Travel When are you likely to travel?

[limom]

I'm in AB and I have never hated anything more, but my husband's job and ridiculous income (not O&G related) has us stuck here for a long time Being proud of where you live and expressing how great you believe you are is great, I just feel that it becomes distasteful and tacky when done in such a passive aggressive "we're better than x" way. I have lived in Canada for 20ish years and traveled and lived all over the world and have only experienced this here.

As for being closed, CBSA is vetting people at the border making sure they are not here for non-essential travel and the 14 day quarantine is for every single person who is entering Canada regardless of where they are coming from. This is closing the country to the rest of the world. Many, many other countries have opened their borders to international travelers and welcoming people from Canada, but Canada refuses to do the same. The CDC has removed the recommendation of the 14 day quarantine, yet Canada has not. The ramifications of these decisions are huge.

I work for a major global corporation and our Canada locations are suffering due to the current border issues. One example of this is we have a severe shortage of specialists in Canada and there are literally not enough licensed people who can do the job of what the majority of our business is so we have to get specialists from all over the world, especially US, UK and Australia. Even though all of the paperwork is in hand and they have jobs lined up here, they are not allowed to enter Canada. Even if they provide a negative test and quarantine, they are not allowing them in. Our business has not been impacted by the pandemic so those specialists are desperately needed in Canada and we have lost over 100 of them since March. The process of hiring these specialists takes years and it's all been for nothing.

The continual closing of the borders and not opening Canada (with reasonable restrictions of course) is extremely short sighted.

I think it is quite smart not to reopen. Look at what is happening in France and Spain. They reopened for the sake of tourism and it is now a disaster.
I would love to travel too however I decided that my vacation/business can be postponed until the virus is under control.
There will always be next year.
I would also hate Alberta because I truly hate cold weather.

 

[GhstDreamer]

I'm in AB and I have never hated anything more, but my husband's job and ridiculous income (not O&G related) has us stuck here for a long time Being proud of where you live and expressing how great you believe you are is great, I just feel that it becomes distasteful and tacky when done in such a passive aggressive "we're better than x" way. I have lived in Canada for 20ish years and traveled and lived all over the world and have only experienced this here.

As for being closed, CBSA is vetting people at the border making sure they are not here for non-essential travel and the 14 day quarantine is for every single person who is entering Canada regardless of where they are coming from. This is closing the country to the rest of the world. Many, many other countries have opened their borders to international travelers and welcoming people from Canada, but Canada refuses to do the same. The CDC has removed the recommendation of the 14 day quarantine, yet Canada has not. The ramifications of these decisions are huge.

I work for a major global corporation and our Canada locations are suffering due to the current border issues. One example of this is we have a severe shortage of specialists in Canada and there are literally not enough licensed people who can do the job of what the majority of our business is so we have to get specialists from all over the world, especially US, UK and Australia. Even though all of the paperwork is in hand and they have jobs lined up here, they are not allowed to enter Canada. Even if they provide a negative test and quarantine, they are not allowing them in. Our business has not been impacted by the pandemic so those specialists are desperately needed in Canada and we have lost over 100 of them since March. The process of hiring these specialists takes years and it's all been for nothing.

The continual closing of the borders and not opening Canada (with reasonable restrictions of course) is extremely short sighted.

That kind of explains it - you live in Alberta. In my neck of the woods (the woods is basically behind my house lol), we often say Alberta is Texas of the North. Unfortunately, it isn't meant in a positive way and I've been to Texas a number of times so I get the comparison. This is just from personal travel experience and I have traveled quite a bit in the US. Alberta is just weirdly racist and xenophobic compared to other parts of Canada but I don't mean all Albertans, as I have been friends with a few people who were born there and grew up there but left to live in Ontario. I love being a Canadian! Second country to legalize weed, one of the first countries to legalize same-sex marriage, universal healthcare, lower drug prices, equitable public education, etc. Sure there are issues (and some of those are systemic) but it could be worse and what country doesn't have their issues?

I for one is happy Canada is keeping their land border closed. Unless if you live in a city that close to a country that has crazy amount of covid cases, you don't know how scary it can be. If our prime minister opens up land border to non-essential travel, our town will see a major increase of covid cases and we don't have the medical resources to deal with it. Already we have numerous problems with the migrant situation, international essential workers and travelers coming back on planes. Per capita, our region is the worst.

 

[bklner2014]

I'm in AB and I have never hated anything more, but my husband's job and ridiculous income (not O&G related) has us stuck here for a long time Being proud of where you live and expressing how great you believe you are is great, I just feel that it becomes distasteful and tacky when done in such a passive aggressive "we're better than x" way. I have lived in Canada for 20ish years and traveled and lived all over the world and have only experienced this here.

As for being closed, CBSA is vetting people at the border making sure they are not here for non-essential travel and the 14 day quarantine is for every single person who is entering Canada regardless of where they are coming from. This is closing the country to the rest of the world. Many, many other countries have opened their borders to international travelers and welcoming people from Canada, but Canada refuses to do the same. The CDC has removed the recommendation of the 14 day quarantine, yet Canada has not. The ramifications of these decisions are huge.

I work for a major global corporation and our Canada locations are suffering due to the current border issues. One example of this is we have a severe shortage of specialists in Canada and there are literally not enough licensed people who can do the job of what the majority of our business is so we have to get specialists from all over the world, especially US, UK and Australia. Even though all of the paperwork is in hand and they have jobs lined up here, they are not allowed to enter Canada. Even if they provide a negative test and quarantine, they are not allowing them in. Our business has not been impacted by the pandemic so those specialists are desperately needed in Canada and we have lost over 100 of them since March. The process of hiring these specialists takes years and it's all been for nothing.

The continual closing of the borders and not opening Canada (with reasonable restrictions of course) is extremely short sighted.

FYI, it is not just Canada, but the majority of countries who have closed their borders for now. Here is a travel map from IATA showing which countries have restrictive entry policies and which don't. As you can see from this map, most either have a partially or totally restrictive policy currently in place: https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/world.php

I think travel restrictions are a smart move to reduce the likelihood of a surge of infections. The 14 day quarantine measure is also a prudent one IMO - I think it's a small price to pay to ensure that crazy surges in infection are avoided as best as possible.

 

[Junkenpo]

At this point in time, I am for travel restrictions, though it is difficult to say that when so many are out of work.

Hawaii has very few travelers at the moment, but covid cases have increased more in the last couple weeks than the months since the original lockdown. Our hospitals are probably going to reach capacity soon. I can't even imagine how much worse it could be if it were residents plus tourists.

 

[ElenaAlex]

I'm traveling now and I don't see the situation as dangerous or pandemic. Based on the available data there are much less infected people that we get from flu 2 to 3 times every year, also less serious cases and deaths. I'll stop here, because my opinion, which is based on my medical education, is contrary to what is drilled every day in our heads, and I dont want anyone to feel insulted. So please follow the regulations in the country you are in now

And I'm planning to travel again later this year, at least to make some use of the low prices

 

[limom]

I'm traveling now and I don't see the situation as dangerous or pandemic. Based on the available data there are much less infected people that we get from flu 2 to 3 times every year, also less serious cases and deaths. I'll stop here, because my opinion, which is based on my medical education, is contrary to what is drilled every day in our heads, and I dont want anyone to feel insulted. So please follow the regulations in the country you are in now

And I'm planning to travel again later this year, at least to make some use of the low prices

The WHO declared the COVID 19 a pandemic.
But of course some knows more than true medical professionals.

 

[ElenaAlex]

The WHO declared the COVID 19 a pandemic.
But of course some knows more than true medical professionals.

Sure, I won't argue. But the facts are that we have national established rules what epidemic is and what measures should be takes and they were not followed because of the WHO, because if we follow them, there wont be any epidemic or pandemic at all.
We didn't know much in January and now we know and we have statistics and that data speaks for itself. Plus many virologists and epidemiologists also have different opinion from WHO and prove it scientifically.

Please dont get offended, we all have right of opinion and having a different opinion doesn't make people less humans, less intelligent or less knowledgeable.

Plus my new Chanel bag needed to see some museums

 

[limom]

Sure, I won't argue. But the facts are that we have national established rules what epidemic is and what measures should be takes and they were not followed because of the WHO, because if we follow them, there wont be any epidemic or pandemic at all.
We didn't know much in January and now we know and we have statistics and that data speaks for itself. Plus many virologists and epidemiologists also have different opinion from WHO and prove it scientifically.

Please dont get offended, we all have right of opinion and having a different opinion doesn't make people less humans, less intelligent or less knowledgeable.

Plus my new Chanel bag needed to see some museums

Laughs

 

[classybags4ever]

I'm traveling now and I don't see the situation as dangerous or pandemic. Based on the available data there are much less infected people that we get from flu 2 to 3 times every year, also less serious cases and deaths. I'll stop here, because my opinion, which is based on my medical education, is contrary to what is drilled every day in our heads, and I dont want anyone to feel insulted. So please follow the regulations in the country you are in now

And I'm planning to travel again later this year, at least to make some use of the low prices

Almost everything you said is incorrect and I need to correct you because I don’t want people seeing your post and believing it. I wish people would stop comparing Covid 19 to the flu. Covid 19 is not a flu strain, does not have a vaccine, has a much higher mortality rate. Please don’t spread misinformation.

 

[ElenaAlex]

Almost everything you said is incorrect and I need to correct you because I don’t want people seeing your post and believing it. I wish people would stop comparing Covid 19 to the flu. Covid 19 is not a flu strain, does not have a vaccine, has a much higher mortality rate. Please don’t spread misinformation.

I don't compare it to flu and I'm not spreading any misinformation. I clearly said that you should follow your regulations and the regulations of the country you are in. Plus everyone has the right to have it's own opinion and if you want to go on that, I can backup mine with plenty of governments published statistics. Please do not put words on my fingers I haven't typed.

Plus I've been in emergency room twice so far from the 3 times I collapsed on the street wearing the mask and not be able to breathe in the hot weather. Yet I still wear the mask when I have to. From my point of view wearing a mask is extremely dangerous as I hit my head quite badly the second time.

I'm not going to apologize for having an opinion and I strongly advice you to respect other peoples opinions if they are different to yours as I do and not to put words on their fingers.

I'm done here.

Stay safe

 

[classybags4ever]

I don't compare it to flu and I'm not spreading any misinformation. I clearly said that you should follow your regulations and the regulations of the country you are in. Plus everyone has the right to have it's own opinion and if you want to go on that, I can backup mine with plenty of governments published statistics. Please do not put words on my fingers I haven't typed.

Plus I've been in emergency room twice so far from the 3 times I collapsed on the street wearing the mask and not be able to breathe in the hot weather. Yet I still wear the mask when I have to. From my point of view wearing a mask is extremely dangerous as I hit my head quite badly the second time.

I'm not going to apologize for having an opinion and I strongly advice you to respect other peoples opinions if they are different to yours as I do and not to put words on their fingers.

I'm done here.

Stay safe

This is what you said exactly "I don't see the situation as dangerous or pandemic. Based on the available data there are much less infected people that we get from flu 2 to 3 times every year, also less serious cases and deaths." and it's FALSE.

Please read a reputable site like this one from Johns Hopkins, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/hea...ronavirus/coronavirus-disease-2019-vs-the-flu:

Deaths
COVID-19: There have been approximately 832,419 deaths reported worldwide. In the U.S, 180,857 people have died of COVID-19, as of August 28, 2020.*

Flu: The World Health Organization estimates that 290,000 to 650,000 people die of flu-related causes every year worldwide.

In the U.S., from Oct. 1, 2019 – Apr. 4, 2020, the CDC estimates that 24,000 to 62,000 people died from the flu. (The CDC does not know the exact number because the flu is not a reportable disease in most parts of the U.S.)

The COVID-19 situation is changing rapidly. Since this disease is caused by a new virus, people do not have immunity to it, and a vaccine may be many months away. Doctors and scientists are working to estimate the mortality rate of COVID-19, but at present, it is thought to be substantially higher than that of most strains of the flu.

*This information comes from the Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases map developed by the Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering.

 

[LaDolceLaria]

Just saw this thread, so back to the original question:

I had to travel from CA to NY in late May to help my parents, as my Dad was losing balance and falling. They didn't want to send him to rehab (he had been hospitalized for non-COVID issues just as the state shut down and fortunately was negative upon release). I took a chance because they are high risk due to their age, but his possibly suffering a serious fall outweighed the risk of my catching COVID enroute. And my mom needed help (my brother, who lives minutes away, refused to enter their home since March).

The flight was actually great...no crowds at check in or security, which was so relaxing, and everyone was very careful. My heart went out to all the workers. I had an entire row to myself, including across the aisle. I had chlorox wipes, gloves and of course a mask. I didn't use the airplane lavatory and once home, used a separate bathroom. The flight back from Newark to SFO was more crowded - I almost had row to self, but a woman with mask and a face shield asked to move to my row, as an elderly couple just sat in hers. It was fine. I was so glad I went...my parents needed so much help and I left my dad with a good exercise regimen that he has stuck to.

After I left, NY finally turned a corner so I have since arranged for at home caregivers and physical therapists to help them (and my bro finally came out of his SIP to enter their home, too). I took family leave and will use more time to go back and help them downsize to prepare to move to a first floor condo. My next air travel, now that the 2-week quarantine for CA in NY has lifted, is early Oct.

My husband and I also managed to take a week off in July to head out in our RV to the High Sierra to mountain bike, so perfect social distancing trip.

And all trips, I brought my new-to-me cherry mini mono LV Josephine GM. Fabulous!

 

[ElenaAlex]

Does WHO pays you to defend their decisions in such a way?
Let me summarize my point of view:

1. USA is not the only country in the world. Sweden for example never introduce a lockdown https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/87812
2. I have the full right to disagree with any decision and measure introduced by any organization, including WHO, or any government. It doesn't mean I will not follow it but it is my absolute right to disagree. By the way, your president stopped the funding to WHO, do you think he agrees with them?
3. Tuberculosis is much more deadly - https://www.who.int/gho/tb/epidemic/cases_deaths/en/ - it kills millions EVERY year. WHO has the good will to end it one day, although it would be easy, because there is a vaccine. But it affects the poor countries - who cares about the poor???
4. All the restriction measures and lock downs affected POOR people - who the hell cares about poor people? Maybe you are comfortable in your rich home, with your rich friends to comment how good it is to be at home all the time... I have middle class friends and they are all struggling to provide even the food for their families. I have friends in India that been in lockdown for months now, I had to send them money because they could not manage with their savings. I had to buy food for my neighbors, I had to send money to my parents, because they lost their jobs and couldn't manage. Good I have a well paid job. I can see every day how the restrictive measures ruins peoples' lives and dreams. Please see Sweden above and what they did not do and how they are managing.
5. The virus is dangerous for certain groups and I'm not in that group so - I WILL travel when I can and how much I like. There are no restrictions in EU with some exceptions and I avoid the exceptions and I TRAVEL, because I WANT and because I CAN. and yes, I do follow all restrictions.
6. I do not see this virus as dangerous and I have the full right to have my own opinion based on my MEDICAL education, in which we did study Virology and Epidemiology.

Thank you. You don't need to cite WHO again.

Plus, FYI, it never been in epidemic to lock healthy people down, it always been to lock people showing symptoms, and to take extra measures to prevent infection, which usually is a higher hygiene. All healthy people used to continue their normal life.

 

[LemonDrop]

I don't want to get into it too much because I really don't want to get into an argument over how I feel, but the judgement and prejudice that Canadians have towards people of other countries, especially the US, is unreal. Someone said to me years ago that the Canadian identity is basically how they feel superior to others and it's so true. With Canada being one of the few countries still completely closed to all other countries, this attitude is getting much worse. Even last night our server in the restaurant we were at was saying how it's so great that we're still closed to any other country because no other country is as great as Canada and we should keep it that way forever. I'm also hearing comments like this coming from people who I least expected to have this attitude. As someone who lives to travel and is not a Canadian all I can do is shake my head.

I have dual citizenship. I am 99% American and 1% Canadian. I remember going to visit my Canadian relatives and hearing how terrible the USA lifestyle was and how they pitied me that my half of the family moved to the US. Meanwhile they are sitting there watching Seinfeld reruns, listening to Britney Spears, and getting excited about the new Hollywood movies. They literally told us they were superior to our side of the family. So I understand and can empathize. I am a traveler too. This is destroying my mental health. I am learning a foreign language and that helps a bit. Feel free to PM me anytime.

 

[Jaxholt15]

Does WHO pays you to defend their decisions in such a way?
Let me summarize my point of view:

1. USA is not the only country in the world. Sweden for example never introduce a lockdown https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/87812
2. I have the full right to disagree with any decision and measure introduced by any organization, including WHO, or any government. It doesn't mean I will not follow it but it is my absolute right to disagree. By the way, your president stopped the funding to WHO, do you think he agrees with them?
3. Tuberculosis is much more deadly - https://www.who.int/gho/tb/epidemic/cases_deaths/en/ - it kills millions EVERY year. WHO has the good will to end it one day, although it would be easy, because there is a vaccine. But it affects the poor countries - who cares about the poor???
4. All the restriction measures and lock downs affected POOR people - who the hell cares about poor people? Maybe you are comfortable in your rich home, with your rich friends to comment how good it is to be at home all the time... I have middle class friends and they are all struggling to provide even the food for their families. I have friends in India that been in lockdown for months now, I had to send them money because they could not manage with their savings. I had to buy food for my neighbors, I had to send money to my parents, because they lost their jobs and couldn't manage. Good I have a well paid job. I can see every day how the restrictive measures ruins peoples' lives and dreams. Please see Sweden above and what they did not do and how they are managing.
5. The virus is dangerous for certain groups and I'm not in that group so - I WILL travel when I can and how much I like. There are no restrictions in EU with some exceptions and I avoid the exceptions and I TRAVEL, because I WANT and because I CAN. and yes, I do follow all restrictions.
6. I do not see this virus as dangerous and I have the full right to have my own opinion based on my MEDICAL education, in which we did study Virology and Epidemiology.

Thank you. You don't need to cite WHO again.

Plus, FYI, it never been in epidemic to lock healthy people down, it always been to lock people showing symptoms, and to take extra measures to prevent infection, which usually is a higher hygiene. All healthy people used to continue their normal life.

I agree that you have the right to your own opinion, in most situations. This particular issue just cannot be looked at that way. Discounting Covid puts so many of our loved ones at risk, overwhelms our hospitals, keeps our economy at a standstill. I highly doubt any of us love wearing masks, staying home, etc. I understand it is inconvenient but it’s the right thing to do. I cringe when I hear someone say they do not believe in masks. Please be responsible and encourage others to do the same for all our sakes.