Covid-19 Update 03/17/2020

Dear valued cleitnts,

We have some upbeat news based on the recent trends within China, and some not very positive news as we begin to see the outbeak grow in other areas of the world where you or clients live and work. 

While there is little directly we can do at WindhorseTour please know we are thinking about you and your family. 

The situation with Coronavirus, Covid-19 in China, is stabilizing. The temporary hospitals in Wuhan, the capital of Chinese Province Hubei, were closed on 10th March. 

The bad news is that on the other side of the world, the situation is getting worse. On 11th March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic.

In case you Must to Travel to China, Please Read this Health Alert 
 

Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Beijing, People's Republic of China (March 17, 2020)
Location: People’s Republic of China

Event: There is an ongoing outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) first identified in Wuhan, China. The global public health threat posed by COVID-19 is high, with more
than 80,000 reported cases worldwide.

The government of PRC has implemented enhanced screening and quarantine measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Travelers should be prepared for travel restrictions to be put into effect with little or no advance notice.

State/local government actions: Effective immediately, most major metropolitan areas in China will require travelers entering China from nearly all foreign destinations, including the United States, to undergo screening for COVID-19 and perform 14 days of monitored quarantine, either in their residence or in a Chinese facility, with the quarantine location determined based on their risk of COVID-19 infection. In some locations, travelers may be expected to pay for their accommodations while undergoing quarantine.
Travelers may not have control over the amenities offered at quarantine locations. These quarantine measures are not consistent across China and submitting to them is mandatory. U.S. citizens may also be required to install and use location tracking software on their phones in order to access public spaces and some businesses. Some private hospitals may refuse admittance to travelers who have been in the United States 14 days prior to entering China.
Actions to Take:

• Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
• For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19 please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
• Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
• Check with your airlines or cruise lines regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.
• Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in China.
• Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the U.S.
• Be aware you may be subject to quarantine for an undetermined period of time if you plan to travel to China.

Assistance:
· U.S. Embassy Beijing, China
Telephone: +(86)(10) 8531-4000
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(86)(10) 8531-4000
Email: BeijingACS@state.gov
Website: https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/embassy-consulates/beijing/

U.S. Consulate General Chengdu, China
Telephone: +(86)(28) 8558-3992
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(86)(10) 8531-4000
Email: AmCitChengdu@state.gov

U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou, China
Telephone: +(86)(20) 3814-5775
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(86)(10) 8531-4000
Email: GuangzhouACS@state.gov
Website: https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/embassy-consulates/guangzhou/

U.S. Consulate General Shanghai, China
Telephone: +(86)(21) 8011-2400
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(86)(10) 8531-4000
Email: ShanghaiACS@state.gov
Website: https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/embassy-consulates/shanghai/
U.S. Consulate General Shenyang, China

Telephone: +(86)(24) 2322-1198
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(86)(24) 2322-1198
Email: ShenyangACS@state.gov
Website: https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/embassy-consulates/shenyang/
· State Department - Consular Affairs
 888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444

Covid-19 in numbers around the world

To this day, 03/17/2020, according to worldometers.info COVID-19, is affecting 162 countries and territories around the world and one international conveyance (the Diamond Princess cruise ship).

CHINA

The total number of infected people with Coronavirus Covid-19 is 80.881, from which 68.709 have recovered. Total active cases at this moment are 8.946, of which 3.226 are critical.

ITALY

Unfortunately, the situation in Italy is dire. Due to the high number of deaths in a day (168), Italy put the country in quarantine on 11th March. More than 60.000 people are in quarantine in Italy.

Today's numbers in Italy are not very nice. There are reported 27.980 infected cases, 2.158 are recovered, and 2.749 are reported as deaths. Currently, there are 23.073 active cases, from which 1.851 are critical. These past two days, there are more than 6.800 new infected people. 

IRAN

• Iran is the third country by most infected people in the world. And the numbers of newly infected patients don't stop. 
• Until today, there are 16.169 total infected patients, of which 5.389 are recovered, and 988 are dead. In Iran, there are 9.792 active cases, and there is not even one case critical. 
• In one day (on 14th March) there were 1.365 new cases

SPAIN

• The situation in Spain got worse in just three days. And that makes this European country to be the four most critical countries in the world. 
• To this day Spain has reported 11,178 infected cases with coronavirus, of which 1.028 are recovered and 491 are dead. 
• At this moment there are 9.659 active cases, and 563 are critical. 
• The number of daily cases is rising up, and in these past three days Spain has reported over 4.700 new cases.

USA

• In the USA, there are a total of 4.749 cases with Covid-19. Recovered patients are a total of 74. And 93 cases are reported as death. Until today, there are 4.576 active cases, of which 12 are critical. 
• These past ten days, the number of infected cases is rising, and only yesterday were reported 983 new cases with Coronavirus. 
• The most critical countries in the US are New York with a total of 968 cases (active cases are 957), Washington has reported 904 cases with Covid-19 (of which active are 855), California has 557 cases (active cases are 544), and Massachusetts has reported 197 cases with Coronavirus (of which active are 196).

Countries in Europe:

• Coronavirus Covid-19 is spreading very fast throughout Europe. Every day there are several new cases in every country on this continent. Germany, France, Switzerland, Norway, and Denmark are the countries in Europe that are with the most infected patients with Covid-19. 

The situation with Covid-19 in the rest of the world

• Declaring a pandemic isn't just words. There is a reason why the WHO did that. Covid-19 is spreading all around the world. There are active cases in Africa, South America, Australia. 
• Traveling is forbidden in most of the countries. As we said before, Italy is in quarantine, In China, the travel agencies are still aren't allowed to sell the tourist packages, and most of the European countries have issued recommendations not to travel to countries designated as red zones. 
• Some of the US countries have closed the public schools, and in Europe, that is the case also with several countries. 

Traveling while Covid-19 is spreading 

CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to the following destinations. The entry of foreign nationals from these destinations has been suspended.

• China (Level 3 Travel Health Notice)
• Iran (Level 3 Travel Health Notice)
• South Korea (Level 3 Travel Health Notice)
• Most of Europe (Level 3 Travel Health Notice)

Who is at Highest Risk 

According to the CDC, at the highest risk are older people, and people who have severe chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, lung disease. 

Pregnant women should be cautious, although there is no information that a mother can transmit the virus to her unborn child. 

How to protect yourself from Covid-19

Follow the instructions from WHO and CDC, do not travel if there is no essence of that. Other preventions are the same ones we mention all the time:

• Wash your hands with soap and water at least 20 seconds.
• If you don't have soap and water, use the hand sanitizer with a high percentage of alcohol in it (at least 60% alcohol)
• Do not touch your face (eyes, nose, and mouth)
• Avoid group gathering, and you should have distance with people at least 6 feet. 
• To the extent possible, avoid touching high-touch surfaces in public places – elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, handshaking with people, etc. Use a tissue or your sleeve to cover your hand or finger if you must touch something.

If you have any symptoms 

We all know the symptoms but let's say again:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of Breath 

The symptom can appear 2-14 days. 

If you are feeling sick 

If you have any of these symptoms and you have traveled in the high infected regions such as China, South Korea, Italy or Iran, if you have close contact with an infected person, you should:

• Stay at home and call a doctor to tell your symptoms
• Do not go in public or clinic or ambulance, you may get to risk other people
• Very important- do not go to work, or use a public transport
• Separate yourself from the other people in the family, and you should stay in one room and use a specific bathroom if it is possible
• Wear a mask to protect the others from the Coronavirus
• Cover your mouth and your nose if you are sneezing or coughing, and use a tissue, and after using the tissue throw it right away in a trash can
• Monitor your condition, and if you feel worse you should call 911 or your doctor

Once again, we at WindhorseTour are doing everything to protect and inform you as our customers. We are hoping that this Coronavirus outbreak will end very soon so we can travel together and explore China and the world.

We extend our deepest condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the fight against Coronavirus in these last three months, but also to those who are still battling it.

We wish you all good health and take care of yourself and your loved ones!