MASTER Cancel Travel b/c of COVID-19 Questions Thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you think the National Parks out west will be like? Yellowstone? Grand Canyon? Yosemite? Glacier?

As of right now, we're still planning to go to Yosemite and San Fran in early April with two elementary school-aged kids. I think the parks will be okay because it's pretty easy to distance yourselves there, with the exception of meals. Even then, you can do a decent job of minimizing the risk.

Our planned trip also includes Yosemite, and I think the national parks will be fine. What gives me pause is the airport/plane ride. We won't decide until right before the trip because our plane tickets are non-refundable anyway (and lodging is refundable until a few days before). I'm hoping that in the next 2-3 weeks, we get a better idea of the situation and whether flying, even domestically, actually should be avoided or not. One parent and one kid in our family do have asthma, which we will also need to consider.

So you have two asthmatics and you are proposing taking a plane trip where you might be exposed to a virulent and deadly respiratory virus IN one of the states that is experiencing the worst of the outbreak and THEN taking your two asthmatics 2/3 hours from the nearest place where you could probably receive high quality emergency care in a health care system that is likely stressed. Yes, terrific plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Family trip to LA, San Diego, and Santa Barbara over spring break. Flying. All pretty young (DH is oldest at 45) - family trip. DS was gonna check out the UCs but I would imagine they may cancel tours. We were considering Universal but that seems like a bad idea. Should we still go? Airfare isn?t refundable but hotel is

Yes, cancel. I just cancelled during the MCPS spring break to some of those same cities. No one should be on planes or in places with large crowds. We need more information to prevent spreading this virus. You and your family may not get sick, of if you do, mildly so, but carriers are spreading this and putting vulnerable groups at risk serious illness including death. Until we have more conclusive imformation, help confine this. 9 cases in DC and that?s only detected. We just don?t have a handle on this except we sgould be washing our hands more thoroughly.

This response is really conservative. OP, if you're risk tolerance is moderate or higher, don't cancel yet. Wait and see how this develops as the date gets closer.

I am the 11:37 poster. Yes, this a conservative opinion — yet I am generally a risk taker. I am however an epidemiologist and do not have confidence in how the Admin is handling this. April is a little far out, so the poster can decide later, but I personally am not comfortable being a carrier or contracting on planes until we have more reliable data. The way to contain is not to spread. Healthy people in low-risk groups are being cavalier. They will not get sick but grandparents will. The aviation lobbies are strong. Cruise lines are generally registered in places like Liberia so there is little regulation once they are in maritime waters (if that‘s the correct term, not a lawyer). I’m generally a public transportation supporter, but this is when the AAA can step up and drive (pun intended) people to their cars and then to less crowded outdoor vacay spots.

[Anonymous]

Because of the desire to prop up the stock market and the travel industry, we are deliberately being TOLD to be cavalier. If the government isn't going to incentivize people to do the right thing, then it will just be the minority of nice people doing the right thing and the majority of selfish jerks doing what they please.

Did the government ground air travel and close cruise ports? Have they banned large public gatherings? People are taking their cues from that.

[Anonymous]

Just posted this in the VA thread but it seems relevant here.

This is from the VA Health Dept and is interesting because so far only older people and people with underlying health conditions have been told the bolded. The bolded statement here is a general statement to all.


"To lower the risk of respiratory germ spread, including COVID-19, the Virginia Department of Health encourages the following effective behaviors:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer only if soap and water are not available.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Stay home when you are sick.
Avoid contact with sick people.
Avoid non-essential travel."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you think the National Parks out west will be like? Yellowstone? Grand Canyon? Yosemite? Glacier?

As of right now, we're still planning to go to Yosemite and San Fran in early April with two elementary school-aged kids. I think the parks will be okay because it's pretty easy to distance yourselves there, with the exception of meals. Even then, you can do a decent job of minimizing the risk.

Our planned trip also includes Yosemite, and I think the national parks will be fine. What gives me pause is the airport/plane ride. We won't decide until right before the trip because our plane tickets are non-refundable anyway (and lodging is refundable until a few days before). I'm hoping that in the next 2-3 weeks, we get a better idea of the situation and whether flying, even domestically, actually should be avoided or not. One parent and one kid in our family do have asthma, which we will also need to consider.

So you have two asthmatics and you are proposing taking a plane trip where you might be exposed to a virulent and deadly respiratory virus IN one of the states that is experiencing the worst of the outbreak and THEN taking your two asthmatics 2/3 hours from the nearest place where you could probably receive high quality emergency care in a health care system that is likely stressed. Yes, terrific plan.

You should probably consult with your doctor or kid's doctor. My kid's pediatrician specifically told us that due to his asthma not to travel and avoid gatherings, crowds, stores, etc.

[Anonymous]

We're canceling a trip to Spain.

[Anonymous]

we finally decide to cancel our spring break trip in early April and take the loss of 4 non-refundable international flight tickets. $4000 is a lot of money to us, but we won enjoy the trip anyway with so much uncertainty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because of the desire to prop up the stock market and the travel industry, we are deliberately being TOLD to be cavalier. If the government isn't going to incentivize people to do the right thing, then it will just be the minority of nice people doing the right thing and the majority of selfish jerks doing what they please.

Did the government ground air travel and close cruise ports? Have they banned large public gatherings? People are taking their cues from that.

Many, if not most, are more ignorant than selfish. Like you said, there is little sense of urgency from leadership.

[Anonymous]

I think everyone should be prudent. You'll have other times to travel, so be smart this time and stay home.

Not sure why everyone is so attached to one trip anyway.

This. Is. How. It. Spreads.

[Anonymous]

Wow. Israel forcing 2wk self-quarantine for all visitors from all countries:

https://www.haaretz.com/amp/israel-news/.premium-israeli-with-coronavirus-in-severe-condition-israel-may-quarantine-some-u-s-arrivals-1.8638322

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Israel forcing 2wk self-quarantine for all visitors from all countries:

https://www.haaretz.com/amp/israel-news/.premium-israeli-with-coronavirus-in-severe-condition-israel-may-quarantine-some-u-s-arrivals-1.8638322

Bwahaha. Enjoy those extra 10+ days locked in your hotel room in Tel Aviv. I have to wonder if everyone who flew over or is refusing to give up tickets realizes that they need to budget for extra nights in that AirBnB or Hotel. The Israeli government is not going to put you up.

All Israelis returning from abroad are ordered into a 14-day quarantine. Starting Thursday, non-Israelis will have to prove they are able to self-quarantine

https://www.haaretz.com/amp/israel-news/.premium-israeli-with-coronavirus-in-severe-condition-israel-may-quarantine-some-u-s-arrivals-1.8638322

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think everyone should be prudent. You'll have other times to travel, so be smart this time and stay home.

Not sure why everyone is so attached to one trip anyway.

This. Is. How. It. Spreads.

But unless they force people to stop traveling, those who do travel will just bring it back to the rest of us. You’ll be waiting forever if the think the entire US is just going to suddenly comply.

[Anonymous]

I'm planning to go to CO for spring break this weekend. Why should I cancel?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Israel forcing 2wk self-quarantine for all visitors from all countries:

https://www.haaretz.com/amp/israel-news/.premium-israeli-with-coronavirus-in-severe-condition-israel-may-quarantine-some-u-s-arrivals-1.8638322

Why not just stop flights/close land borders? Seems simpler than enforcing this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Israel forcing 2wk self-quarantine for all visitors from all countries:

https://www.haaretz.com/amp/israel-news/.premium-israeli-with-coronavirus-in-severe-condition-israel-may-quarantine-some-u-s-arrivals-1.8638322

Why not just stop flights/close land borders? Seems simpler than enforcing this.

Because closing borders has severe geopolitical and economic ramifications. This way the cost of self-quarantining is only on travellers. If you get to Israel and can't prove the ability to stay in a hotel or home for 14 days without leaving, tough luck. I bet Mossad has no problem turning you back at the airport/border and refusing entry.