MINNEAPOLIS — If you're planning a trip this summer or even this Fall, you're likely wondering, 'what do I need to know and what places should I be avoiding?'
As the virus makes its way around the world, anxiety levels are rising especially when it comes to travel plans. Brian Nystedt, a travel adviser and CEO of New Departures travel agency in Minneapolis said so far, his clients haven't cancelled very many trips.
"Only one group and that was for a Baltic trip in June, that's it," Nystedt said. "We've had other people's trips moved because they were going to the hot zone like China, like East Asia. They've moved to Europe or South America for those trips."
With the outbreaks making its way to Germany and Italy, I asked Nystedt if he advises people not book trips to Europe in the near future. His answer, no.
"We always as a company advise travel insurance," he said. "This is just that extra layer of protection and also you should always look at 'cancel for any reason' coverage. Which means if you panic, and you're uncomfortable going, you don't want to go, the insurance will cover most of the cost of your trip. Depending on what state you live in, in Minnesota, for 'cancel for any reason,' most policies are 75 percent."
Nystedt, who has been in the industry during other scares in history, like the outbreaks of SARS, Zika, Ebola and even after the travel bans that followed 9/11, said the feeling of anxiety has never been this bad.
"The level of hysteria is much higher," he said. "This time around because of social media. The misinformation that's floating around everywhere you look online. There is so much misinformation."
To quell that, the best thing you can do, according to Nystedt is to check either with travel advisers or to always start with the State Department's updates.
"Look for their watches and warnings, that's the first place," he said. "If there happens to be one all of a sudden in your destination, then follow the links there. That will take you to the CDC, it will give you information about contacting the consulates around the world. I would always start with the State Department."
Nystedt also added that it's important to remind yourself the purpose of your trip.
"If you're not going to have a good time, travel should be fun-- if it's not fun, then you're doing it wrong. Don't go. Do something else," Nystedt said.
the CDC also just put out new guidelines reminding people that fear, anxiety and misinformation can lead to social stigma towards Chinese or other Asian Americans.
They said the only people who are at great risk of getting and spreading the virus - are those who have recently traveled to China or have been in contact with a possible coronavirus patient.