Coronavirus (COVID-19) Respiratory illness - Effect on Travel

[suze2000]

TBH doesn't seem like much of an added risk as long as there is plenty of hand sanitiser around and serving utensils are changed regularly.

Hand sani is only useful if it is actually USED.

 

[drron]

The USA has still not opened up to the EU or the UK.

It's A Big Day: United States Ends Travel Bans, Requires Vaccination

The United States has ended its travel bans as of November 8, 2021, replacing them with a vaccination requirement. Here are all the details.

onemileatatime.com

It's A Big Day: United States Ends Travel Bans, Requires Vaccination

The United States has ended its travel bans as of November 8, 2021, replacing them with a vaccination requirement. Here are all the details.

onemileatatime.com

 

[PineappleSkip]

Meanwhile, QF is sending out domestic bonus points offers that many should read to the theme tune from "Mission Impossible"

Pick up an Apollo campervan, motorhome or 4WD Camper in Perth, Darwin or Alice Springs and earn 10,000 bonus Qantas Points

I mulled over the cheap fares and points on the Indian Pacific before I realised that would require (from BNE) that Qld, SA and WA would all need to be open to all of NSW, Qld and SA when the train leaves and continue this throughout the journey. I'd rate the odds of this happening as considerably less than even.

Cheers skip

 

[drron]

Thailand has once again announced their reopening.Hopefully ~ 20th time lucky.

Official: Thailand Opens To Vaccinated Travelers

Thailand's borders have reopened to vaccinated travelers from 63 countries as of November 1, 2021. Here are the details.

onemileatatime.com

Tempted as the SGS has a prepaid rate of 2000 baht right now.With taxes would be just under $A 100 at today's rate.The 10pm curfew or having to stay inside the hotel for the first day are not problems but no alcohol service is a deal breaker.

 

[Quickstatus]

My place of work hand sanitiser ordering went up by 175%. Unlikely to be pilferage because the bottles are mounted on walls.

But… why was it 175% LESS before Covid? especially if hand sanitation is a required mandate in normal times?

Edit 175% not 340%

 

[JohnM]

My place of work hand sanitiser ordering went up by 340%. Unlikely to be pilferage because the bottles are mounted on walls.

But… why was it 175% LESS before Covid? especially if hand sanitation is a required mandate in normal times?

Staff/visitor numbers unchanged?

 

[Quickstatus]

numbers unchanged

Less visitors due to lockdown

 

[ethernet]

Operations Research and Travel Covid booster economics.
It is my opinion that Australians traveling overseas should get a booster before going OS. Is there a travel insurance actuary who can confirm this? With a minimum of 3 months since the last dose.

Why? Because breakthrough infections are extremely costly. Because the cost of a 3rd booster is less than $150 and pre and postflight testing etc. Because long-haul is going to be a greater risk, as is the cost of evacuations/complications. Because there is significant divergence from what Israel reports on Pfizer and ATAGI/TGA like to think.

That will ensure an outcome as good as humanly possible. Shhh - dont tell WA.

 

[Quickstatus]

there a travel insurance actuary who can confirm this

It is a brave insurer whose policy conditions are at odds with the orthodox and official medical advice from a government health department
So if the official recommendation is no booster, insurers won’t say yes booster.

Same reason travel insurers are not saying their their policies only cover people who exercise (the obesity issue).

Breakthrough infections can be costly, but by how much will a booster reduce the risk of a Covid infection by?.

Q: what is the risk of catching Covid 3 months after 2Jab?. Can anyone answer that?

 

[Must...Fly!]

I agree there are many unknowns. It will be interesting to see what positions various insurers take with regards to COVID and associated cover once DFAT removes level 4 from all countries.

 

[Quickstatus]

TI could say no CovidVax = no CovidTI unless CovidVax is contraindicated

(Or no CovidVax = No CovidTI full stop)

If there is an exemption then the price for Covid coverage for CovidVax exempted individuals could be high enough to cover the potential liability

 

[ethernet]

It is a brave insurer whose policy conditions are at odds with the orthodox and official medical advice from a government health department
So if the official recommendation is no booster, insurers won’t say yes booster.

Same reason travel insurers are not saying their their policies only cover people who exercise (the obesity issue).

Breakthrough infections can be costly, but by how much will a booster reduce the risk of a Covid infection by?.

Q: what is the risk of catching Covid 3 months after 2Jab?. Can anyone answer that?

Denmark , Israel and the USA are already giving boosters. In ACT one mobile 80yo with high blood pressure and blood thinners was told she could not be vaccinated. One M obese and diabetic has already had 3 Pfizer doses. I am told the novovax will be reserved initially, for under 12yo's. These who had emergency Pfizer spaced <3 weeks apart - well I would expect to find Israel like findings.

Then there is mix-n-match considerations. Those who has AZ, followed by Pfizer show very good results. As the older were vaccinated first, it makes sense to boost them in some logical order.
Denmark seems to have a plan: Denmark to start inviting public for COVID-19 'booster' shots

I would argue going from among the most vaccinated country/state in the world to patchy destination countries is a low to high risk state change.

 

[PineappleSkip]

It is a brave insurer whose policy conditions are at odds with the orthodox and official medical advice from a government health department
So if the official recommendation is no booster, insurers won’t say yes booster.

+1 The policy I got a week ago for current travel (heymondo) ignores the travel ban and covers you for COVID provided I am double vaxxed AND I follow the Govt health requireements for the country.

Cheers skip

 

[Quickstatus]

Denmark , Israel and the USA are already giving boosters

Sure, but TI conditions will stay within the official recommendations of the countries visited.
Currently Covid is a TI exclusion for most TI and AFAIK there is no requirements re booster on TI - as Covid is excluded cover.


Anyway there is a Covid TI thread
@PineappleSkip can you reply there- interested to know what TI you got. Thx

 

[PineappleSkip]

Have done, @Quickstatus. Here is the post.

Cheers skip

 

[drron]

The first crack is appearing in the wall of plane travel. BA to drop mask requirement.

British Airways Drops Face Mask Requirement (Update: Postponed)

British Airways will be dropping the requirement to wear a face mask on most flights as of Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Here are the details.

onemileatatime.com

 

[Pushka]

The first crack is appearing in the wall of plane travel. BA to drop mask requirement.

British Airways Drops Face Mask Requirement (Update: Postponed)

British Airways will be dropping the requirement to wear a face mask on most flights as of Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Here are the details.

onemileatatime.com

UK has pretty much dropped everything now, no need for testing on arrival even for unvaxxed. No more passenger locator forms. Flying with them in June. I’ll feel nekkid!

 

[drron]

Well what do you know. Children produce much higher levels of antibodies than adults after covid infection. Likely to be better protected than with vaccination.

In this peer-reviewed study published by the journal JCI Insight on March 22, 2022, infants and toddlers who experienced a SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection had significantly higher antibody levels against the virus than adults.


Antibodies to a key site on the virus’s outer spike protein—the “receptor-binding domain” (RBD)—were present at much higher levels in children compared to adults: more than 13 times higher in children age 0-4, and nearly nine times higher in children age 5-17.


And levels of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies, which may help predict protection against severe COVID infection, were nearly twice as high in children ages 0-4 compared to adults.

Welcome to Precision Vaccinations News

Precision Vaccinations News publishes vaccine news patients can trust to make informed immunization decisions in partnership with doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.

www.coronavirustoday.com

 

[drron]

So now that the unvaccinated are allowed to travel the inevitable push back and fear campaign begins. This from the ABC -

But the danger of contracting the deadly virus still lurks in every corner of the city and in recent weeks, cases have been soaring.

A record number of more than 4.1 million people were infected with the coronavirus across England in the week ending March 26, the majority with the Omicron variant.

While these conditions would have sparked calls for restrictions in previous waves, the government is unlikely to enact a lockdown or bring back enforceable health measures this time around.

This is the reality of learning to live with COVID-19. And as Australia debates whether to end quarantine requirements for close contacts of COVID cases, the UK offers a glimpse into how post-pandemic life works and what we can avoid.

But the UK data shows how this is really overhyping the situation. First cases.


Funny that the date the ABC used was the maximum of the 7 day figures. In the 3 weeks since numbers are dropping. And the numbers are half the Dec/Jan peak.

Now admissions to hospital. As expected a delay in peak but now looks like turning down.Again just below half of the Dec/Jan peak.


And of course down on pre vaccination peaks.
Then deaths.


Oh dear deaths didn't spike as much. And remember in the UK anyone who dies within 28 days of a positive test is counted as a covid death. The real death rate from covid would be lower than these number. But even so the death numbers are less than 20% of the pre vaccine deaths.

Sorry ABC but your bias is obvious.

 

[clifford]

Don't forget that there are likely to be higher numbers of unreported infections now that PCR tests are no longer free.