If this isn’t a sign of the current state of the world, I don’t know what is?! It may be crazy times but there is no reason to stop educating others about celiac disease.
Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and via my mailing list this month for celiac advocacy tips and awareness. I will also be sharing some of my favorite Gluten-Free Globetrotters from around the globe. Just because we can’t travel at the moment doesn’t mean we can’t dream about it and plan for the future.
NOTE: This post will be updated as I learn more information or other countries release updated statements. I suggest you click on the links below for the most up-to-date information.
This is not the post I was planning on for this week. I was planning on my yummy guide to Gluten-Free in San Diego. But then again, this is NOT a time any of us could plan for in anyway. This coronavirus/COVID-19 is totally uncharted terrority.
The thing we all need to do in this time is to stay educated, listen to local officials and top experts, and keep ourselves and loved ones safe. One thing not to do is panic or believe everything you read on the internet. Besides washing your hands and social distancing, arming yourself with truth is one of your best tools.
If you have celiac disease and are living a healthy, gluten-free life, you are NOT anymore at risk for coronavirus. I cannot repeat this enough times. I am linking to top experts in the celiac disease field from across the globe I encourage you to read these links, watch the videos, and do not panic.
Beyond Celiac (USA)
“People with celiac disease who are otherwise healthy are not immunocompromised and not at higher risk for coronavirus.”
Canadian Celiac Association (Canada)
“Patients with only celiac are not immunocompromised, unless they taking medications for other medical conditions which are immunosuppressive. Like everyone, they should exercise careful infection control practices, including washing hands with soap and water frequently, and avoid touching the eyes, nose and mouth.”
Coeliac disease and coronavirus – Update via Coeliac UK (UK) Updated 3/18/2020
“New government advice about at risk groups now includes criteria which includes people with coeliac disease. We should all be taking social distancing measures, but at risk groups should be especially stringent in following these. Social distancing aims to reduce social interaction between people. This is different to the advice for self-isolation for people with coronavirus symptoms such as a persistent cough or temperature.”
National Celiac Association (USA)
“At this time there is no evidence to suggest that someone with celiac disease would be more vulnerable to the coronavirus than the general population. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease and, in and of itself, is not considered an immunocompromising condition.”
Associazione Italiana Celiachia/Italian Celiac Association (Italy)
“Le evidenze scientifiche disponibili non riportano nessun maggior rischio di contrarre infezione da nuovo Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 per le persone con celiachia.” Translation: The available scientific evidence does not report any greater risk of acquiring a new Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infection for people with celiac disease.
La Sociedad Española de Enfermedad Celiaca (SEEC)/The Spanish Celiac Disease Society
(Spain)
No se ha comunicado hasta el momento que el padecer enfermedad celiaca incremente el riesgo de contagio ni la gravedad de la enfermedad. Translation: It has not been reported so far that having celiac disease increases the risk of contagion or the severity of the disease.
Deutsche Zöliakie Gesellschaft/German Celiac Society (Germany)
Zur Risikobewertung von Zöliakiebetroffenen und Corona-Virusinfektionen gibt es bisher noch keine Daten. Translation: There is as yet no data on the risk assessment of people with celiac disease and corona virus infections.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Coeliac Disease via Coeliac Australia (Australia)
“The advice from our Medical Advisory Committee is that presently, there is no evidence that coeliac disease imparts a higher risk of serious illness to COVID-19, but there will be people with coeliac disease who do fall within categories of higher risk for serious infection (e.g. aged over 60).”
If you have specific questions regarding your celiac disease and your health, it is best to contact your physician directly. In these uncertain times, it is important to keep yourself healthy and educated.
I know I have a bunch of new readers and subscribers, so I thought the new year would be a great time to (re)introduce myself to you all.
Baby Gluten-Free Globetrotter around my time of diagnosis
My name is Erin Smith and I am a lifelong celiac. I was diagnosed with celiac disease in the 1980s way before “gluten-free” was a trend so I have a unique perspective of growing up gluten-free. I was in the trenches searching for gluten-free food long before it was available on supermarket shelves, before the Internet was invented (yes, I was alive then!), and before many of the national celiac associations even existed. Next year is my 40th anniversary of my celiac diagnosis but until then I am 39 and holding! 🙂
In 2011, I started Gluten-Free Globetrotter after a wonderful solo trip to the Czech Republic. I had my first gluten-free beer on tap at a 100% gluten-free restaurant in Prague and I wanted to shout this news from the rooftops. I knew I wasn’t the only person with celiac disease that wanted to travel the world and so this blog was born.
Gluten-Free Globetrotter in the Berkshires 2019
Nine years later, this blog has brought me so much more than I could have ever imagined. I have met wonderful gluten-free travelers from across the globe. I’ve made gluten-free dumplings with the Singapore Celiac group, had gluten-free pastries with fellow celiac travel bloggers in Paris, planned gluten-free vacations for more than twenty families, and spoken at numerous events about how to be a Gluten-Free Globetrotter. The opportunity to connect with and inspire so many others living with celiac disease has been the most rewarding part of this journey.
Five Facts About Gluten-Free Globetrotter
I have been to 3 continents, 23 countries, and 37 states all while being 100% gluten-free and living with celiac disease. You can see a list of my travels with links to posts here.
I drove cross-country twice, once on a southern route and once on a northern route. I have so much sympathy for those with celiac living in the middle of nowhere! I realized on my trips how living in New York City I was spoiled with gluten-free options.
I have shared my Gluten-Free Globetrotter travel tips with over 1,000 people at gluten-free expos and celiac disease national conferences in two countries.
While 2019 was a slow year for travel but busy in other ways, 2020 promises to get me back into the travel groove. I have a bunch of upcoming blog posts planned for this year as well as some city guides and exciting events in New York City.
What do you want to see from Gluten-Free Globetrotter in 2020?
2019 is the first year in my adult life that I did not go on an airplane.
WHAT??? Gluten-Free Globetrotter did not globetrot at all this year? Now, before you go thinking that I lost my travel mojo, I think I have a good excuse.
I worked with a designer on my new logo over a year ago but totally slacked on the website redesign. First, came the second cross-country move in 2.5 years. Then, came the pregnancy and baby. If those aren’t some major changes, I don’t know what is! Life happens, as we know, and this blog slipped.
