We may have had a lucky escape. Now there are three cruise ships in lockdown over a mass of coronavirus cases (one in Yokohama, Japan, one in Oakland, California, and one in Luxor, Egypt) cruising looks distinctly risky right now. Passengers on other cruise ships must fear they too will catch the virus before they get back home. Then they'll have to go through the same ordeal of being in quarantine and possibly having to change their onward travel arrangements.
The chance of catching the virus is increased by the fact that the air conditioning on a cruise ship is constantly recirculating the air and helping to transmit the virus to previously healthy passengers.
A lot of people are so worried about any kind of travel, in case they pick up the virus while travelling, that the hospitality industry has been badly hit. Hotels, restaurants and airlines have seen such a huge slump in bookings that they're facing big financial losses.
Personally I don't think travelling is any more risky than going into a crowded supermarket or a crowded cinema. The chance of catching the virus from a random stranger is surely very remote. Jenny and I are still planning to visit Vienna in early summer, which seems sensible enough given that Vienna has so far only had 50 confirmed cases (most of them recovered and no longer infectious) in a population of nearly two million.
My attitude is, either I catch the virus or I don't. There's no point in worrying myself to death over it.
Pic: The Diamond Princess, now docked in Oakland
I agree. My son had planned a holiday in Goa quite some time ago and despite dire warnings from others, left earlier today to enjoy himself. If he catches the bug, so be it and if he transmits it to me, so be it too.
ReplyDeleteRamana: Good for him. Since Goa has a population of almost two million, the chances of him catching the virus are tiny. I hope he has a great holiday!
DeleteI'm with you. I'd be more worried about Noroviruses on a cruise ship, so no thank you! We saw plenty of ships in Miami and couldn't believe people were willingly boarding.
ReplyDeleteWe have travel plans again this summer, but I'm holding off booking the flights, just to see what happens. It's too much money to jeopardize if parks and hotels shut down.
Bijoux: I know, people are still booking cruises despite the three virus-struck cruise ships. I guess the USA is pretty safe, with only around 550 coronavirus cases out of a population of 330 million.
DeleteI have just been musing on that old idea regarding 6 degrees of separation. And I think I agree that with this virus it's probably down to the luck of the draw.
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Ms Scarlet: It's the luck of the draw. Whatever the precautions you take - avoiding crowds, washing your hands, avoiding physical contact etc, you just can't predict who's going to get it.
DeleteI just posted on FB a tracking device of all cases by country,etc. I would be really nervous about the USA as they are leaving it all pretty much up to Jesus who's in the custody of Mike Pence.
ReplyDeleteIt is great to be fearless but I think the suffering of the elderly who are infected is nothing to be cavalier about. Cruise ships and airplanes are petri-dishes.
XO
WWW
www: Sure, the risk to the elderly (i.e. you and me!) is much greater than the risk to young people. Some oldies are bound to fall ill; the main thing is to provide intensive care if it's needed. Unfortunately a lot of oldies have several underlying medical conditions that can mean they lose the battle.
Delete" My attitude is, either I catch the virus or I don't. There's no point in worrying myself to death over it. "
ReplyDeleteBINGO! and ditto.
I wonder if it's Mother Nature protecting what's left of Planet Earth? we breed like rabbits. and since we've done nothing to halt that excessive breeding … perhaps this is Nature's way of keeping a balance. just as it does in other ways.
and as to cruise ships. I feel the same as you and Jenny. actually they have been the largest contributors of needless WASTE in our oceans for years. until laws were put into place. hopefully they now all obey the environmental laws!
Tammy: There's certainly been a massive drop in carbon emissions since the coronavirus first appeared and the global economy went into a nosedive. But will that decline in carbon output be maintained once the virus is finally under control?
DeleteOne good reason for us old folks to avoid crowds and traveling is to help prevent overloading the health care system. I think that's being responsible. Easy for Andy and me to say -- we don't like crowds.
ReplyDeleteJean: Very true. I think the best precaution is simply to avoid getting too close to other people. Though that's difficult if you're at the hairdresser or the dentist or the optician. Or having to queue for something.
DeleteAnd if you do catch it, the mortality rate is only 30% for we old codgers. Seventy percent chance you come home fine.
ReplyDeleteJoanne: Do I detect a note of sarcasm? "Seriously? You're planning a totally unnecessary trip to Austria when Europe is rife with coronavirus and anyone over 70 is at great risk of dying? Are you mad?"
DeleteAll I can say is, I'm fit and healthy, I have no serious medical conditions, I might catch the virus but I can't see myself dying. Of course I might be wrong....
Joanne: England's Chief Medical Officer has just emphasised that the great majority (90 per cent) of old people who catch the virus recover totally, and the belief that anyone over 60 will be a goner is nonsense.
DeleteMy hubby is immunocompromised so we are a little more cautious about him getting the flu, colds and pneumonia already. Hopefully this doesn't get much worse than it already has.
ReplyDeleteMary: Sorry to hear that. I hope he manages to avoid the virus and not jeopardise his health.
Deletei suspect the figures for the USA are grossly under-reported (just an aside)
ReplyDeletego to Vienna, if you get sick you do, if not you bolster the economy (though it may be wiser to bolster the economy in NI) I like that you are going ahead. I know a lot of very young, very healthy people who have lost their marbles over thisso your attitude is refreshing
Kylie: I also suspect the US figures. Only 1000 cases in a population of 327 million??
DeleteYes, the general reluctance to travel is causing a disastrous slump in the hospitality industry. We need to travel a bit more and take our chances. Of course it's easier to stay cool-headed in Northern Ireland as we have only 12 confirmed cases.
I feels to me a lot like Chicken Little is the newscaster of the day.
ReplyDeleteLinda: Indeed. The sky is falling on my head! Every day some more scare-mongering to fan the general hysteria.
DeleteI think what matters is that we do what we’re most comfortable doing in this constantly changing viral situation. Friends had planned a family cruise in a few months, but finally decided to cancel — said they didn’t want to risk having to live with being responsible for having taken their family on the trip if something happened.
ReplyDeleteJoared: I would have done the same. Just one death would haunt you for the rest of your life. Cruise ships have been described as "floating petri dishes".
DeleteNo, a cruise just is not something I would enjoy either. I am sorry, but All. Those. People.....and no ground or birds or trees...just not something that would bring me joy. I had rather stay here and explore my just the country around me within driving distance.
ReplyDeleteRose: Exactly. There so many beautiful places around Northern Ireland, I should be exploring them more. Especially now air travel has been drastically curtailed by the virus.
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