????
Bahrain, the organiser of Formula 1, has decided that the race (which normally attracts over 100,000 spectators) will be held without spectators in the stands) and in addition (possibly) Vietnam's first ever F1 race will be held without spectators in the stands...!
You are right to be worried - we had planned to go into northern Italy (Adriatic coast plus Venice and Lake Garda) on our way home to Sweden from southern Spain (where we have been living in winter for 7 years), but we decided against it because of the risk of infection !
Both of us, who were very close to being bitten by a rattlesnake in South Florida a few years ago, ARE worried!!!!
08 March 2020 - 22:40
Deciree says:
Unfortunately, we are affected by the Coronavirus to the extent that we have completely cancelled our holiday trip with the whole family. We had booked 3 motorhomes for us and the sons with families and would have picked them up in Milan and finish in Paris as we told you on the blog.... but now everything is cancelled. This of course feels very very sad but health goes before considering that I also do not have such good lungs. I hope and believe that most people think like us and stay at home to reduce the spread.
11 March 2020 - 9:48
Anna-K says:
Anyway, I would never be so selfish as to risk burdening the health care system in any other country right now, if I were to fall ill with Covid 19 or something else. Therefore we refrain from travelling.
09 September 2020 - 10:05