Should I cancel my holiday due to coronavirus? Experts say to keep it booked despite virus outbreak
AIRLINES are cancelling flights amid the coronavirus outbreak, as Brits avoid travelling for fear of contracting coronavirus or being left quarantined in a foreign country
British Airways, EasyJet and Ryanair are just some of the airlines that have put a stop to flights due to the lack of demand, as the world battles to contain the virus.
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Holiday to Italy have been left in tatters as all but essential travel to the country was advised by the government as the outbreak nears 10,000.
Spain, France and Germany have all reported more than 1,000 cases of coronavirus, sparking concerns.
But according to the experts, there is little point in cancelling most trips just yet - as it all depends on the location and how far along they are with the virus by the time you travel.
Speaking at a press conference that outlined the government's six-point plan for battling the virus, Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said: "A lot depends on where the outbreaks are.
"At the moment the outbreaks are across Europe and across most of the world in some form or other and they are contained in many places but are becoming un-contained in some places.
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"And again it depends on the stage. Once the epidemic is everywhere then at that point restricting travel makes no difference at all.
"At the moment we are certainly not recommending any change to behaviours in relation to that and if it grows in the UK it doesn't really make sense to say you are more at risk somewhere else than you are here."
Some Brits are even taking advantage of the outbreak, as airlines slash fares to destinations such as the US and Thailand, while some destinations including Santorini, Turkey and Cape Verde have no cases of coronavirus.
But even if the virus does spread to such an extent, certain travellers are being advised to consider whether they would rather catch it in the UK or while abroad.
Chief Medical Officer Christopher Whitty said: "If you happen to be in a place with a very weak health service at the peak of their epidemic, weaker than the NHS, that might be a bit more problematic.
"This is particularly an issue for those who are older or who have pre-existing medical conditions.
"So I think in those situations, you might want to think through the practicalities of being in a place with a health service less strong than the NHS."
You could also get a refund if you have a pre-existing medical condition or illness - the Association of British Insurers (ABI) explains that most of its members will cover trips if you have to cancel because of a pre-existing condition that's declared on your insurance.
The national organisation has released a statement seeking to reassure would-be visitors, as up to 90 per cent of holiday bookings are cancelled for this month in certain parts of the country.
If you are still concerned about whether to go on holiday, we have travel advice for Italy, Spain, Austria, France, Thailand, Germany, India, Bali and Singapore.
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