What happens if it becomes a global pandemic?

[Hugglespuffed]

Supposed to be travelling to Thailand in about a month. What is the likelihood do you think? What happens if it becomes a global pandemic? How long does it last?

This was meant to be in chat. Sorry!

I wouldn't be travelling to Thailand with the current situation

I think you just need to wait and see what happens over the next couple of weeks. A global pandemic will take months to burn out, I'd think it is unlikely that things will be resolved in a month.

A global pandemic means it’s just as likely to get it here as anywhere else.

What is the likelihood do you think? What happens if it becomes a global pandemic? How long does it last?

No-one knows HTH

The Foreign Office advice will change according to circumstances. If it changes to 'do not go to Thailand' the day before you travel, I'd advise you to follow it. Unfortunately no-one can predict this, no-one. And yes, once it's a pandemic (the word global is superfluous because the word 'pandemic' means globally spread epidemic) it's probably just as much here as anywhere and all sorts of new guidance might come into play. But at the moment there's no way of predicting.
However the likelihood is that if you go to Thailand you should be prepared to self-isolate on return. The latest on Northern Italy is that travelers to the affected area are required to self-isolate even with no symptoms - Matt Hancock just now on Sky News.

Yes I know but wouldn't a global pandemic mean we can't travel?

Thank you onal that is really helpful.

We're due to go skiing in Cervinia, Northern Italy, in just over a month's time - not within the current lockdown areas but not very far, a bit northwest... Am beginning to worry we'll not be able to go if this thing spreads any further in Italy!!

Flights and accomm booked and paid for separately thru Jet2 and booking.com respectively so we'll not have ATOL protection, but paid for on credit card so I think that gives us some level of protection??

I live in the UAE and citizens here have just been banned from going to Thailand (and Iran). So I am not entirely convinced that going is a very good idea at the moment.

@SafferUpNorth Have you got travel insurance? I would think that you would be able to claim on your insurance if the government advice is to not travel. If there is no governmental advice then you would not be able to make a claim.

DM and her friends are due to go to Lake Garda in May but as that is the end of May and 3 months away yet they are watching with interest .

Depending if you are also TTC, zika is still a threat in Thailand and many places- we just havent heard much about it lately with the coronavirus scare taking over.

I'm going to Hong Kong over Easter for a big family celebration. I'm guessing that the FCO would never advise not to travel to HK (for political reasons) which means travel insurance wouldn't pay out if I cancel. No idea what to do.

Flights booked separately. Accomodation through booking.com I think. The thing is, I can't really afford to be out of work for 2 weeks when I return and I also can't really afford to lose that much money if travel insurance doesn't cover. (It is to visit a relative so have saved a lot to visit them and worry that I may not be able to afford any time soon!)

Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases CSSE

Thats the link to global cases so you can observe how many people are infected, how many recovered
Not all is covered by news

I thought companies have to pay you for the 2 weeks isolation? Or am I being naive?

DS and friends are on their gap year travels - they’re in Australia until mid March but then supposed to be travelling to Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia and Sri Lanka. They’re considering this very carefully and my DS in particular is looking at the news in detail. Atm there are fewer cases in Vietnam and Cambodia than the UK and only a few more in Singapore. It’s so hard to know what to advise!

I have just left Singapore and was in Daegu, South Korea a week ago where the large number of cases have just appeared. Also had a cold which I got checked out in Singapore and was told I'm all good. Due to fly back from South Korea in a few weeks and not sure if we'll still be able to fly home by then but I'm not worried and would urge others not to be too!

ofwarren has a good point - why not check with your employer whether you'd be paid for the self-isolating period if you have been asked to do it by someone official - dr or whatever? And if not, why not?

@NichyNoo come to Hong Kong! It's beautiful and sunny today.

Seriously though it's fine although you need masks, not that they do much good but people can be grumpy if you don't have one. Some stuff is shut but we have lots of other things to do esp the stunning coast and hikes. Depending on your plans, let me know or post in overseas, there's a fair HK posse so we can help

As of today we're in for another month plus of home schooling so the bars will be jumping as we all sob into our drinks

I don't want to out myself (despite name changing) but I don't think I would get paid unless the money came from the government. It is the type of job I do.

It is such a rubbish situation.

all you need is masks.

Tell that to the dead and infected hospital staff. It’s a lot more serious than that. We are being told masks trap infection. And you need eye protection. Never eat anything uncovered, put your hand to your mouth without anti bac etc.

I wouldn’t be going ful stop. But if you really want to, you need to be able to a) guarantee the relative will put you up for an extended period and b) afford to self isolate on return. Two weeks has now been proven to be not enough. There was a report yesterday of someone showing symptoms 24 days later.

Oops sorry for the misquote there.

This is the problem with self-isolation- it does require people to be very disciplined, self-sacrificing and possibly sacrifice money. Not everyone has someone who can look after them as well.

Self-isolation is a really rubbish idea as people will find all kinds of reasons why it can't or won't apply to them.

I know it sucks, but honestly, you don't have to travel to Thailand, do you? It's not a life or death situation and even if it was, you may have to make a hard choice. I wouldn't travel to somewhere and then have to self-isolate on return, you may even get stuck there. It is annoying though, you are not wrong about that!