WHO Public Health Advice as International Travel Resumes

Many countries halted some or all international travel since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic but now have plans to re-open travel, or have already reopened.

The World Health Organization (WHO) in a recent document titled, Public health considerations while resuming international travel, outlines key considerations for individuals and national health authorities to consider or implement during the gradual return to international travel operations.

You may see the whole document here.

This article summarizes the core essentials in this all-important guidance document for travellers.

1). Look to your country's government for local guidance. Every country is expected to conduct a risk-benefit analysis and decide on its priorities based on data within its borders, and its general geographical region.

2). Avoid non-essential travelling at this time. WHO recommends that priority should be given to essential travel for emergencies, humanitarian actions (including emergency medical flights and medical evacuation), travel of essential personnel (including emergency responders and providers of public health technical support, critical personnel in transport sector such as seafarers and diplomatic officers), and repatriation. Cargo transport should also be prioritized for essential medical, food and energy supplies.

Avoid non-essential travelling

3). At-risk individuals should continue to delay or avoid travels. Sick travellers and persons at risk including elderly travellers and people with chronic diseases or underlying health conditions, should delay or avoid travelling internationally to and from areas with community transmission.

4). Social and economic factors must not be ignored. There is no “zero risk” when considering the potential importation or exportation of cases in the context of international travel. Therefore, thorough and continuous risk assessment and management will help identify, reduce and mitigate those risks, while balancing the socio-economic consequences of travel measures (or temporary restrictions) against potential adverse public health consequences.

5). If you must travel, seek information and clarity on local situation of your country and the country you are travelling to. The following factors should be considered:

• local epidemiology and transmission patterns, the national public health and social measures for controlling outbreaks in both departure and in destination countries; 
• public health and health service capacity at national and subnational levels to manage suspect and confirmed cases among travellers, including at points of entry (ports, airports, ground crossings) to mitigate and manage the risk of importation or exportation of the disease; and 
• the evolving knowledge about COVID-19 transmission and its clinical features.

Because the COVID-19 epidemiological situation will vary among countries, international travel carries different levels of risk of exportation/importation of SARS-CoV-2 virus, depending on the passenger’s country of departure and country of arrival.

The epidemiological situation of COVID-19 in each country is available through WHO Situation Reports, which follow the transmission scenarios defined in the Interim Guidance WHO Global surveillance for COVID-19 caused by human infection with COVID-19 virus.

For the most current advise from the WHO, please see the WHO situation reports.