What You Need to Know About Omicron Variant and Travel Insurance?

What You Need to Know About Omicron Variant and Travel Insurance?

As the holiday season is here, traveling is at its peak. Whether you’re flying internationally or taking short trips in your home country, the Omicron variant has become a matter of concern. During this unpredictable time, travelers should find ways to protect themselves. Besides following all protocols, travelers need to purchase a travel insurance plan with COVID-19 coverage.

If you’re planning a vacation in the next month, let’s find out what you need to know about the new variant and travel insurance.

Plan carefully

Travelers should prepare themselves for last minute trip cancellations, flight delays, stolen passports or loss of belongings, quarantine, medical evacuation, repatriation to home country, the possibility of contracting the virus in a new country, and more. This doesn’t mean that you need to cancel all your upcoming plans and wait for the virus to get over.

If the destination you’re traveling to has a sudden spike in COVID-19 cases, you need to bring some changes to the itinerary. Keep Plan B in mind so that you can change your travel to a new location, away from crowds and try new activities.

Quarantine

If you’ve received double shots, it’s not mandatory to be quarantined after you land in a new location. Though individual  countries have their rules to follow, you need to do a bit of research before heading to an unfamiliar location.

On the safer side,  you can quarantine a week before departure and after you return to your home country. Quarantining after entering your home country may be mandatory. Do follow all the protocols maintained in your country as well as your destination country.

Follow CDC guidelines

Tourists need to follow CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19 safety protocols, which may include testing before and after arrival, quarantine, vaccination proof, insurance plan, and other documents. Apart from this, travelers should keep an eye on the latest news, CDC updated rules, alerts to specific regions, and rules laid down by local authorities.

Keep things ready

Based on your next destination, there are a few things a tourist should keep ready:

• Proof of vaccination because you need to show it to the airlines before boarding the flight and other local authorities after landing.
• Proof of negative PCR report before departure. Depending on the destination and airlines, the test needs to be done 12 to 72 hours before departure.
• Expect to take a test after arriving at your destination and during your stay there.
• Expect changes in flights’ schedules, delays, and cancellations, and sudden changes in the entry requirements of a country.
• Proof of travel insurance because it’s an important document for entering some countries.

Travel insurance

A comprehensive travel insurance plan that cover Covid-19 with medical expenses, medical evacuation, repatriation, and trip cancellation benefits can help you reduce the risk of traveling during Omicron variant. A policy not only secures a traveler but also give a sense of security and confidence in a new place. If you need to travel during pandemic, getting a travel insurance plan is necessary for medical treatment, including COVID-19, accidents, injuries, broken bones, wounds, medical evacuation, etc.

The US and Canada guidelines

The US has announced travel bans from countries Namibia, Eswatini, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi, Lesotho, and Mozambique, but it is not restricted to US-citizens. Moreover, the CDC has recommended all US-citizens and permanent residents not to travel to these countries.

Inbound international travelers must be tested for the virus a day before their departure, irrespective of their vaccination status. The mask mandate is extended till March 2022, and people will be required to wear masks in all public places.

In Canada, citizens and permanent residents who have been traveling to the African countries will be facing quarantine, screening, and testing upon returning. All vaccinated travelers coming from any part of the world other than the US need to go through testing and quarantine measures upon entering.

These are a few pieces of information, but don’t forget to research and lookup for the most up-to-date news on the WHO and the CDC before you head to a new destination.

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