All Policies Include Coronavirus Cover
Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30
Coronavirus FAQs
Questions about cover for coronavirus? Read our FAQs and find out what our policies can do for you. If you would like to contact us, please note we are currently only available 09:00 to 17:30 Monday to Friday due to reduced operational capacity. Thank you.
20 October 2014 10:08
Passengers being screened at Heathrow for Ebola
Plans to expand Ebola screening to more airports across Britain should help reassure passengers travelling abroad.
For many it may have seemed that the health crisis was a million miles away, with most of those infected living in Africa. But the emergence of cases in Europe and the US have caused concern closer to home.
The outbreak has encouraged the UK government to take action, and screening at airports of people entering the country from certain areas of West Africa will now be a far more common sight.
Measures are already in place at Heathrow and Gatwick, as well as the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras. Once officials are satisfied the measures are working smoothly at these locations, they intend to start screening at airports in Birmingham and Manchester.
The crisis will have prompted travellers to consider taking out medical travel insurance and - while the risks of Ebola are not great unless visiting infected areas - it is always handy to have such cover in case of other emergencies while abroad.
Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies describes the risk to the UK as "low", but Prime Minister David Cameron is worried that the quality of checks in other European countries may not be of the same standard as those in Britain.
Why the UK is low risk
Becoming infected with the Ebola virus is unlikely in the UK unless you have travelled to areas infected with the disease or had direct contact with a person with Ebola-like symptoms.
While the virus could arrive in the UK by plane, there are a number or reasons why a rapid spread of the disease is doubtful.
- The virus is not as easily transmitted as a respiratory virus such as flu.
- People with Ebola are not infectious until they have developed symptoms, such as a fever. The disease then progresses very rapidly. This means infectious people do not walk around spreading the disease for a long period.
- Britain has a resilient public health system with the necessary staff and facilities to contain cases of Ebola.
- Border Force have been trained to identify possible cases of Ebola, while f light crews know how to respond quickly to any passengers who develop symptoms during a flight.
28 February 2020
From tulip-filled trips to rose-tinged rests, these destinations are the perfect way to see in the new season.
[more...]
04 January 2021
Join us on a journey to Ancient Greece to discover more about history's most revered statue.
Head north for a light show like no other. Discover how you can see the Northern Lights for yourself.
Discover more about the magnificent waterfall perched on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe.
10 December 2020
Don't sleep on the world's most impressive dormant volcano.
A destination that stands head and shoulders above the rest.
19 November 2020
Take a tour of one of South America's most captivating natural landscapes.
Discover the hidden depths of the world's most recognisable desert gorge.
It's the question on everyone's mind right now - unfortunately, there's still no easy answer...
Discover why planes are more hygienic than you might think.
Dive into Queensland's colourful coral.
02 November 2020
With the global travel industry slowly getting back on its feet, it's a great time for holiday bargain hunters. Here are our top tips for 2021.