It’s coming down to the wire. We have until Friday (tomorrow) to decide to fly or not from Japan to Australia as per our months-before arranged trip with three-year old daughter. What would you do?
Me, personally? Not go.
Airline cabins recirculate the air, only changing to fresh six times an hour, or something like that.
You couldn’t pay me to fly, or take a cruise right now.
Of course, I’m an old lady.
~VOW
IGA in Central Victoria, Australia today.
Completely out of toilet paper, lowish on milk, did have some paper towels. Fortunately, I only needed the last two.
I was just in the grocery store. I wasn’t buying TP, but I went down that aisle, and I was startle to see only about 20% of the shelves stocked. I saw no other section decimated like that. Very strange.
H’m. Not a doctor or any sort of medical person.
Are all travelers feeling well and healthy?
Do any travelers have any particular risk factor?
Have any travelers had contact with someone who was or has fallen ill with some respiratory disease, identified as COVID or not?
If the answers are yes, no, and no, then I personally would go ahead and go. There is a non-zero chance you may contract COVID (or some other ailment) in your travels, but frankly, not a huge amount more chance than if you were to stay home, IMO.
Again, I’m not a medical professional in any way, shape, or form.
Yes, no and no. My daughter is only three though, so I worry about her ability to fend off the virus. Hopefully the airport and plane will be uncrowded. We have gloves masks and eye protection. Just watching the news.
One case in Australia now, my wife just told me. FWIW.
I would not go.
If you do go, have a contingency plan in case you can not return as anticipated due to travel restrictions or you yourself winding up in quarantine.
Your three year old daughter is not the one at most risk here.
Kids, even young kids, don’t seem as badly affected by this virus as adults are.
Although, of course, as a parent you worry about your child. It’s entirely normal to do so. Also, you no doubt want to keep everyone as healthy as possible.
At least two - Tom Hanks and his wife both have it, and both are in Australia. Realistically, there are probably more than just two or three, you just haven’t found them all yet.
Yeah, thanks. We might not go. But we’ll probably get it anyway?? lol
Dunno if I’d go that far!
Really, though, I think the best advice I could give you would be to consult your physician, especially as regards your daughter. I’m just some rando on the interwebs, and that is no replacement for a real, trained medical professional, no matter how well intentioned.
In the meantime, you can enjoy this little ditty on YouTube about the joys of coming to Australia.
No, it’s constantly remixed with fresh air AND filtered. And it’s quite safe.
OP, if none of your family is in a high-risk group, I’d go. Of course, Japan and Australia might not want you, coming from the germy ol’ US and all.
Do you mean cases of Covid-19 or toilet paper?
Australia currently has 139 cases, 3 deaths. We’ve been keeping a close eye because my husband’s Australian and we have plane tickets to Sydney for June.
Are you going to be visiting relatives? Or what? Because the Aus government is asking visitors from Japan to seek urgent medical care if you get a cold…
At this point, we have more to fear from you than you do from us. And most of the cases in Aus are people returning to Aus – not people visiting tourist locations. So it’s still fairly safe here. But I’d avoid places with a lot of tightly packed American tourists. Which is why I ask what you are planning to do.
It’s not just a matter of “Will we die?” No, you almost certainly won’t. But you may find yourself stuck outside the country due to closed borders or grounded flights. This may or may not work in your favor. Do you have the funds available to remain outside the country for a few extra weeks?
Or you may find yourselves mildly ill but quarantined in a strange place. What if you are sick but your child is healthy? Do you have friends or family where you are going? If you and your partner were to fall ill there, who would care for your child while you were quarantined?
Things are going to get crazy and inconvenient. Hotels may be shut down, or open but without restaurant service. What is your travel resiliency level? Are you the type who can back-pack through Europe with next to no funds? Great,you’ll probably be fine. TBH I’m pretty low maintenance, and I have friends just about everywhere, but I wouldn’t take a young child on a trip right now.
@Seannette - I don’t know about you but I would sure want a good supply of kitty litter. In a worst-case scenario we may be looking at several weeks of self-isolating. One change of litter is not going to stay fresh and absorbent for that long. (I’ve got lots of cats and cat boxes, but back in the day when I had one cat and one box, I changed the litter at least once a week, often more frequently).
Keep in mind that pet supplies will not be top priority if supply lines are impacted. The authorities will prioritize food for people and medical stuff over kitty litter and kibble. So have some extra on hand for the pets.
I had to order t-p through Amazon (and most suppliers say you have to wait 1-3 weeks before they can ship it) because the usual stores don’t have any.
Further news from the Eastern front (ish): Mrs T did the weekly shop this morning in Sainsbury’s (mid to top of the range of supermarkets). She panic bought a bag of bread flour, a bag of pasta and two tubes of tomato puree, and further reports the following shortages (in addition to toilet paper):
Almost empty shelves: Chicken breasts, uncooked.
Completely empty shelves: Tonic water. Crisis!
(Mid to top of the range, see?)
j