Coronavirus and Us.
Captain and on-board EMT Nancy Shipley talks Coronavirus and what it may mean for your Next Adventure.
Planning a vacation with all the new information about the Coronavirus can be scary. Between the news articles and missing toilet paper from store shelves, it’s hard to know what to think. Add that to planning an international vacation, and the situation becomes even more confusing. I’m here to shed a little light on things and hopefully make your decisions easier.
In light of the growing panic and global response to COVID-19, international travel is going to be a risk. You can never know when travel bans or restrictions might be put into place. That being said, there are many ways to make informed decisions about your next adventure!
The Coronavirus is proving to be less deadly than previously thought, coming in at only a few percent higher than the annual flu’s mortality rate. That does not mean, however, that precautions don’t need to be taken. Germs on a boat are always a serious concern given the tight quarters and continuous contact between passengers. Luckily, transmission can be prevented with a few simple steps!
First: If you feel sick, stay home.
This may seem like an obvious one, but you might be surprised how many people ignore early symptoms. Trust us- even an Exumas vacation is no fun with a cold, the flu, or any virus.
Second: Practice good hygiene.
Again, seems simple enough, but that’s the beauty of it! Dead or non-existent germs don’t transmit disease. Frequent hand-washing, limited facial touching, and always coughing or sneezing into a sleeve (even when it’s just pepper or water down the wrong pipe) help prevent the transmission of germs.
Third: Maintain a germ-free environment.
One benefit of living in close quarters is that they are easy to keep clean! We sanitize all touchable surfaces twice daily and keep hand-sanitizer in several convenient locations throughout the boat. Clorox wipes and Lysol wipe out any germs that reach public spaces.
These precautions make transmission on-board almost impossible. A virus is only as good as it’s environment!
As of now there are no confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 in The Bahamas. The threat level is currently high, however, because Nassau is a major cruise ship destination. Luckily for our adventurers, Nassau is only a very short stop on our list. The Nassau airport is no more high risk than any other airport because it is not frequented by cruise ship passengers. Being cautious during travel is a must but as long as you practice good hygiene- washing your hands, covering your mouth, and limiting facial touching, you shouldn’t have to worry.
Ultimately, it is up to you whether or not travel is something you want to risk during this viral outbreak. It IS a risk, but with good planning and understanding, that risk can be significantly mitigated. We are confident in the safety of our guests and the efficacy of our policies to keep us, as well as you, COVID-19 free and enjoying your NEXT ADVENTURE. Hope to see you out there!
Check out these links for more information on COVID-19.
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/coronavirus-disease-2019-vs-the-flu
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/feb/28/which-countries-have-coronavirus-travel-restrictions-in-place
https://www.recommend.com/news-tools/news/bahamas-prepares-coronavirus/