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

[Justinf]

except when the flu turns out to be like a Spanish flu pandemic.

note that each year the influenza virus has mutated and is different to the last. Should we treat it like the same old same old?.

I wasn't commenting on the potential severity of the virus.
Just commenting that it would explain why people are perhaps more worried than they should be at this stage.
Of course there may be good reason to worry.
I'm off to Japan in a few weeks. From a selfish point of view, I hope it hasn't gotten out of control. From a nonselfish point of view, I hope it hasn't gotten out of control.

 

[DC3]

Self imposed exile always seem to be luxurious going by history. Some of the world despots seem to hole up in some 9 star facility while in exile.

Yes, no doubt the Chinese team will be doing it tough.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

From ground zero - Expat Guides

 

[DC3]

Saw footage of hospital corridors filled with people. Im guessing if you didnt have it before you arrived, you most prob have it after that cattle situation.

Havent spotted anyone at my local village shops wearing masks ....

Are you stuck in China? Not sure from your post. Maybe I missed something earlier

 

[DC3]

Quarantine is a harsh reality... 14 days is bugger all.

I‘m not sure that it will be only 14 days though. Watch this space, perhaps?

 

[Flying mermaid]

Master FM tells me that Google is asking all staff returning from China to work from home for two weeks.

 

[p--and--t]

Like FM said, better opportunity to get medical if needed.

Only if they fly medical staff in.

Allegedly from other reports/experiences, medical facilities on the island are extremely limited (outside the detention centre) with no hospital and anyone that requires more than a senior nurse needs to be evacuated to Perth.

Edit: ABC reporting the government is asking AUD1,000 per person to get a seat on the flight.

 

[AisleSeat]

I'm not sure if this has been posted yet but here's the Johns Hopkins ArcGIS dashboard for tracking the virus. It gets updated once/twice a day.

ArcGIS Dashboards

ArcGIS Dashboards

gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com

 

[DC3]

Reading report some are now rethinking if they actually want to leave China because the destination is CI ...

Yes, they are going to a “Detention Centre” for all intents and purposes. The Government is, as they say, trying to put lipstick on a pig.

Edit: I still haven’t seen the (big) strategic plan from the Government on all of this as yet.

 

[dajop]

Master FM tells me that Google is asking all staff returning from China to work from home for two weeks.

In Singapore the government is encouraging all employers to require employees who have recently returned from China to remain at home for 14 days either through flexible working arrangements or paid or unpaid leave. Both my employer and my partners have instituted such policies. Sensible really.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Only if they fly medical staff in.

Allegedly from other reports/experiences, medical facilities on the island are extremely limited (outside the detention centre) with no hospital and anyone that requires more than a senior nurse needs to be evacuated to Perth.

Edit: ABC reporting the government is asking AUD1,000 per person to get a seat on the flight.

Medical teams are being flown in today.

that’s pretty awful if people have to pay for a seat. Everything is user pays these days - these kind of things used to be part of what a Government did in a crisis

 

[Quickstatus]

I wasn't commenting on the potential severity of the virus.
Just commenting that it would explain why people are perhaps more worried than they should be at this stage.
Of course there may be good reason to worry.
I'm off to Japan in a few weeks. From a selfish point of view, I hope it hasn't gotten out of control. From a nonselfish point of view, I hope it hasn't gotten out of control.

Yes i understand your comment. Mine was just saying that the flu virus is different every year. Potentially that means a new virus.
Apparently Not much snow in Jpn at the moment if you are going for that.

 

[Flying mermaid]

In Singapore the government is encouraging all employers to require employees who have recently returned from China to remain at home for 14 days either through flexible working arrangements or paid or unpaid leave. Both my employer and my partners have instituted such policies. Sensible really.

Very sensible and certainly a large number of Google people, particularly Software engineers are already set up to work remotely.

 

[dajop]

Edit: I still haven’t seen the (big) strategic plan from the Government on all of this as yet.

They surely must have one, and such a plan should have been in existence for years. The MNC companies that I've worked for have a pandemic response plans. If medium sized MNC's can have one, surely a national government of a sophisticated western country should also have one that it initiates when required.

 

[Justinf]

Yes i understand your comment. Mine was just saying that the flu virus is different every year. Potentially that means a new virus.
Apparently Not much snow in Jpn at the moment if you are going for that.

As long as there is sightseeing snow in Saporro city I will be happy.

 

[Quickstatus]

Sensible solutions modified by the latest information rather than a solutions based on worst case scenarios are best

 

[Pushka]

I read a media article (take that as you will) that the Government is now asking new arrivals from impacted areas to stay isolated at home for 2 weeks. Elvis has already left the building.

 

[DC3]

... the Government is now asking new arrivals from impacted areas to stay isolated at home ...

Ah, Christmas Island ‘Detenion Centre’.

A home away from home.

 

[Quickstatus]

Ah, Christmas Island ‘Detenion Centre’. A home away from home.

And it’s free?. Wonder if ScoMo will impose a daily “resort fee”?

 

[OATEK]

Yes, they are going to a “Detention Centre” for all intents and purposes. The Government is, as they say, trying to put lipstick on a pig.

Edit: I still haven’t seen the (big) strategic plan from the Government on all of this as yet.

Is the detention centre a big step down from a caravan ark with shared facilities? Somehow I doubt, and yet thousands of Australians cope with caravan parks each year. I get he whole "detention centre" label is meant to point at a different issue, but I doubt it is all that bad.
My Uncle came back from WW2 with an infectious disease - spent more than 2 weeks at the Quarantine Station in Sydney in very uncomfortable surroundings (apart from a good view). My grandfather came back from WW1 and wasn't even allowed off the boat, which was moored off the quarantine station. He kept carbon copies of the daily lists he was required to compile of the sick and dying. Those returning from Wuhan look like they will get a much better deal than our war heroes.