Best place to spend winter during a potential second wave of COVID?
Jan 12, 2021, 4:43 pm
#871
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: GIB BCN LUX MLA GOT LCA ATH
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i agree with you. I have been to Sweden around seven times since this pandemic business started and yes the country is doing like any other EU country without having forgotten its democratic values. You will, however, not be able to convince the lockdown fetishists (of course NO and FI have done better, they closed their borders, introduced lockdowns etc). Half my family in Sweden works in the healthcare and school sector, only one of them has seen a COVID case and he worked in a COVID ward in Stockholm. The pandemic exists and is around us, yet until today I know one person who got COVID in Luxembourg (where we are, sadly, in close to full lockdown) and 0 in Sweden despite my full family being there.
The only things that were "tightened" yesterday are physical distancing rules in shops/gyms with a very low threshold of 1 person per 10m˛ (and this is in lieu of previous advice to avoid those places altogether) and a ban on renting out premises for private events over 8 people. Even if we'd agree it is tightening, it's hardly "significant". Being in Stockholm, the only difference is that few small shops have lines outside. I probably wouldn't even notice anything if I haven't been reading the news.
Literally everyone who visited me in Sweden would disagree with you, and so do I as someone who has been here for months (and had covid in Sweden). Sweden is fairly average European country when it comes to covid but they achieve that with moderate and much more reasonable restrictions than the rest.
Literally everyone who visited me in Sweden would disagree with you, and so do I as someone who has been here for months (and had covid in Sweden). Sweden is fairly average European country when it comes to covid but they achieve that with moderate and much more reasonable restrictions than the rest.
Feb 5, 2021, 4:09 pm
#872
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Mexico City
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Posts: 3,844
Iowa wouldn't be a bad idea for folks that don't want to wear a mask. The Governor just submitted a NEW proclamation:
*Ends Mask Mandate
*No Limits on Public Gatherings
*No Occupancy Limits in Restaurants and Bars
*so all you non-maskers, have at it!
*Ends Mask Mandate
*No Limits on Public Gatherings
*No Occupancy Limits in Restaurants and Bars
*so all you non-maskers, have at it!
Feb 5, 2021, 5:15 pm
#873
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: SAN, BOS
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Posts: 2,280
But it’s Iowa. In the winter.
Feb 5, 2021, 5:16 pm
#874
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Mexico City
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Feb 5, 2021, 6:00 pm
#875
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: VIE
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Well, I'd much rather be in a bad weather than being somewhere where I can't go out anyway because of mask mandates.
As an European, I'm certainly not heading there but if I were in the US, it would be a good choice. If not for anything else, then because of the pragmatic approach to the pandemic.
As an European, I'm certainly not heading there but if I were in the US, it would be a good choice. If not for anything else, then because of the pragmatic approach to the pandemic.
Feb 5, 2021, 6:12 pm
#876
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: SAN, BOS
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Posts: 2,280
Well, I'd much rather be in a bad weather than being somewhere where I can't go out anyway because of mask mandates.
As an European, I'm certainly not heading there but if I were in the US, it would be a good choice. If not for anything else, then because of the pragmatic approach to the pandemic.
As an European, I'm certainly not heading there but if I were in the US, it would be a good choice. If not for anything else, then because of the pragmatic approach to the pandemic.
Feb 5, 2021, 6:19 pm
#878
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 59
Well, I'd much rather be in a bad weather than being somewhere where I can't go out anyway because of mask mandates.
As an European, I'm certainly not heading there but if I were in the US, it would be a good choice. If not for anything else, then because of the pragmatic approach to the pandemic.
As an European, I'm certainly not heading there but if I were in the US, it would be a good choice. If not for anything else, then because of the pragmatic approach to the pandemic.
Feb 5, 2021, 6:41 pm
#879
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: VIE
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No, I could not because of my medical condition. It's impossible for me to wear the thing for more than 5-10 minutes. I've tried.
The location I'm in right now is around -12° at night and while I wear a warm clothing, my nose and mouth are uncovered.
The location I'm in right now is around -12° at night and while I wear a warm clothing, my nose and mouth are uncovered.
Feb 5, 2021, 7:26 pm
#880
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For someone from the Upper Midwest of the US, most of the popular places in Sweden should be considered rather mild in winter.
The difference is that Sweden may end up blocking travel from way more EUropean/Schengen countries than it has and it may put up additional passport control checks while the US won’t be having internal passport control checks to cross state borders that result in removal. Sweden’s already turning away travelers from Denmark and Norway and it may end up adding more EUropean/Schengen countries to its list of bans.
Feb 5, 2021, 7:43 pm
#881
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Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 59
I've considered Florida but masks seem to be a thing there, that really puts me off. Otherwise I'd absolutely spend a few months there (probably using full 90 days visa-free period), while the weather in Sweden is crappy.
It would be my first choice if I were an American and unable to visit the EU though.
It would be my first choice if I were an American and unable to visit the EU though.
Feb 5, 2021, 8:00 pm
#882
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Join Date: Dec 2001
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Florida is a lot warmer than our northern cities right now. I've got a nice place to rent from March onward, that is right on a lake with a dock and surrounded by about 18 golf courses in the Villages
Not a problem with masks except at sales locations that require them (the government doesn't specify). Easy golf cart availability to Covid testing sites to facilitate when you fly out to other states or countries. We've loosen up our vaccination availability this week but I'm not sure where we'll be in March
Not a problem with masks except at sales locations that require them (the government doesn't specify). Easy golf cart availability to Covid testing sites to facilitate when you fly out to other states or countries. We've loosen up our vaccination availability this week but I'm not sure where we'll be in March
Feb 6, 2021, 1:50 am
#883
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: VIE
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I'm in Florida now and the mask thing isn't really a big issue. I don't know exactly what the law is actually. It seems to vary from town to town. In some places everyone wears them in all of the shops but in other places it looks like it's only in the big supermarkets. I stopped at a 7-11 today and nobody was wearing a mask inside.
So far I'm convinced I'm in the best place there is right now as it is fairly open, with no masks whatsoever and a relatively stable situation (plus it's in the EU so I can stay however long I please and I am covered by EHIC if anything happens). Even the weather has improved and we finally get some sunshine on a regular basis, even if it's still very cold.
Last edited by the810; Feb 6, 2021 at 1:56 am
Feb 6, 2021, 7:07 pm
#884
Join Date: Aug 2012
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While my part of Florida (panhandle) is the least mask-compliant part of the state, lots of people wearing them outside today because of the cold front- 50F/10C, drizzling and winds straight from Alberta make it seem far colder than it is and the mask helps one's face stay warm.
Feb 7, 2021, 9:23 am
#885
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Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 59
I'm in Panama City (the one in Florida not in Panama) at the moment possibly on my way to New Orleans and I'm feeling the cold after being in Costa Rica and Fort Lauderdale. With all the thunder and rain down south I decided it was a good time to explore a bit. The next few days look good on the west coast though so I think I might head back down to Tampa tomorrow.