Coronavirus in Prague: Our Experience & What You Can Do

Well, that escalated quickly! I had no intention to write a blog post about the coronavirus in Prague and up until a couple of days ago, I didn’t think the coronavirus would impact my life at all. I was very wrong.

This is a situation like none of us have ever seen before. It’s completely unprecedented. Every new piece of information or regulation is mind-blowing and it feels absolutely surreal scrolling through my phone and reading the latest. Needless to say, we had no idea our expat year in Prague would involve any of this!

My first thoughts on coronavirus in Europe

When the coronavirus first came to light in January, I didn’t think it was a big deal. It seemed to be pretty isolated to China and there was little cause to panic. For the first month or so, my only interaction with the coronavirus was explaining to my travel planning clients how their travel insurance would (or, in most cases, would not) protect them.

As the weeks went on and the problem began to grow, so did my concern. Of course, we weren’t planning any trips to Italy. And Germany and France were looking dicey too. I was so glad we had finished up our Spain trip with my siblings before things got out of control there. But overall, I still didn’t think the coronavirus was going to affect me. I assumed we would carry on with our travel plans as normal; we were meeting up with Canadian friends in Budapest in March, hosting Colin’s cousin and mom in Prague in April, and meeting up with his family in the UK in May.

I even assumed given the relaxed borders in the Schengen Zone meant that closing them would be virtually impossible, since they’re not usually staffed. Many times we’ve crossed the Czech border, and not even realized until a few kilometres later when all the signs are in a new language.

Everything changed

We woke up on March 12 to the news that the CDC in the US had issued a Level 3 (avoid non-essential travel) for the entire world. I was gobsmacked! This seemed like a huge step from only a handful of countries that were deemed Level 3 the night before. In addition, we read news about travel bans the US was imposing on European countries. Whether politically or safety motivated, these changes were going to have a huge effect.

And yet, I still felt quite insulated in Europe. We were in Ljubljana, Slovenia at the time, on our way to Croatia and then back up through Austria to Prague. We had originally planned to meet friends in Budapest, but given some already tightening restrictions, had decided to meet them back in Prague instead.

But my main concern that morning was getting other people home. I work as a travel planner and had clients in Morocco who had made the decision to come home ASAP. That day was an absolute nightmare as we worked to book flights, call airlines, buy train tickets, confirm shuttles and more. It was exhausting and I could not have been more happy when they arrived back in the US the next night.

The news hits home

In addition to calling airlines and messaging my clients, Colin and I were also driving from Ljubljana to Zagreb, Croatia on March 12. Despite the chaos happening on my phone, it was a beautiful sunny day and we checked into the cutest apartment in Zagreb. We decided to spend the afternoon working, with plans to go on a free walking tour and explore Zagreb the next day.

And that’s when we heard that the Czech Republic had issued a State of Emergency.

At first (and even now, if I’m being honest), the details were unclear. We knew the Czech Republic would be closing borders to certain risk countries but the list of countries kept growing and the time of the closure seemed to be up in the air.

Over 700 km away in Zagreb, there was no way for us to make it back to Prague that night. We thought about making a run for the border, at only a four hour drive away, but worried about being stranded at night in a long border line or without a hotel.

So we decided to stay in Zagreb and call the Canadian Embassy first thing in the morning. The rest of the evening was stressful. I was still working to get my clients home from Morocco, as well as trying to keep up with my other work tasks. Colin had work tasks of his own. And throughout it all, we kept hearing tidbits of information and misinformation about the coronavirus in Prague. Would the borders be closed? Would the grocery stores be empty?

Heading back to Prague

The next morning, after a fitful night of sleep, we dialed the embassy right away. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to offer much more information. They weren’t sure if our Youth Mobility Visas in our Canadian passports would be enough to get across the border and they weren’t sure exactly when the borders were closing. Not wanting to risk waiting any longer, we decided to do a quick grocery store trip to load up on snacks and then head out.

At the grocery store (which was pretty well stocked and only minorly lined up), the embassy called us back and let us know we’d likely be okay to get into the Czech Republic. However, they couldn’t guarantee the same for Slovenia or Austria, two countries we would need to drive through on our way back. We crossed our fingers and hopped in the car!

Luckily, our drive back to Prague went smoothly. Colin was an absolute champ, driving for 8.5 hours with only one short stop for gas. Ellie was also a champ, sleeping through most of the ride. We had our passports checked at the border to Slovenia, but without much fanfare. The border crossing coming back into Croatia from Slovenia was incredibly lined up though, so luckily we were heading north. At the Austrian border, we were waved through without a passport check. And finally, at the Czech border, we got through after a passport check and taking Colin’s temperature (apparently my temperature was not important!).

When we finally got all our bags upstairs, Ellie walked, the rental car dropped off and dinner acquired (it was McDonalds, partially out of convenience and partially for the fact that restaurants had been closed at 8PM), we were exhausted. But we had made it.

Dealing with the coronavirus in Prague

The next morning, we woke to more news. Not only was the Czech Republic closing borders to certain risk countries, as of Monday, the borders would be closed to all foreigners coming in and all residents going out. We thanked our lucky stars we had decided to come back on Saturday and were only a few countries away. If we had continued with our trip, we would have had a much harder time getting back.

We also learned that as of 6AM this morning, all restaurants and shops would be closed for the next 10 days (or longer if extended). Grocery stores, drugstores and a few other essential places would be open but that would be it. Cue the panic buying.

I hate that we were part of it, but we did go to the grocery store this morning. We had to. Before we left for our trip, we had emptied our kitchen of almost everything. And wanting to avoid going out as much as possible, we wanted to stock up with enough food to last us a little while. By no means did we think this was the apocalypse – we did not hunker down with six months worth of canned goods and toilet paper. But we did buy frozen pizzas and ramen, just in case.

The grocery store was a little busier than usual. The meat section was completely empty (save for some boxes of chicken necks…) and the produce shelves were also near bare. But the rest of the store was well-stocked. And Colin even went to another grocery store nearby (because we couldn’t stomach chicken necks) and reported that their produce and meat sections were decently stocked.

The worst part about the grocery store was just how on edge everyone was. A woman coughs and everyone looks alarmed. No one wants to get near anyone or touch when passing in the aisles. And we all feel a little bit guilty going up to the cashier with one too many cans of tuna (or was that just me?).

However, I will say that Czechs appear to be taking things in stride. It’s a little unnerving walking down the street and seeing all the shops and restaurants closed. But I was just out walking Ellie, on a bright and sunny Saturday, and the park was full of people! The entire hill was filled with people on picnic blankets hanging out, just like it is in the summer. I can’t decide if it’s awesome that people in Prague aren’t letting this ruin their daily lives or if they’re being a little flippant about the situation.

Of course, the situation isn’t the same everywhere. Colin’s cousin in Spain paints a very different picture in her Facebook post. It’s important we all take this very seriously.

What next?

The big question for us now is what next? It seems that the restrictions are changing almost hourly. I have no idea what new thing is going to be shut down or cut off. And there’s a lot of uncertainty about where you can go, if you can walk your dog, what’s open, etc. Plus, we don’t know how this might affect not only our future trips, but our flight back to Canada in June! By the time I hit “publish” this whole situation may have changed.

One thing I do know is that I am so grateful we are here in Prague. I’m so glad we decided to cut our trip short, even if it meant losing out on a few hotel nights we had paid for. I’m relieved that we were able to get a good grocery haul, and don’t have to worry about going out to the store every couple of days. And I am so thankful that Colin and I work from home, where self-isolating is easier than ever. I know Colin has talked about missing his x-ray tech job a lot this year, but this is one time when we’re both so grateful he isn’t working at a hospital!

Thinking of others

Our experience with the coronavirus, while a little scary and stressful, is absolutely nothing compared to what some other people are going through. Knock wood, we haven’t had any medical concerns. Yes, cancelling trips sucks, but it’s a minor inconvenience.

So I want to take a moment and think of the other people who are suffering through this time:

• Obviously anyone who has been diagnosed with coronavirus and is fighting for their health.
• Those at risk, such as elderly populations or those with underlying health conditions, who really have a reason to be scared. And those who aren’t able to go out to grocery store or seek medical attention. It’s our responsibility to protect the vulnerable people in our community.
• Healthcare workers. All over the world, healthcare workers are putting in extra hours and risking their lives to keep us all as safe and healthy as possible.
• Stranded travellers. In my work as a travel planner, I’m seeing how awful it is to cancel a trip. There’s so much stress and financial hardship to cut a trip short and try to get home. It’s also devastating to think about ruined honeymoons and weddings, people who are stuck in lockdown, or those awaiting visas that are indefinitely paused.
• Those on the frontline of the travel industry. The people who are working overtime to answer calls and rebook trips, the people who have been laid off because of cancelled flight or cruise routes, and everyone else who depends on travel and tourism for a living should be in our thoughts.
• Small businesses. While giant companies can weather the storm of quarantines and travel bans, some small businesses will not be able to. Think about family run tour operators in Italy or your local Asian restaurant. A lot of these small businesses are hurting now.
• Those who can’t work from home. Those who can’t find childcare for children whose schools have closed. Those who are being forced to take unpaid leave and therefore can’t pay their bills. Those who have to think about money instead of health and safety.

I’m not here to rank anyone’s pain and suffering; this isn’t me saying you’re not allowed to feel shitty about a missed trip. I absolutely feel bad about the money and travels we’re missing out on. But I also understand the bigger picture. And I think it’s important to keep the above people in your thoughts as you make decisions and wade through these unprecedented waters.

What you can do

I’m not a medical expert or government official, so first and foremost, you should follow the expert advice and regulations in place in your area. But here are a few more things you can do during the coronavirus chaos:

• WASH YOUR HANDS! (You knew I was starting with that one, right?)
• STAY HOME. Seriously, social distancing is so key to stopping the spread. Don’t go out for brunch, don’t go to the movies, don’t go shopping. Lots of places, like Prague are in quarantine so we can’t do these things. But if you have the choice still, make the right one and stay home.
• If you’re able to or have been asked to work from home, please do so. As someone who has been working from home for three years, you can check out my work from home tips!
• Don’t panic buy. Don’t spread false information. Don’t shame people. It’s a scary and uncertain time, so please don’t add anymore negativity to it.
• Protect your own mental health. Even though we haven’t been affected by the coronavirus as badly as some other people have, it’s still been hugely taxing. I have been incredible stressed in the last few days trying to figure out getting my clients home, getting us home and what our future weeks dealing with the coronavirus in Prague will be like. Dealing with a constantly-changing global pandemic takes a toll on your mental health. So please ensure your mental health is being looked after. Turn off your news sources, take breaks, get into nature, do something relaxing, call your therapist and look at cute dog pictures (there are tons of picture of Ellie on this blog if you need them!).
• Reach out and support your community. You may not be able to physically reach out with hugs or handshakes, but you still might be able to do something. I’ve seen school districts setting up free take out lunch programs, despite school closures, and funds set up to support those who can’t pay their bills. On the expat Facebook groups here in Prague, I’ve been so happy to see people offering to run errands for those in quarantine, grocery shop for elderly neighbours or walk dogs for those who can’t. Despite a scary time and lots of claims of people being selfish, there is a lot of kindness out there.
• Don’t look for the loopholes. The whole point of travel bans, lockdowns, quarantines, etc. is to limit your movement. We’re not supposed to be traveling or gathering in groups right now. You may think some of the measures are extreme, but the science shows that they’re important in fighting this virus. So please don’t look for the loophole that would still allow you to travel to a new country. Worst case scenario? That loophole closes and you get stranded or stuck in quarantine. Best case scenario? You just look like a tone deaf jerk on social media posting travel photos during a global pandemic.
• Support local businesses. As I mentioned above, it’s the little guys who are going to struggle the most to get through this period. With tourism industries completely shutting down, and even restaurants and shops closing like they are in Prague, your local small businesses need you now. You may not be able to help out in traditional ways, like by going on a tour with a guide, but you may be able to help in other ways. Instead of accepting a refund for a small family run hotel, ask for a credit so you can visit in the future. Buy gift cards to your favourite local restaurants to use when it’s safe to do so.
• Keep trip planning! You may not be able to travel right now, but you will be able to travel eventually. So keep planning that bucket list trip to Oktoberfest or Angkor Wat. Take advantage of flight deals and free changes for future travel dates. And keep reading travel blogs. Many travel bloggers rely on their audience for their income, so please keep clicking and scrolling!

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As for me and my blog, I intend to keep sharing travel content on here. I know that the travel industry is resilient and will pull through this. One day (hopefully soon) it will be safe to travel again and I want to encourage people to do so. So I’m going to keep sharing stories, tips and guides to inspire you to get out there (eventually).

And even if blog traffic is plummeting, I’ll still keep publishing posts. One of my favourite things to do, besides plan travel and actually travel, is write about travel. I love sharing my trips and I have a backlog of awesome adventures to share from Spain, Morocco and Slovenia! So I intend to keep sharing and I hope you can escape into my adventures on the page until you’re able to escape into your own in real life.

In the mean time, stay safe, listen to the experts and do what you can to support your community!