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

[pauly7]

Mrs C, employed by a multinational logistics and B2G organisation, says the company has banned ALL international and domestic travel (air and rail) globally.
Looks like we'll need to burn 120k QFF points in a couple of months.

Most multinationals are advised by a small group of crisis and insurance underwriters so most end up with same travel black lists and same advice.

Me too - completely grounded. Whole company worldwide. Domestic a little bit still allowed but needs high level management approval.

 

[I love to travel]

Well if the US shuts down and closes its borders then the rest of the world will too. Don’t know about others but I am finding it really difficult to make an informed opinion on how bad this thing is. My 75 yo mother is asking me whether she should go on her planned 2 week holiday to Vietnam mid March and i honestly don't know what to tell her.

Just a follow up to this. They have decided not to travel. Am quite relieved.

 

[Lynda2475]

My employer has banned all international travel for March, April and May. No restrictions (other than budgetary ones) for domestic travel at this stage.

 

[Jos888]

This from the Straits Times...

Coronavirus: Recent travellers to S. Korea, northern Italy and Iran barred from S'pore; symptomatic travellers may be tested at entry point

Singaporeans, residents and long-term pass holders who have been to these Covid-19-hit areas in the last 14 days will be allowed in, but will be issued a stay-home notice. Read more at straitstimes.com.

www.straitstimes.com

 

[Melburnian1]

My employer has banned all international travel for March, April and May. No restrictions (other than budgetary ones) for domestic travel at this stage.

Seems the more sensible approach.

Listed companies are loathe to give written updates every few days - but surely QF and the thinly traded VA should both issue further advice to the ASX (as should ZL) given that the situation is changing so rapidly.

If the above sentiment from a small number of AFFers of companies is accurate, then even domestic corporate air bookings must be dropping like a stone.

And who knows what leisure travellers are doing re domestic air travel? Both airlines some time ago said that subsector was 'soft.'

 

[Himeno]

My employer has banned all international travel for March, April and May. No restrictions (other than budgetary ones) for domestic travel at this stage.

They might be able to ban work related travel, but what right would they have to ban an employees personal international travel?

 

[pauly7]

They might be able to ban work related travel, but what right would they have to ban an employees personal international travel?

None, but they are imposing self-quarantine (Work from home) on anyone returning from a long list of countries even with no symptoms - and that list is longer than any government no admission list...

 

[Lynda2475]

They might be able to ban work related travel, but what right would they have to ban an employees personal international travel?

None, but any staff who have visisted China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Northern Italy, South Korea and Iran have been asked to wfh for 10 business days upon return.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

China’s aggressive measures have slowed the coronavirus. They may not work in other countries
By Kai Kupferschmidt, Jon CohenMar. 2, 2020 , 4:50 PM

AAAS

www.sciencemag.org

 

[GSP]

OS in India on business returning home Friday via KL Self quarantine recommendations being implemented on return.

 

[Bell21]

None, but any staff who have visisted China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Northern Italy, South Korea and Iran have been asked to wfh for 10 business days upon return.

I saw this somewhere as well, and I wondered about grouping Singapore in together with the others on this list - I'm probably partly biased, b/c I'm (at this stage) transiting through SIN in a month. Putting aside HK, all the other countries on this list have over 20 times more infections than Singapore and there are another 4 countries that have significantly more infections that haven't been mentioned? (eg Japan, France). I assume it's b/c of SIN's reputation as a global transport hub.

 

[dajop]

Tonights travel report on EK405 MEL-SIN. I didn’t see F or J cabins, but I counted 61 pax in the 304 seat cabin. Very comfortable. I could have had an upgrade to J for about $620 but decided not worth it given the space I suspected I might have.

On the flip side huge queues at the gate for the Scoot flight flying to MEL, and moderately full gate area on the QF flight to MEL and SQ flight seat map almost full. So still lots of people travelling to Australia.

 

[PineappleSkip]

This from the Straits Times...

Coronavirus: Recent travellers to S. Korea, northern Italy and Iran barred from S'pore; symptomatic travellers may be tested at entry point

Singaporeans, residents and long-term pass holders who have been to these Covid-19-hit areas in the last 14 days will be allowed in, but will be issued a stay-home notice. Read more at straitstimes.com.

www.straitstimes.com

They are not alone. According to Timatic Coronavirus page, which is very long indeed now, 46 Countries have barred or restricted travel from South Korea, 37 from Iran, and 36 from Italy (not the same countries, quite a few have restricted travel from South Korea/Italy but not Iran). In a few cases the bar is to travellers from parts of Italy of South Korea.

18 Countries have barred or restricted visitors from Singapore. Samoa has restricted entry from Australia (including transit) and Solomons is applying mandatory Quarantine to entries from or transits through Australia

Cheers Skip

 

[Jenya]

"if the US shuts down and closes its borders then the rest of the world will too" - I hope this to happen ASAP at least for couple of weeks, this is the only chance to curb infection.
If Australia will continue just with current travel restrictions there will be hundreds confirmed cases by the end of March.

 

[Max Samuels]

Why are people hoarding toilet paper? Being a fan of the zombie apocalypse genre, I am very well-versed on what people need in an actual apocalypse , and it doesn't appear to be toilet paper... food - yep, water - yep, meds - yep (they are always doing a run to a pharmac_ in these shows) - but no one is ever going after toilet paper...

 

[Denali]

When youre told youre OK and discharged but then get dragged back iniside by people in hazmat suits, telling reporters youre not ok

https://www.reddit.com/r/PublicFreakout/comments/fa8pk4

 

[drron]

Fear is the greatest fear of all.
Just to put this in perspective the Chinese deaths for 2019 was just under 10 million.This means on average 27,000 deaths per day.

 

[amaroo]

Why are people hoarding toilet paper? Being a fan of the zombie apocalypse genre, I am very well-versed on what people need in an actual apocalypse , and it doesn't appear to be toilet paper... food - yep, water - yep, meds - yep (they are always doing a run to a pharmac_ in these shows) - but no one is ever going after toilet paper...

Chafing will get you before the food deprivation kicks in

 

[Nadal123]

18 Countries have barred or restricted visitors from Singapore. S

Hi PineappleSkip

Can you please tell me where to find the information on which countries are barring entry for people passing through Singapore.

I am flying Sydney to London via Singapore and will be having a few days in Singapore. I am worried about being denied entry into the UK.

Thanks

 

[woodborer]

18 Countries have barred or restricted visitors from Singapore. Samoa has barred entry from Australia (including transit) and Solomons is applying mandatory Quarantine to entries from or transits through Australia

Not quite banned, but perhaps effectively a ban. If you want to travel from Australia to Samoa you need a medical clearance.