The 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), or more plainly known as the China or Wuhan Coronavirus, is a type of virus that infects the respiratory system.

Although the virus causes mild respiratory infection in most cases, it can also cause severe respiratory infection, such as pneumonia, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV), and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).

In December 2019, it caused an outbreak of respiratory illness in Wuhan, a city in Central China. Reports said that the first cases in the outbreak were initially linked to a seafood market in the area, suggesting that the virus was due to an animal-to-person spread. However, it is evident that the Coronaviruses spreads from person to person.

WHO has declared the novel Coronavirus a pandemic, meaning that the virus spreads globally. This declaration demands the joint efforts of all countries and individuals to keep practicing the suggested hygiene standards in personal and public spaces.

Coronavirus patients have reportedly experienced mild to severe illness with symptoms of:

If you have traveled to countries with confirmed Coronavirus cases in the last 14 days and developed any of the aforementioned symptoms, seek medical attention right away. This should also be the case if you had been in close contact with someone showing these symptoms.

According to reports and medical studies, these symptoms may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as two weeks after exposure.

The best thing you can do is avoid exposure to the virus. Experts recommend the following steps to keep the virus from spreading:

Make these steps a habit to avoid the chance of getting infected and to keep people around you safe.

In Indonesia, the first case of Coronavirus was reported on March 2, 2020. There are currently 117 confirmed patients in the country, with the first death being recorded on March 11, 2020. As an effort to prevent the virus from spreading, local governments have also released restrictions on outdoor activities and events

You can follow the latest global updates on Coronavirus through this link.

If you're planning to visit countries with confirmed cases, it might be beneficial to reschedule the flight to a later date or even cancel it. Avoiding routes to affected cities and nearby areas is also highly recommended.

Several airlines and hotels have released travel advisories to manage the risks of the virus spreading, with some also offering passengers with flights to/hotels in affected countries the chance to rebook their trip or get a refund.

For more information on canceled flights, or to get your flights rebooked or get a refund, it is advised that you contact the airline and hotel directly.

Keep yourself in-the-know about the virus through credible sources.