The COVID-19 or Coronavirus pandemic is an extraordinary event that occurred in China at the end of 2019, spread and continues to spread throughout the world today. It is an issue considered to have global dimensions, with health bodies across the planet adopting many precautions and restrictions to ensure the virus does not spread.

And do you know what your procedure should be like when traveling during a pandemic? The tourism sector was the most impacted and anyone who has the chance to cancel or postpone a trip can do so. It is a crisis that will pass, we just don't know when and everything will depend on people's dynamics so as not to spread this virus, which is considered lethal.

Travel insurance and Coronavirus
Many insurers do not offer coverage that is medical, with a list of risks that are covered and that are related to outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics, as the COVID-19 crisis was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. As a result, insurers would have to theoretically no longer cover the costs of medical and hospital expenses for this treatment.

Travelers should read their travel insurance policy very carefully, so that they can discover all of their situations that are covered by the insurance company that was contracted by you. The average cost of travel insurance, which can be compared to the total cost of a trip, can reach the equivalent of 5% of the total cost of a trip, to cover many unforeseen events and illnesses on your trip.

When a diagnosis of COVID-19 is confirmed, it is important to know that most insurance companies will not necessarily be able to cover these expenses. After confirmation, many insurers begin to exempt themselves from this responsibility. Before contracting your insurance, ask your broker or travel agent directly whether you will be covered for this diagnosis.

The travel insurance regulatory body in Brazil is created and marketed by an insurance company, which is legally qualified, regulated and supervised by the Private Insurance Superintendence (SUSEP). When you start to feel unwell during your trip, the procedure is to immediately contact the Customer Service Center of that chosen company and report this situation during the trip.

Due to this pandemic, many destinations have taken several restrictive measures and today what may be operating normally may be closed tomorrow or has already been closed. The Ministry of Health recommends that travelers reschedule these trips to the countries most affected by this pandemic, such as China, Italy and the United States.

This is a recommendation and cannot be considered a rule. As long as the Coronavirus has not completed its complete cycle, in terms of its spread and contagion, a trip to countries that are affected by this worldwide disease may be of little benefit. If you can't avoid it, take hygiene care to avoid contagion.

When traveling on a plane, there is almost no chance of being infected unless there is direct interaction with other passengers who are already infected with this virus. This happens because the air conditioning units on planes are as modern as those used in surgical rooms, largely reducing the spread of this disease.

For airlines and travel agencies, the fact is that they do not have the obligation to cancel a trip, and this requires negotiation. The Brazilian government advises that these companies, with their customers, must sign an agreement related to the offer of flights for the segments and with all promotional fares.

According to PROCON of the state of São Paulo, all airlines cannot under any circumstances refuse to offer alternatives that are intended for the consumer. People who have already purchased their ticket must contact the respective airline, so that a negotiation can take place between the consumer and the airline, which will be providing this trip.

Postponing a date for your trip will be much easier than opting for a
cancellation, even more so if the presentation contains a formal justification. However, many companies have offered to postpone this trip without additional costs, in the case of flights to areas that are at risk. Contact the company and try negotiating.

Many companies have already canceled their flights to some of these destinations or offer alternative routes. The consumer must have an official justification to be able to change the destination of their trip, which may be at no additional cost. Postpone or reschedule this trip for the next few months, in the hope that this entire situation can be normalized as quickly as possible.

For people who are already thinking about their next trip, the best time to plan is now. This is due to the drop in demand for airline tickets, which increases a person's chances of getting good prices. This procedure can be done through detailed research, with tools that are price comparators, to find the most affordable price.

This is one of the biggest modern crises in recent times in the tourism sector and we must all think collectively to reduce all the risks and impacts to stop the growth of this disease. Start planning your trip to the destinations of your dreams. We are sure that all this will pass soon and that is why we have separated this information to answer your questions.