Travel News

The US Puts Mainland China Level 4 Travel Advisory – “Do Not Travel”

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Written by Charlie

The US has now put their travel advisory to mainlan China at Level 4 – their highest alert level. This means “do not travel” there in light of the coronavirus.

The US has now moved their travel advisory for mainland China from Level 3 (reconsider travel) to Level 4 which says “Do not travel.” This comes on the heal of the World Health Organization issuing a statement that the new coronavirus is a “public health emergency of international concern.”

The US Says “Do Not Travel” to Mainland China

Link: US Travel Advisory for China

As of today (January 31, 2020), the US State Department has now assigned China at a Level 4 travel advisory (read here to see what the US State Department travel advisories actually mean).

To view the latest updates as this virus continues, check out this page at the NY Times.

There are now more cases of this virus in China than there were of the SARS virus many years ago. Plus, it is spreading to other countries to people who had not even visited China. The US flew a 747 plane from the affected zone that just landed in California the other day as part of a health evacuation.

To read more about the virus and precautions you should take, check out this website from the CDC.

Here is what the State Department says about travel to China at this time:

Do not travel to China due to novel coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China. On January 30, the World Health Organization has determined the rapidly spreading outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Travelers should be prepared for travel restrictions to be put into effect with little or no advance notice.Commercial carriers have reduced or suspended routes to and from China.

Those currently in China should consider departing using commercial means. The Department of State has requested that all non-essential U.S. government personnel defer travel to China in light of the novel coronavirus.

In an effort to contain the novel coronavirus, the Chinese authorities have suspended air, road, and rail travel in the area around Wuhan and placed restrictions on travel and other activities throughout the country. On January 23, 2020, the Department of State ordered the departure of all non-emergency U.S. personnel and their family members from Wuhan. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Hubei province.”

Have Travel Booked to China? US Airline Information

Hopefully, the world’s health organizations can get a handle on this virus soon. In the meantime, if you have travel scheduled to terminate in or to connect through China, check with your airline for their waivers that they have in place.

For now, these waivers allow for travel to be changed all the way into March. I would guess that they will extend this if the need arrives. Since you may get one shot at a change, unless your travel itinerary is for the very near future, I would wait to see if they extend it even further.

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About the author

Charlie

Charlie has been an avid traveler and runner for many years. He has run in marathons around the world for less than it would cost to travel to the next town - all as a result of collecting and using miles and points. Over the years, he has flown hundreds of thousands of miles and collected millions of miles and points.
Now he uses this experience and knowledge to help others through Running with Miles.