Understanding the Coronavirus Outbreak and Its Impact on Travel

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak of coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern.

The new respiratory disease, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan and has rapidly spread globally, has been declared a global emergency by the UN agency.

An emergency meeting was convened on Thursday, 30 January. According to a statement from WHO, China’s Ministry of Health reported “there are now 7711 confirmed and 12167 suspected cases throughout the country. Of the confirmed cases, 1370 are severe and 170 people have died. 124 individuals have recovered and been discharged from hospitals.”

The emergency committee emphasized that “it is still possible to interrupt virus spread, provided that countries implement strong measures to detect disease early, isolate and treat cases, trace contacts, and promote social distancing measures commensurate with the risk.”

Historical Context of Health Emergencies

Previously, five significant public health emergencies of international concern have been declared: H1N1, commonly referred to as “swine flu” in 2009, polio in 2014, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014, Zika in 2016, and another Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2019. This designation was initially established following the SARS outbreak in 2005.

Travel Warnings and Restrictions

Currently, many Chinese cities are under lockdown, and international governments—including the US State Department and the UK’s Foreign Office—have issued warnings against all but essential travel to China. Thus far, cases have also been reported in Japan, Thailand, Korea, the United States, Canada, Germany, and France, with more expected to emerge.

Governments are evacuating their citizens from Wuhan, expecting them to undergo quarantine measures upon return to their home countries. Furthermore, various airports worldwide are increasing passenger screenings in an effort to prevent the virus’s transmission through travel. Consequently, airlines have canceled hundreds of flights to and from China as a precautionary measure.