Each and every one of us is affected by COVID-19. This virus doesn’t see race, ethnicity, affluence or gender. Despite the facts changing on a near-daily basis, one fact that does still remain is that we must stand united. We are in this together and despite maintaining a distance, we will try our best to continue to connect and create a community, albeit virtually.

The travel industry is built on a network of incredible partners across the world; our suppliers, our guides and the properties that we work with have all been accommodating in ensuring that we can serve our clients in the best way possible. We thank you.

And I thank you, our clients, for your patience and continued support during these challenging times. We have been humbled by the notes of concern, the generosity and the flexibility shown to us. For a small company, like ours, it means a great deal.

If there is anything below that you are unsure of or any travel plans that you might have, or would even just like to hear a friendly voice, please do not hesitate to call me or my team. That is what we are here for, to help you in these uncertain times – 01285 601 586.

To travel and explore our world is a great privilege, one that we do not take lightly. In the next few weeks, we will continue to provide you with content on our social channels that will hopefully feed your wanderlust and inspire you to continue discovering our world when the time is right.

COVID-19 FAQs

What is the coronavirus?

Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a new strain that was discovered in 2019 and has not been previously identified in humans.

How does the virus spread?

It’s not yet known exactly how coronavirus spreads, but similar viruses are caught from either breathing in droplets from an infected person’s coughs or sneezes, or touching surfaces with them on.

How do I know if I have Coronavirus?

I am no medical expert but the best advice I have seen/read is the below infographic from the World Health Organisation:

WHO coronavirus COVID-19 symptoms chart
WHO coronavirus COVID-19 symptoms chart

How can I prevent COVID-19?

Here are some recommendations for reducing your risks:

  • Frequently wash your hands with soap and (ideally hot) running water for at least 20 seconds
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in a bin and wash your hands. If you don’t have a tissue to hand, then sneeze into the crease of your elbow
  • Avoid close contact with people
  • Carry hand sanitiser with you at all times and use frequently
  • The use of facemasks is generally not recommended outside clinical settings. Should you decide to use a mask, you should ensure you continue to use all the above-recommended precautions in order to minimise the risk of transmission.

What is social distancing?

At this point, containment through contact tracing and increased testing is only part of the necessary strategy. We must move to pandemic mitigation through widespread, uncomfortable, and comprehensive social distancing. This means not only shutting down schools, work (as much as possible), group gatherings, and public events, but also making daily choices to stay away from each other as much as possible to flatten the curve.

  • No kids playdates, parties, sleepovers, or families/ friends visiting each other’s homes
  • Take care of yourself and your family, but maintain social distance.
  • Reduce the frequency of going to stores, restaurants, and coffee shops for the time being
  • If you are sick, isolate yourself, stay home, and contact a medical professional.

Now that our clients are home and safe, our Steppes team are all working remotely. You can still call us and contact us – our priorities remain to serve you, our clients. Once again, if you have any travel concerns please do get in touch with my team on 01285 601 586.

Stay positive, be kind and wash your hands thoroughly.

Useful Links

WHO (World Health Organisation) COVID-19 advice    

Foreign Commonwealth Office up-to-date advice

Up to date cases by country, including recovery numbers

Thanks for reading

Justin Wateridge

Author: Justin Wateridge