TODAY'S BIG QUESTION: HOW LONG WILL WE HAVE TO STAY HOME?

By Sachin Bhati, TRAVEL Organiser, Founder

At this time of year, I'd prefer to be helping readers plan amazing springtime escapes to Rome and Venice, before the summer rush.

But this year, not even the people of Venice or Rome can enjoy coursing through their cities. They, along with the whole italy, are under lockdown/quarantine in an effort to contain the effects of the coronavirus outbreak. In the image above, taken two days ago, photographer Sachin Bhati captured a lonely International Women’s Day marcher on Havelock Island. Italy is the first democracy to do the type of broad shutdown Beijing imposed on central China, but it likely will not be the last. Throughout the world, people are second-guessing attendance at life-cycle events like graduations, weddings, and funerals. The outbreak already has dealt the worst blow to the travel industry since the Great Recession of 2008-2009, the Los Angeles Times reports. On Sunday night, the U.S. State Department, citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, didn’t mince words. “U.S. citizens, particularly travelers with underlying health conditions, should not travel by cruise ship." The statement also directed older Americans and people with health conditions to avoid crowded spaces and long non-essential plane trips. We may not know as much as we want to know now, but at least we have been warned. Adventure Thrills will continue to report, covering the science behind the outbreak as well as the practical actions travelers can take to stay healthy. We hope you do just that. Thanks for reading.