Anyone getting worried about March Break Travel

[Silvermist999]

About the COVID-19 situation here Canada, here is a news article from CTV:

https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-...-gta-bringing-total-confirmed-to-11-1.4833418
"Kurji said that people on the flights sitting close to the woman in the business class section and those on the upper deck of the bus may have been exposed to COVID-19, and are asked to contact York Region Public Health. "

"He said the woman had been travelling on Qatar Airways flight QR 483 and QR 163 and Air Canada flight AC 883 with her husband and their toddler, and she had developed symptoms prior to her arrival in Toronto. "

Let me ask myself a few questions:
1. Why is this passenger not screened or quarantined at the airport? Are Canadian airports monitoring symptomatic arrival passengers?
2. Why is this passenger on luxurious business class but took public transit bus potentially exposing pathogens to other bus passengers after developing symptoms? Why was a private transport, taxi, or ambulance not used? Is it about the cost? Then how do we explain business class? Why wouldn't her call an ambulance and go direct to hospital if she knows that she has developed symptoms prior to arrival?
3. Why are Canadian hospitals sending COVID-19 patients home after diagnosis? Are they sure there would be no household or community transmission? What if the person lives in a condo with shared air vent system?
4. Would the above situations be allowed to occur in another country, such as USA?

I do not know the answers but these questions do not give me confidence "Don't worry... the risk of COVID-19 in Canada is low". I truly hope so.

Re question 2: My guess is they wanted to get out of Iran/get back to Canada as quick as possible and only seats left on that first available flight were in business class.

 

[MoreTravels]

Oh no... it has presumably arrived Florida as we speak.

Florida's Department of Health announced that state's two new presumptive positive cases on Twitter. The governor, Ron DeSantis has declared a public health emergency to combat the virus' spread.

"The dedicated professionals at our county health departments, as well as those working at local medical providers, are well equipped to address these and future cases. State Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees has taken appropriate, decisive action to help affect the best possible outcomes, and I will continue directing our state agencies to do whatever is necessary to prioritize the health and well-being of Florida residents,” DeSantis said.

 

[quandrea]

Re question 2: My guess is they wanted to get out of Iran/get back to Canada as quick as possible and only seats left on that first available flight were in business class.

Disgusting. Don’t get me started.

 

[Canadian Girl]

We booked Canadian discount park passes and using a year and a half of our DVC points, I am supposed to leave in a little over a week. Points can’t be refunded and will go into a 60 day holding period and then be forfeited if nowhere to use them and park tickets may not be able to be transferred to other dates. Flights are non refundable. Not sure what to do now that there are two cases and one seems to be community spread. Obviously they got it somewhere that hasn’t been determined yet. So far DVC isn’t giving any waivers.

 

[MoreTravels]

We are in a similar situation, leaving for this March break. We are worried about getting stuck at DVC resort when the parks are announced to be closed in the middle of our trip.

The governor, which is the equivalent of our premier, of Florida has already declared "a public health emergency" but Disney remains silent on its Florida operations? What is going on?!

 

[ottawamom]

Take a breath.

I would go anyway (unless your health is already compromised) Things are only just starting to ramp up.

I've read lots about this recently as I'm supposed to go end of April (and I will unless they cancel the flight or Disney closes its doors). Wash you hands repeatedly, cough into your sleeve, drink lots of fluids. Wipe down your seats and tray table on the plane and the places where you eat in the park.

Go with lysol wipes, hand sanitizer and meds for relief of cold symptoms.

Everyone has different levels of comfort with a situation like this and you need to do what's right for you and your family. I plan on going, business as usual until someone tells me otherwise.

The other way you can look at this is "What's more important, your health? or a few $?

 

[MoreTravels]

The other way you can look at this is "What's more important, your health? or a few $?

Being the pessimistic type,

• my health = 2% of dying vs.
• a few $ = $5,000 wasted, which I can probably make back in a few months if I stay alive.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Don't forget, the governors will declare a state of emergency long before the actual emergency (remember the hurricanes?) so they can access emergency spending. It's a formality ahead of anything that might be coming their way.

We are going next week. We'll be on a ship, but first (and at the end) will be in Orlando. Since there are a few cases in my city, I'm probably as safe there as here. Unless those 11 cases somewhere in the 100 mile radius of me disqualify me from travel? I don't know if there is anywhere that is 100% virus-free.

 

[damo]

I have a feeling that now that the testing kits have been distributed in the US, we will be seeing a lot more cases identified very quickly. Most likely, there are a ton of cases wandering around with people just thinking that they have a cold as that is how it usually affects people. If you just have cold symptoms, you are not going to be going to the ER to get tested. I imagine that the incidence of this virus is much more widespread than it has been reported simply because the symptoms are so variable. Likely the death rate is also lower than reported, simply because there are most likely way more cases out there than have been documented.

 

[hdrolfe]

I am not worried per se. If I had a trip planned/booked I would go. My concerns on a cruise would be in being turned away or quarantined on the ship, given the ships being denied at ports for things other than Coronavirus. I would be more concerned with the flu to be honest. But I don't have a trip booked so I can't say for sure.

 

[Kevin Liu]

We are going back and forth on this. Travelling to Orlando between the 16th and 22nd and planning to spend 4 days at Disney World.

 

[ottawamom]

Would you not go if you had a cold? Or if you were concerned about catching a cold? (as that is how this has affected most people) Just some more food for thought.

 

[MoreTravels]

Would you not go if you had a cold? Or if you were concerned about catching a cold? (as that is how this has affected most people) Just some more food for thought.

Let me play the devil's advocate... let's say you go. Aren't you not worried about having to see a doctor or use hospital services locally? Would travel insurance cover that? What about "pre-existing exclusion" on travel insurance? What if one has seen doctors for respiratory symptoms in the winter months (which many of us did)? Would the travel insurance company decline a claim because they found out you went to see a walk-in clinic and bought some cough medicine about one month prior to departure?

It's over 4 digit sum of money to see an ER doc in the USA and 5 to 6 digit sum if one needs hospitalization. I wonder if this will be an issue or not.

 

[Donald - my hero]

If i was in the position of having a trip soon there are a couple of things i would be doing:

• Check my insurance policies for what my exact coverage is and what will negate my coverage.
• Start following the Canadian Travel advisory Page for the USA and my airline's travel advisories as well.
• Understand completely that if an advisory is issued and I decide to go my insurance will no longer cover me for ANYTHING.
• If it's a Disney trip (since most of this conversation is focused on that) follow legitimate sources (ie Disney directly) for any advisories they issue.

Couple of things that have popped into my mind for those of you with trips planned:

• If you don't have trip cancellation/interruption insurance AND medical insurance, why not? This should prove to be a good reason to pay for it every single trip - for those of us who live in Ontario, even heading to a different province can be expense now thanks to cuts to our OHIP coverage.
• Worried about pre-exsisting coverage? Check out CAA, they have very recently given us the ability to get a 7 day rider added to their policies for what is IMHO a very small amount. That allows for the inevitable cold our kids pick up!
• Have tickets attached to your MDE? Check to see if you can change the date within the APP - I was able to do that in January, easy-peasy. So long as the date you pick is the same price you don't pay anything extra. Cost more? pay that thru the app. Cost less? Too bad, no refunds, sorry.
• Have a DVC unit booked? @Canadian Girl this is for you - check with David's rental. They will do their best to rent out dedicated bookings, I know someone in this forum had to do it because of illness. worth looking into !

 

[bababear_50]

We booked Canadian discount park passes and using a year and a half of our DVC points, I am supposed to leave in a little over a week. Points can’t be refunded and will go into a 60 day holding period and then be forfeited if nowhere to use them and park tickets may not be able to be transferred to other dates. Flights are non refundable. Not sure what to do now that there are two cases and one seems to be community spread. Obviously they got it somewhere that hasn’t been determined yet. So far DVC isn’t giving any waivers.

Hi Hon
I have had to cancel two Disney trips this year (Jan and March)--DVC. (Gallbladder stones/infection/surgery.)
With very short notice David DVC Rental was able to rent out the two dedicated reservations for me.
David's is located in London Ontario Canada.
https://dvcrequest.com/Fortunately I was able to salvage some of my WestJet flights to WestJet banked money for a future trip.
No one can tell you what to do,,but I just wanted to say my thoughts are with you and I hope for better days ahead.
Hugs to you
Mel

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

It seems that I am in the minority about being concerned and more than likely cancelling our WDW trip.

For me, there are too many unknowns right now as I feel that the American Government is not being forthcoming with information, especially when I heard that the President has effectively "muzzled" the infectious disease specialist - he must get approval from the White House before he provides information. My concern is what is not being reported. We are fortunate that my job is flexible in that I can go away whenever and we have annual passes with 2 more trips planned this year. We may lose the cost of our flights on SW because of the time limits on the date of the credits. But I would rather lose that money than chance getting sick.

I know, everyone has to make the right decision for them and their families and while I will miss celebrating my birthday at WDW, I would never forgive myself if my Mom got sick and was hospitalized when we could have rescheduled our trip for a few months from now when the virus is gone.

 

[bankr63]

Being the pessimistic type,

• my health = 2% of dying vs.
• a few $ = $5,000 wasted, which I can probably make back in a few months if I stay alive.

I'm sorry, but the logic of this one made me laugh out loud as you only need to follow it to the logical conclusion of 4 point matrix (Pascal's Wager):
Options are Go/Don't; Outcomes are Live/Die

Go and Live = had fun
Go and Die = had fun
Don't Go and Live = out $5,000 and the fun
Don't Go and Die = dead and never had fun

Keeping in mind that in a pandemic situation (we are NOWHERE near that yet) you are as likely to be exposed to the virus in either situation. As a matter of fact, based on currently identified cases, you are closer to exposure in the GTA than in Central Florida. To me the logical conclusion is to go anyway unless the odds suddenly tilt to the side of Florida has a pandemic and Canada does not (highly unlikely).

Note that the error in the initial logic is that "my health = 2% of dying vs." is missing a conclusion, because you are somehow implying that going is somehow changing your odds. Your odds are pretty much the same right now sitting in at home in Canada as travelling to Disney.

ETA: And in other philosophical musings, yes, I do realize that since Karma is such a b..., er, harsh mistress, that I am now the one who will most probably be exposed to, contract and perhaps expire. Ah well, at least I will have had some fun!! I am also more concerned that I will expire in a fiery car crash on I95 on the way down (odds of that are MUCH MUCH higher), but alas it will not deter me from my quest either...

 

[damo]

I'm sorry, but the logic of this one made me laugh out loud as you only need to follow it to the logical conclusion of 4 point matrix (Pascal's Wager):
Options are Go/Don't; Outcomes are Live/Die

Go and Live = had fun
Go and Die = had fun
Don't Go and Live = out $5,000 and the fun
Don't Go and Die = dead and never had fun

Keeping in mind that in a pandemic situation (we are NOWHERE near that yet) you are as likely to be exposed to the virus in either situation. As a matter of fact, based on currently identified cases, you are closer to exposure in the GTA than in Central Florida. To me the logical conclusion is to go anyway unless the odds suddenly tilt to the side of Florida has a pandemic and Canada does not (highly unlikely).

Note that the error in the initial logic is that "my health = 2% of dying vs." is missing a conclusion, because you are somehow implying that going is somehow changing your odds. Your odds are pretty much the same right now sitting in at home in Canada as travelling to Disney.

Yup. Unless you are going to sit home alone in complete isolation, you are at risk here. You are at risk on the Go Train, in the grocery store, at the mall, at work, etc. etc. May as well have fun.

 

[cdnSpinalTap]

Ugh - it pains me to read all this back and forth, for the simple reason that people are feeling real stress and concern over whether or not to go - and others are "laughing out loud" at how some of us deal with this stress, concern and pain.

For everyone in a situation where you need to make a decision, my opinion is that you find a news and information source (perhaps your doctor?) that you trust and go with your instincts and feelings. Nobody here can tell you what to do or if your decision is right or wrong. Certainly nobody here has the expertise to advise anyone else - all they can provide is their opinion, based on their interpretation of the news.

 

[mort1331]

I'm sorry, but the logic of this one made me laugh out loud as you only need to follow it to the logical conclusion of 4 point matrix (Pascal's Wager):
Options are Go/Don't; Outcomes are Live/Die

Go and Live = had fun
Go and Die = had fun
Don't Go and Live = out $5,000 and the fun
Don't Go and Die = dead and never had fun

Keeping in mind that in a pandemic situation (we are NOWHERE near that yet) you are as likely to be exposed to the virus in either situation. As a matter of fact, based on currently identified cases, you are closer to exposure in the GTA than in Central Florida. To me the logical conclusion is to go anyway unless the odds suddenly tilt to the side of Florida has a pandemic and Canada does not (highly unlikely).

Note that the error in the initial logic is that "my health = 2% of dying vs." is missing a conclusion, because you are somehow implying that going is somehow changing your odds. Your odds are pretty much the same right now sitting in at home in Canada as travelling to Disney.

ETA: And in other philosophical musings, yes, I do realize that since Karma is such a b..., er, harsh mistress, that I am now the one who will most probably be exposed to, contract and perhaps expire. Ah well, at least I will have had some fun!! I am also more concerned that I will expire in a fiery car crash on I95 on the way down (odds of that are MUCH MUCH higher), but alas it will not deter me from my quest either...

Yup,,,see you in HH in 8 days.