Coronavirus Outbreak: Is it safe to travel?

Walt Disney World
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Good news for the Americans aboard?

https://twitter.com/cnnbrk/status/1228518488060366848?s=21

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Well, I think your question mark there is warranted. I read the communique from the CDC and they go into quarantine for another 2 weeks back here. I know some had thought they’d just stay on the ship, finish the quarantine there and then come home.

But that isn’t an option. If they don’t go back now, they don’t go back at all. So really a mixed bag for them.

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The purpose of quarantine is to not spread the virus to others who are not on the cruise ship. It’s the same principle as keeping people in Wuhan in Wuhan: so they won’t spread it beyond Wuhan. The basic principle of quarantine is that if you’re already in the exposed area that’s too bad for you, you can’t get out and spread it, even if you would be safer if you left. (I am not a medical professional, but this has always been my understanding.)

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Yes, you’re right, but also a quarantine is to keep the exposed person safe while they’re waiting it out. So this directive from the CDC implies that they think the ship quarantine was an utter failure. They’re treating the passengers like citizens who were in Wuhan.

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1.) Get pax off ship(s)
2.) Get them to their own countries and sit it out another two weeks (yes, yes, this will be miserable, but I think prudent)

I think the quarantine was as big a failure as it was because there was literally no precedent. Japan’s best defense for their country was - keep the pax on the ship. Who could have known? They had so little reliable data. They were shooting from the hip, as was the cruise line. The fact that none of the pax has died is a good thing. But just how long can the ship just float full of people? How long can they afford this? It really has been devastating on so many levels.

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Japan is already in trouble. They have some evidence of community transmission (that means cases are not just ppl who are connected to China, but Japanese where it’s not known how they got it) so pretty soon they might need the hospital beds for their own folks. Asking them to take on thousands more that are not even their own is too much.

Not going to answer that. Nope, not going to. :smile:

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Especially with the Olympics coming up this summer. Preliminary events are already ramping up and if the epidemic is still uncertain or growing it could have unknown ramifications.

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Time to cancel? I do understand the impact cancelling the Olympics would have on the athletes. But can the global community afford this level of exposure?

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Oh dear, I had forgotten about that. That is a disaster waiting to happen. Even if the events are all outdoors, the other venues are going to be so crowded. Do you know if there are advance teams, or other people who come in ahead of time to get things ready for each country’s athletes? Are there already a larger-than-usual contingent of visitors there?

We just really are into an unprecedented situation here. But I have a feeling we’ll get clarity before the ticket-holders show up. The community transmission they have there is actually an outbreak at a hospital, two doctors are affected at least, and no one knows where they got it, or how many patients are affected. Just the worst. So they’re going to have to start preparing for widespread transmission.

Times like this I like that our country is very big with lots of empty spaces. Being on a tiny island during this with millions of others would probably give me continual panic attacks.

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Wait and see. They are hoping this dies off in the warm weather like SARS and the flu but if it doesn’t they must consider it. They could give it to another city who recently hosted and would be ready like London or Rio.

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Statement By the State Dept. & HHS Regarding the Diamond Princess

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I’m kind of impressed we have a plane with an isolation chamber in it. That’s like something out of Tom Clancy or John LeCarre novel.

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It’s really just a really big guy named Eugene who crosses his arms and stands in the aisle giving the stink eye to any infected person who tries to leave their seat.

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Points for proper “stink eye” usage. That is such an apt phrase .
But, I saw a video, and it’s not Eugene. :wink:

It’s actually a huge room, like the front part of an already- big plane. Say, the entire first class section on a 747. Don’t want to turn left on THAT flight, though.

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Wow. Video from an infectious disease doctor who visited the Diamond Princess.

“I’ve worked in the Ebola epidemic, the SARS epidemic and I have never been so scared in my life.”

He’s now quarantining himself in his home. At the end of the video I thought he was going to cry. He’s so scared this will spread the virus through Japan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=12&v=vtHYZkLuKcI&feature=emb_logo

I’m sure this isn’t the last time I’ll say this, but for all their shortcomings, thank God for the CDC.

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So we were seriously looking at trying to go to the summer Olympics (bucket list). But it was just going to be outrageously expensive for a family of 6. It was the money that we saved by not going that paid for our Disney trip last month. Right now that’s feeling like Best Decision Ever.

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Yes, wise decision. 2028 it will be in LA. You could go to DL as well!

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Yes. I’m sure those CL will be lovely. :joy:

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Was thinking that.

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Here is a hint of official advice for people considering a cruise. One thing to keep in mind, these are public health people. They’re looking at what’s best for an entire population, not necessarily individuals in it.

I had to chuckle after reading between the lines Dr. Adalja’s (whom I follow on twitter) statement. Basically, it’s “We’re all going to get it anyway, might as well go for a cruise.”

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