The IDF board has discussed the potential impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the 2020 World Cup tour. Our immediate concern is safety for participants on the Asia-Pacific leg of the tour. We are also monitoring advice from health authorities for the full World Tour, and we are hopeful for safer travel and lighter bans by Eurotour's commencement.
The Asia-Pacific leg of the tour includes four events located in Australia and the Philippines. Current warnings issued by both governments do not recommend canceling the events. Yet, this situation may change in the coming weeks.
To combat COVID-19, Australia and the Philippines have put quarantine measures in place. They are restricting travel to and from regions affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. It is your responsibility to determine if these restrictions impact your travel plans.
Click here to follow Australia's travel and health updates.
Click here to follow the Philippines' latest update.
If you are sick or have chronic health issues, then the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends delaying or avoiding travel. The WHO has published a set of general recommendations for personal hygiene. The guidelines cover cough etiquette and keeping your distance from persons showing symptoms. They also discuss the appropriate and safe use of masks. The guidelines are on the WHO website.
We always recommend tour participants carry adequate travel insurance. Noting that not all travel insurance policies are equal, it is important to read the Product Disclosure Statement before you buy. Here is an informative article about choosing travel insurance during a pandemic.
Not all policies cover:
- epidemic/pandemic medical costs.
- cancellation of travel plans and events.
Cancellation of events is always our last option. The board will continue to work with organizers to ensure events are safe and successful. However, a cancellation in 2020 may be unavoidable because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
A cancelation may be unavoidable if:
- the WHO upgrades COVID-19 outbreak to a global pandemic; or;
- tighter quarantine measures come into effect (for example banning public gathering/events).
The response of governments to the coronavirus issue can be quite sudden. We will do our best to keep racers updated about the state of the races, and we advise all racers to periodically check the status of the country and city they are planning to travel to (as well as consulting their own embassy regarding travel restrictions).
We will keep working with event organizers to have a successful 2020! As new developments arise, we will inform you immediately.
