Coronavirus Wreaking Havoc on Your Travel Plans?

[moonstone]

There have been no reported cases of this coronavirus in Central America, the Carribeans, South America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa

Hopefully it stays like that! There was a bit of a scare here in Belize the other day. A flight landed at BZE from the USA with 12 Chinese students returning to their families (over 90% of the grocery stores where I am, & possibly the whole country, are owned by Chinese) in Belize and 11 of them were denied entry. Of course people immediately started the rumour that it was due to exposure to the Corona Virus but it was actually immigration issues which was the problem.

The government has now declared the virus as a communicable disease and is prohibiting entry to Belize to anybody who has travelled to China in the last 14 days (sounds like it should be longer) or shows any symptoms. A clause pertaining to that has been added to the Immigration Act Regulations.


~Diane

 

[MULTIZ321]

Cruise Ship Previously Rejected by Five Countries Over Virus Fears Will Finally Be Allowed to Dock.

Cruise Ship Previously Rejected by Five Countries Over Virus Fears Will Finally Be Allowed to Dock

The Westerdam cruise ship will be allowed to dock in Cambodia, according to a new statement from Holland America Line. The ship had previously been refused entry by five countries over concerns that passengers might have been infected with the new coronavirus that has killed 1,116 and sickened...

gizmodo.com

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Richard

 

[MULTIZ321]

Carnival cruise ship rejected by 5 nations on coronavirus fears has finally found a port to dock in.

Carnival cruise ship rejected by 5 nations on coronavirus fears has finally found a port to dock in

The liner will reach Sihanoukville, Cambodia, at 7:00 a.m. local time on Thursday, Holland America Line, the operator of the ship, said.

fortune.com

Richard

 

[Passepartout]

We just got notice on our already-booked November TransAtlantic cruise on Celebrity that prices are not necessarily dropping, but that they are now throwing in air, all four perks, huge OBC, and shore excursions(!) for a relatively small increase over what we've agreed to pay.

I'll go out on a fairly sturdy limb here and suggest that the incoming calls to the cruise lines are overwhelmingly cancellations and not fresh bookings.

Jim

 

[MULTIZ321]

Cruise passengers recused refunds after itinerary changes due to coronavirus.

Cruise passengers refused refunds after itinerary changes due to coronavirus

‘If you wish to cancel your booking at this stage this would be at your loss,’ one passenger was told

www.independent.co.uk

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Richard

 

[clifffaith]

Aaack!! Our Italian friends host Chinese high school students. One boy came back from Christmas break around January 15th or so. The second boy missed the first week of school and came back around the 22nd. We played cards at their house the 30th and I joked "no corona virus, right?" and we all laughed it off. Last week our friend was sick with a cold or flu so we didn't play and again I asked "corona virus"? They are due at our house tomorrow night and I just found out one of the boys is now sick. Antonella took him to the doctor yesterday and was told "absolutely not corona virus" based on the boy's symptoms (sore throat, red nose, feeling horrible). What?! I assume the Catholic high school and our town would be all freaking out if there were other Chinese students sick and passing something (anything) on to American students, but really, how does a doctor know a sick kid who has been back from China 3 weeks isn't carrying the virus? I couldn't get a straight answer (language issues) as to whether the doctor at least took a culture or whatever they do when they suspect the virus. We really aren't concerned, but the news does give us pause.

 

[VacationForever]

Aaack!! Our Italian friends host Chinese high school students. One boy came back from Christmas break around January 15th or so. The second boy missed the first week of school and came back around the 22nd. We played cards at their house the 30th and I joked "no corona virus, right?" and we all laughed it off. Last week our friend was sick with a cold or flu so we didn't play and again I asked "corona virus"? They are due at our house tomorrow night and I just found out one of the boys is now sick. Antonella took him to the doctor yesterday and was told "absolutely not corona virus" based on the boy's symptoms (sore throat, red nose, feeling horrible). What?! I assume the Catholic high school and our town would be all freaking out if there were other Chinese students sick and passing something (anything) on to American students, but really, how does a doctor know a sick kid who has been back from China 3 weeks isn't carrying the virus? I couldn't get a straight answer (language issues) as to whether the doctor at least took a culture or whatever they do when they suspect the virus. We really aren't concerned, but the news does give us pause.

You should be very concerned and cancel cards at your house tomorrow night. Coronavirus or not, I keep a wide berth from people with a cold or flu.

 

[MULTIZ321]

The world's biggest phone show has been canceled due to coronavirus concerns.

The world’s biggest phone show has been canceled due to coronavirus concerns

MWC is no longer taking place due to health concerns over the coronavirus spread.

www.theverge.com

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Richard

 

[Panina]

Aaack!! Our Italian friends host Chinese high school students. One boy came back from Christmas break around January 15th or so. The second boy missed the first week of school and came back around the 22nd. We played cards at their house the 30th and I joked "no corona virus, right?" and we all laughed it off. Last week our friend was sick with a cold or flu so we didn't play and again I asked "corona virus"? They are due at our house tomorrow night and I just found out one of the boys is now sick. Antonella took him to the doctor yesterday and was told "absolutely not corona virus" based on the boy's symptoms (sore throat, red nose, feeling horrible). What?! I assume the Catholic high school and our town would be all freaking out if there were other Chinese students sick and passing something (anything) on to American students, but really, how does a doctor know a sick kid who has been back from China 3 weeks isn't carrying the virus? I couldn't get a straight answer (language issues) as to whether the doctor at least took a culture or whatever they do when they suspect the virus. We really aren't concerned, but the news does give us pause.

I would cancel and push for more answers. If these kids or your friend have been exposed they should be getting the best care. This is not only about others getting it though that is extremely important too. If you end up feeling this needs more attention I would report your concerns to cdc. You were near them , you should be concerned about your health too. A friend should give you straight answers

 

[VacationForever]

@clifffaith Do you know for certain these Chinese high school kids are from mainland China as opposed to from Taiwan or any other countries?

 

[pedro47]

Fear of the unknown is tragic. I pray that this crises does not turned into what happen after Japan bombed Pearl Harbour. When loyal American Japanese citizens were placed into camps; simply because they were Japanese.

All Chinese do not have the coronavirus. The CBC must act responsibly in this matter.
I pray this Chinese student have the flu and not the coronavirus.

 

[Panina]

Fear of the unknown is tragic. I pray this does not turned into what happen after Japan bombed Pearl Harbour. When loyal American Japanese citizens were placed into camps; simply because they were Japanese.

All Chinese do not have the coronavirus. The CBC must act responsibly in this matter.

This is totally different. If one has symptoms it needs to be taken seriously, especially if they were in the hard hit region.

 

[VacationForever]

This is totally different. If one has symptoms it needs to be taken seriously, especially if they were in the hard hit region.

There are Chinese all over the world. A good friend of mine is Chinese from Venezuela. Treating all Chinese as potentially carrying coronavirus is just plain wrong. Hence my question to @clifffaith as to where are these kids from.

 

[Panina]

There are Chinese all over the world. A good friend of mine is Chinese from Venezuela. Treating all Chinese as potentially carrying coronavirus is just plain wrong. Hence my question to @clifffaith as to where are these kids from.

I agree with you but also believe it just will take a few people having it and not isolated to make another country have an epidemic too. And assuming only Chinese population are carrying it is a problem too. It has crossed borders, doctors need to be diligent that anyone can have it.

 

[pedro47]

There are Chinese all over the world. A good friend of mine is Chinese from Venezuela. Treating all Chinese as potentially carrying coronavirus is just plain wrong. Hence my question to @clifffaith as to where are these kids from.

There are no known cases of the coronavirus in Central and South America.

 

[Wyominguy]

We just received an email about our Princess Mexican Riviera cruise departing this Saturday (2/15) from Los Angeles that they will not allow anyone to board that has been to China in the previous 14 days.

Neil

 

[clifffaith]

@clifffaith Do you know for certain these Chinese high school kids are from mainland China as opposed to from Taiwan or any other countries?

Mainland China. Cliff thinks Shanghai for at least one boy, but I don't know why he thinks that and they have had two boys every year for 7-8 years so he could be remembering another kid. We don't even get introduced to the kids any more, just say hello if one happens to come in from being out, or sticks his head out of his bedroom.

 

[A.Win]

This thing about no admittance if you've been to China in the last 14 days cannot be enforced. They simply ask, "Have you been to China in the last 14 days" You say no, and get on the flight or ship. If you needed to be somewhere, you could easily lie and get through. Who wants to say Yes, I was in China, when it means you wasted a lot of time and you probably need to pay airline change fees too.

 

[geist1223]

This thing about no admittance if you've been to China in the last 14 days cannot be enforced. They simply ask, "Have you been to China in the last 14 days" You say no, and get on the flight or ship. If you needed to be somewhere, you could easily lie and get through. Who wants to say Yes, I was in China, when it means you wasted a lot of time and you probably need to pay airline change fees too.

Ah but if they ask to see your Passport. Also some "experts" are not saying 24 days not 14 days.

 

[VacationForever]

Mainland China. Cliff thinks Shanghai for at least one boy, but I don't know why he thinks that and they have had two boys every year for 7-8 years so he could be remembering another kid. We don't even get introduced to the kids any more, just say hello if one happens to come in from being out, or sticks his head out of his bedroom.

China does not typically send students overseas on exchange. If I have to guess I would say the 2 boys came from Taiwan.

 

[Ironwood]

Read this morning that Norwegian Cruise Lines are digging in their heels on cruise cancellation refunds. Also when it comes to trip cancellation insurance, fear of cruising because of the coronavirus scare is not a valid reason for insurance claim.

 

[MULTIZ321]

Carnival ship rejected by 5 ports has finally made
it into one. Now a new cruise controversy is
brewing.

Carnival ship rejected by 5 ports has finally made it into one. Now a new cruise controversy is brewing

Many Thais expressed anger on Twitter after local authorities permitted the Seabourn Ovation to berth at the tourist-hub island of Phuket.

fortune.com

Richard

 

[pedro47]

The Big picture topic. What will Japan do if this coronavirus is still around after April 2020???. Why because Japan is the host nation for the summer Olympics Games.????

 

[Panina]

The Big picture topic. What will Japan do if this coronavirus is still around after April 2020???. Why because Japan is the host nation for the summer Olympics Games.????

By then we should know if this is an epidemic in more then one region or a pandemic. Hopefully it is gone but if not I wouldn’t be surprised if it is postponed.

 

[Panina]

Just read this, where was she exposed is the question?

“
On Thursday Japan announced its first coronavirus death - a woman in her 80s who lived in Kanagawa, south-west of Tokyo.
The woman's diagnosis was confirmed after her death and she had no obvious link to China's Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak, Japanese media reported.”

From this article

Coronavirus: No change in outbreak despite China spike, WHO says

The World Health Organization says it is "not seeing a dramatic increase" in cases outside China.

www.bbc.com