The coronavirus is currently keeping the entire world on tenterhooks. The virus, which originated in China, spread not only in Asia, but also very quickly to many parts of the world, including Europe. Initially, Italy was hit very hard but almost every European country is now affected by this dangerous virus.
SARS-CoV-2, as the corona virus is technically called, was first discovered at the end of December 2019 in the Chinese city of Wuhan and has been spreading rapidly across the globe ever since.
In times of the coronavirus a trip to Hagen should be well thought out. Apart from the fact that one could spend the holiday in quarantine, there is also the danger of succumbing to the virus.
Now you have to ask yourself if you should cancel a trip to Hagen because of the coronavirus. If you have decided to travel to Hagen anyway, we would particularly advise you to check out our tips against the coronavirus.
When was the first case in Hagen announced?
In Hagen it was announced on the 07.03.2020 that a person was infected with the virus. The authorities in Germany were able to react quickly and quarantine the affected person
Before the announcement, there was already initial speculation about the first infected persons and the question arose whether a trip to Hagen should be undertaken.
After the announcement of the first case, there was a drastically increased demand for respiratory masks and disinfectants.
Should a Hagen trip be cancelled because of the coronavirus?
Unfortunately this question is difficult to answer. As already observed in Italy and China, the virus can spread quite easily, very quickly. It is not certain whether the virus will spread in Hagen and therefore a trip should cancelled or not.
Before travelling to Hagen, travellers should visit the website of the Foreign Commonwealth Office and find out about the current situation. There you can find up-to-date information about Hagen. If Hagen is designated as a risk area, it is possible to switch to an alternative location in Germany. Business trips or similar can be replaced by video chat, for example.
The right preparation before travelling to Hagen
If you have decided to travel to Hagen despite the uncertainties mentioned above, you should be well prepared, including that travellers should have all available information about the current situation in Hagen and Germany.
In addition, we recommend that you wear appropriate protective equipment. In Germany many of the products mentioned are already in short supply. Nevertheless, some items can be found, which we have listed for your convenience.
Travellers to Hagen should first of all buy a breathing mask. It is important to note that only FFP3 respirators can provide protection against the viruses. Pay attention to the exact name of the mask when buying it.
Both the WHO and other official bodies strongly emphasize the importance of hygiene, especially hand hygiene, so that the spread of the virus is reduced as much as possible.
Wash your hands regularly, long and thoroughly with disinfectant your hands. The WHO experts also recommend singing the song Happy Birthday twice when washing your hands.
In addition to the respirator, protective goggles and gloves are among the most important utensils to reduce the chance of infection with the virus.
To reduce the risk of infection to a minimum, it is worth investing in protective equipment. This includes an FFP3 respirator and gloves, as well as protective goggles
You should also make sure you have a sufficient supply of food in case of quarantine or food shortage. However, we do not advise you to buy hamsters.
Conclusion
It is currently unclear whether a planned Hagen trip should be cancelled. Please observe the situation in Hagen and Germany via the official channels and follow the official travel advice.