State Department raises travel advisory to level 4: Do Not Travel

[Mrs. Overall]

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/travel-advisory-alert-global-level-4-health-advisory-issue.html#.XnPHGUBrXPM.twitter

Global Level 4 Health Advisory – Do Not Travel

March 19, 2020Level 4: Do Not Travel

The Department of State advises U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19. In countries where commercial departure options remain available, U.S. citizens who live in the United States should arrange for immediate return to the United States, unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period. U.S. citizens who live abroad should avoid all international travel. Many countries are experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks and implementing travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines, closing borders, and prohibiting non-citizens from entry with little advance notice. Airlines have cancelled many international flights and several cruise operators have suspended operations or cancelled trips. If you choose to travel internationally, your travel plans may be severely disrupted, and you may be forced to remain outside of the United States for an indefinite timeframe.

On March 14, the Department of State authorized the departure of U.S. personnel and family members from any diplomatic or consular post in the world who have determined they are at higher risk of a poor outcome if exposed to COVID-19 or who have requested departure based on a commensurate justification. These departures may limit the ability of U.S. Embassies and consulates to provide services to U.S. citizens.

For the latest information regarding COVID-19, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website.

You are encouraged to visit travel.state.gov to view individual Travel Advisories for the most urgent threats to safety and security. Please also visit the website of the relevant U.S. embassy or consulate to see information on entry restrictions, foreign quarantine policies, and urgent health information provided by local governments.

[central scrutinizer]

1. What to do?

I’m in Japan right now. The embassy website still lists Japan as a level 2 precaution. That will probably change soon. I have a flight out scheduled for 15 April but that will probably be canceled. Currently I have 5 more days to go on self isolation here (this prefecture asks that all incoming persons, citizen or visitor, isolate for 14 days). I’m in a good situation here but will I be able to return in a month, two months, six months? I could call the embassy but they will just read me the party line. I’m leaning towards hunkering down here in Japan. I’m 69 but in good health and I feel I have a pretty robust immune system. The risk of infection is greater in the US than here, I believe. Will I return to a post-apocalyptic hellscape like Road Warrior but with stragglers fighting pitched battles over toilet paper instead of gasoline?