Mar 11, 2020, 10:13 am
Last edit by: Ocn Vw 1K
In order to reduce noise in the Coronavirus / Covid-19 : general fact-based reporting thread, and to create a central place to invite any member to ask a basic question about the impact of COVID-19 on travel, your moderators have decided to open this separate "lounge" thread for related discussion that isn't strictly fact-based reporting.
Any member who can provide a constructive, helpful answer to a question; or post constructively in reply to a member's point-of-view, is welcome to post.
All FT rules apply, including avoiding personalized, snarky, political, other off-topic, commercial, and repeatedly disruptive content.
Discussion of general economic impacts of Covid-19 belongs in the OMNI forum, not here.
Discussion and critique of political/government actions to aid the economy or which is far more political than related to COVID-19 is for the OMNI/PR forum, not here.
This is a protocol for posting adopted by the forum Moderator team:Please follow this protocol, based on FlyerTalk Rules and long-standing FlyerTalk best practices. Doing so will help keep the thread open, and allow our moderator team to aid members, rather than having to resort to discipline.
Constructive, respectful posts, views, opinions, questions, and replies, related to the topic are welcome. Avoid commenting on members personally, or posting off-topic or political messages.
While respectful disagreement of a posted view is allowed, dont call-out posters to prove their points. FlyerTalk has never required discussion standards at the level of a Ph.D. dissertation defense, or a trial court witness cross-examination.
After a reasonable exchange of views on a point, please yield the floor so that others may bring up different topics, questions or points.
Especially important in this time of pandemic, when normal life and travel have been upended: please take regular breaks from the thread.
Please stay healthy,
your FT Coronavirus and Travel Moderator Team.
Any member who can provide a constructive, helpful answer to a question; or post constructively in reply to a member's point-of-view, is welcome to post.
All FT rules apply, including avoiding personalized, snarky, political, other off-topic, commercial, and repeatedly disruptive content.
Discussion of general economic impacts of Covid-19 belongs in the OMNI forum, not here.
Discussion and critique of political/government actions to aid the economy or which is far more political than related to COVID-19 is for the OMNI/PR forum, not here.
This is a protocol for posting adopted by the forum Moderator team:Please follow this protocol, based on FlyerTalk Rules and long-standing FlyerTalk best practices. Doing so will help keep the thread open, and allow our moderator team to aid members, rather than having to resort to discipline.
Constructive, respectful posts, views, opinions, questions, and replies, related to the topic are welcome. Avoid commenting on members personally, or posting off-topic or political messages.
While respectful disagreement of a posted view is allowed, dont call-out posters to prove their points. FlyerTalk has never required discussion standards at the level of a Ph.D. dissertation defense, or a trial court witness cross-examination.
After a reasonable exchange of views on a point, please yield the floor so that others may bring up different topics, questions or points.
Especially important in this time of pandemic, when normal life and travel have been upended: please take regular breaks from the thread.
Please stay healthy,
your FT Coronavirus and Travel Moderator Team.
COVID-19: Lounge thread for thoughts, concerns and questions
Mar 11, 2020 | 9:27 pm
#346
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 11,690
I was with a relative who has a chronic cough. We were in the Taipei Metro late January when she had a spell (and she, like 80% of the people in the train, had mask on).
You can actually see some people slowly and politely move to another carriage.
You can actually see some people slowly and politely move to another carriage.
Mar 11, 2020 | 9:44 pm
#347
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: YVR, HNL
Programs: AS MVPG, UA peon, BA Bronze, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond, Fairmont Plat (RIP)
Posts: 8,422
I was at a live music venue with some friends in late Feb, long communal table seating. There was a stranger across from me eating. I was telling my friends about this stupid Whooping Cough from last October and the woman silently picked up her plate and walked away. We tend to think no one is listening to our private conversations. It was pretty funny. And yes, I am getting the sideways glances now as well.
Mar 11, 2020 | 9:54 pm
#348
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 677
Sorry if I wasn't clear, but in the west we simply do not have masks. I have one single mask myself, but I'm saving it for when I might actually need it. You cannot buy masks here as the shops are sold out. The hospitals are hoarding what they have. Hopefully the mask producers can whip up a hundred billion more masks ASAP.
Mar 11, 2020 | 10:02 pm
#349
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 677
Regardless of the efficacy of masks, as contemplated by Trueblu and others, there is a far greater acceptance of using them in a number of Asian countries, including China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Thailand. They have been used for many years, way before SARS, in part as a device to reduce transmission, but also as a courtesy to others, a statement: Im ill, dont get too close. In the west weve continued to cough, sneeze and splutter..mask-less, putting others in the firing line. On occasion when Ive used them outside Asia, Ive had lots of weird looks...and been asked if Im having chemo. I suspect well see them used more widely over the next few weeks ( at least if they can be found..)
HK and those countries who went through SARS have no qualms wearing masks. While they are uncomfortable, they helped to stop the spread of the virus and everyone does it here. Am sure Europe and the US will change their behaviors after this virus. People can ..... and moan about wearing masks all they want but when they realize their and their family's lives are on the line, behaviors will starting changing and social pressure will build.
Mar 11, 2020 | 10:04 pm
#350
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 677
In HK, people normally only use it for a day but most people don't have enough masks so they change maybe every two or three days
Mar 11, 2020 | 10:12 pm
#351
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: DTW
Programs: DL - PM, (NW - Plat), AA - Gold, Marriott - Plat, Avis - First
Posts: 978
I typically get some form of a very mild sinus infection and/or running nose throughout most of the winter any year. Been like that for 15+ years.
People were looking at me rather questionably in some meetings this week when I have to use a tissue or a one-off light cough.
People were looking at me rather questionably in some meetings this week when I have to use a tissue or a one-off light cough.
Mar 11, 2020 | 11:41 pm
#353
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: 42.1% in PDX , 49.9% in PVG & 8% in the air somewhere prior to COVID. Now ~ 3% in the air going somewhere
Programs: Marriott Ambassador Elite & Lifetime Platinum, UA 1K, AS MVP GLD 75K, DL Pt, SWA A-List Preferred
Posts: 1,124
The world has moved from containment to mitigation to "flatten the curve" It is already everywhere and will continue to spread, travel restrictions, WFM, quarantine/self-isolation are now all about that flattening and changing the timing / treatment.
The response pendulum has swung to the other extreme, anything and everything is assumed to be COVID19 and for the greater good of society you self-quarantine.
Hey on the bright side, if it is hay-fever you got a excuse to WFM till summer, if you have a lingering lifetime cough you are now right up there with leper till this dies down.
The response pendulum has swung to the other extreme, anything and everything is assumed to be COVID19 and for the greater good of society you self-quarantine.
Hey on the bright side, if it is hay-fever you got a excuse to WFM till summer, if you have a lingering lifetime cough you are now right up there with leper till this dies down.
Mar 12, 2020 | 6:21 am
#354
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan, IHG, Enterprise, Avios, Nexus
Posts: 8,355
Mar 12, 2020 | 7:01 am
#355
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,188
Mar 12, 2020 | 7:14 am
#356
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan, IHG, Enterprise, Avios, Nexus
Posts: 8,355
Mar 12, 2020 | 7:54 am
#357
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Plum Nelly
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy, Delta Sky Miles, and S&H Green Stamps
Posts: 642
This. Until the next crisis... all sneezes and coughs will be fatal.
Mar 12, 2020 | 1:59 pm
#358
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,536
Do you sneeze in low humidity? Perhaps a saline nasal gel like Ayr would help?
I get seasonal allergies and some allergy meds + decongestant can help reduce the symptoms. There's also antihistamine eye drops. PM 2.5 masks do work to reduce inhaled pollen so I have worn them in the past if I'm going outside for a while or just suffering for a day or two. Pollen reducing glasses also exist in Japan where seasonal allergies can be fierce. It's something to consider for those with seasonal allergies and would get some appreciated relief from masking up. Some people like that masks trap humidity if they suffer from dry nose/mouth in the winter. A few friends make good use of the saline nasal rinse sprays (vs neti pot/manual rinse) during winter and spring, too.
I also tend to sneeze in fits when I get too hot or too cold. Most of my co-workers know this because I've reacted this way for years, toting about various pieces of clothing into air conditioned meeting rooms or doing an about face at the door and re-entering wearing a coat. Of course I cover my sneezes, wash my hands, distance myself from others (including attending meetings remotely from my desk) when I have fits, and go home early when possible. No one wants to listen to me sneeze and sniffle for hours, including myself.
I get seasonal allergies and some allergy meds + decongestant can help reduce the symptoms. There's also antihistamine eye drops. PM 2.5 masks do work to reduce inhaled pollen so I have worn them in the past if I'm going outside for a while or just suffering for a day or two. Pollen reducing glasses also exist in Japan where seasonal allergies can be fierce. It's something to consider for those with seasonal allergies and would get some appreciated relief from masking up. Some people like that masks trap humidity if they suffer from dry nose/mouth in the winter. A few friends make good use of the saline nasal rinse sprays (vs neti pot/manual rinse) during winter and spring, too.
I also tend to sneeze in fits when I get too hot or too cold. Most of my co-workers know this because I've reacted this way for years, toting about various pieces of clothing into air conditioned meeting rooms or doing an about face at the door and re-entering wearing a coat. Of course I cover my sneezes, wash my hands, distance myself from others (including attending meetings remotely from my desk) when I have fits, and go home early when possible. No one wants to listen to me sneeze and sniffle for hours, including myself.
Mar 12, 2020 | 7:17 pm
#359
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: I 35 south bound, finally stopped
Programs: LT PPro/Emerald 4mm, *A GLD, Delta Silver, burned out medical provider, executing our estate plan
Posts: 1,765
Pandemic gives governments political cover to invoke martial law. Most US health care systems have gamed pandemics. They typically alternate training between trauma mass casualty events and pandemic events. While I was personally ok to travel late march to mid May, the global pandemic thing means that governments can do pretty much what they want to do. Governments can say a pandemic is like "we are at war". Like Trump saying no EU travellers after March 13. California is now in mitigation, not quarantine. This means they are not trying to stop the spread by the 14 day quarantine, they just want you to kinda self quarantine, and hope most people dont die.
Mar 12, 2020 | 7:26 pm
#360
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: RNO
Programs: AA/DL/UA
Posts: 11,585
If 150 million Americans are going to get infected, then what is the point of all these idiotic bans on travel and large gatherings? It's ruining economic activity.