Developments around the corona pandemic are rapidly following one another. This leaflet will
are regularly updated according to the latest findings.
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is an infectious disease caused by
the virus SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus-2), one of
the coronaviruses. The disease was first noticed in late 2019 in Wuhan, the capital
of China's Hubei province. Meanwhile, the virus is prevalent all over the world.
The symptoms of COVID-19
Common symptoms of COVID-19 are cold, fever, cough and
tightness. In addition, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, muscle pain, nausea, headache,
dizziness and fatigue occur. A typical symptom is the sudden loss of smell
and/or taste. The severity of the infection varies. The infection usually progresses mildly, but may
become severe, especially in the elderly. In children and young adults, the disease progresses almost
always mild.
How can you prevent COVID-19?
Disease transmission occurs mainly through coughing and sneezing. Droplets containing
spread the virus. If these are inhaled by others, they also become infected as a result.
You can do the following to prevent infection and spread of corona virus:
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water.
- Use disinfectants if soap and water are not available.
- If necessary, wear a clean mouth and nose mask in indoor areas.
- Keep 1.5 metres away from others.
- Avoid crowded places.
- Avoid contact with people who cough or sneeze.
- If you sneeze or cough: put this in a paper handkerchief, throw it away immediately and disinfect
your hands. Or sneeze or cough into the hollow of your elbow. - Touch your face with your hands as little as possible.
- Disinfect surfaces that are touched a lot.
- Stay in your room if you are ill, follow the rules of the country you are in and get tested.
Vaccine
The vaccine protects against serious illness. Should you still get COVID-19, the
disease milder. If you have been vaccinated, the same rules and advice still apply as before
non-vaccinated people, such as wearing a mouth mask during the flight. For all
adult travellers, and for people belonging to a high-risk group in particular, the
vaccination prior to travel recommended.
Things to consider prior to the trip
Be aware of the risks of infection and serious illness during the trip if you are up to
belong to a high-risk group, have not been vaccinated, there is poor medical care at
site and if there are many corona infections at the site.
Please note that on-site healthcare services may be overloaded or less accessible
are due to the coronavirus pandemic. Also the risk of quarantine or isolation, unwanted longer
residence and/or restrictive measures in the country of destination are important
Focal points.
NOTE: If travelling to an area labelled orange or
wearing red according to the State Department classification, you may not be
(fully) insured. Also, in that case, the Dutch government will not proceed with any
repatriation. Colour code classification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
changes regularly. A country or area may change colour code during the stay there.
Verify in advance what is/isn't reimbursed by your health insurer and your
cancellation insurance.
It is important just before departure and during the stay to check the current rules and advice in the
country of destination. Failure to follow local rules may have consequences
have, such as a fine. On the website of IATA Travel Centre and the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs an overview of the measures and entry requirements for each country can be found.
Here you can also find information on entry requirements,
such as a negative coronal test. Information can also be found on the websites of the
embassies.
If you take medication please keep in mind that you have sufficient supplies for the
case the travel time becomes unexpectedly longer. Also make sure you have enough malaria tablets
with you if you are travelling to a malaria area.
Non-COVID declarations and quarantine
Please note that upon arrival abroad, you may need to be (compulsorily) quarantined
to go. There may be mandatory high costs associated with this. If you have COVID-19
established you must remain in isolation and therefore cannot travel.
Many countries require travellers to obtain a certificate of vaccination upon entry, a certificate
of passed COVID infection or a negative coronavirus test, a so-called 'nonCOVID statement'.
If you need a non-COVID statement, you can contact a large number of
vaccination centres. The GGDs' test lines are currently there only for people with
complaints or for specific groups, not prior to a trip. Most GGDs offer
usually do not apply for a non-COVID statement from the traveller's department.
The statement is usually issued in English. Sometimes a country has its own format of
a statement to be completed by a doctor. There are several ways of testing,
some countries may ask for a result of a specific test. Information on the
entry requirements by country can be found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the
website of IATA Travel Centre and the website of the relevant embassy.
NOTE: A negative corona test result is a snapshot and precludes developing
COVID-19 in the following days does not matter. You can also become infected (shortly) afterwards.
At-risk groups
You are at increased risk of a severe course of the disease if you have
- Are over 70 years old.
- Are under treatment by a doctor/specialist for serious abnormalities of your heart, lungs,
kidneys or liver. - Has diabetes mellitus (diabetes) with complications or poorly adjusted diabetes mellitus.
- Has reduced immunity/defence disorder or takes medication that affects the immune system
suppressed. - Has no spleen (function). In this, there is no greater risk of severe COVID-19, but there is
an increased risk of developing pneumonia (pneumococcal pneumonia) in
connection to a COVID-19 infection. - Has an untreated HIV infection or an HIV infection with a CD4 count < 200 cells/mm3.
- Seriously overweight.
Do you belong to a high-risk group?
The advice is to get vaccinated. Be aware of the risks of infection and serious
illness during the trip if you belong to a risk group, have not been vaccinated, there are
is from poor medical care on site and if there are many corona infections at the site
destination. Consult a traveller's (family) doctor or traveller's nurse
who can weigh up the risks with you.
Pregnant people
Pregnant women are not at increased risk of contracting COVID-19. Like the
most other viral respiratory infections (such as cold viruses), COVID-19 can be used in a
pregnant woman become more severe. This is especially true in the third trimester (from 28 weeks)
because the growing belly restricts space for the lungs. As a result, more frequent
pneumonia occur.
Pregnant women have a slightly increased risk of hospital and ICU admission
if they have COVID-19. There is also a higher risk of preterm birth in pregnant women with
COVID-19. COVID-19 does not cause congenital malformations.
While travelling, en route (airport, plane etc.)
The Dutch government advises against travelling in case of complaints that can be caused
by COVID-19 but test you first (or have you tested). The airline may ask the traveller
to obtain a health certificate prior to travel. At airports and during
air travel, a mouth mask is usually mandatory. It is important to find out in advance what the
instructions from the airport and airline are.
Ill at destination
If you fall ill during your stay abroad with symptoms that may fit with
COVID-19 it is best to stay in your room, call the alarm centre of the
health insurer and yourself (get tested). If a coronavirus infection is diagnosed, you should
remain in isolation and follow local rules. You cannot return independently unless you are not
are more contagious or you are repatriated.
On return
The rules for returning to the Netherlands depend on the country you are travelling from and can be found at
found on the website of the Central government.
Ill after return
If you have symptoms that could fit with a COVID-19 infection, you should stay at home and get tested (or have tests done).
In case of (severe) symptoms such as fever, contact your GP immediately, also to avoid other
rule out causes of fever or illness, such as malaria.
Useful websites
Information on the European digital corona certificate:
https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-travel-eu/coronavirus-response/safe-covid-19-vaccineseuropeans/eu-digital-covid-certificate_nl
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/nl/QANDA_21_2781
https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/coronavirus-vaccinatie/vraag-en-antwoord/wat-is-heteu-digitaal-corona-certificaat
Information on pre-trip testing
https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/coronavirus-coronabewijs-encoronatoegangsbewijs/negatief-testbewijs
Corona rules for travel and holidays
https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/coronavirus-covid-19/reizen-en-vakantie
Information on destination rules
https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/world.php
https://www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl/reisadvies
Information on rules when returning to the Netherlands
https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/coronavirus-covid-19/nederland-inreizen/checklistinreisregels-nederland
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