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?

Can I ask a question based on the link above, it says theres 26,000 or so recovered, does that mean of the 76k infected most of them are still suffering? Sorry if that's a stupid question

In theory I could self isolate as I work from home but would still need to send kids to school and husband to work so unless we all self isolated it would be pointless.

@2020runner yes, it does. Total (known) cases minus total recovered minus total died equals total (known) still ill.
No question is stupid. Stupid is thinking you know things and not thinking about what questions to ask. IMHO.

nearly I do completely agree with what you are saying but at the moment it isn't advised not to go there (certain parts are but not all).
Everyone is still in the beginning learning phase about the virus and advise is changing all the time. I just wondered what happens in these situations.

My husband is constantly travelling abroad for work. He has to go to Germany next week. I'm very worried that the situation will worsen and he won't be allowed to travel back.

I am in the south of Italy.
Many uni students from the north are returning down here because their unis have been closed.
The region I live in has politely asked that anyone coming from the north "registers" the fact with their local health authority and stays at home for 14 days.
40,000 people went to see the Pope half an hour from here on Sunday and 3000 were at the opening night of a nightclub last night.
I doubt asking for self-isolation is going to work!

OP, you need to watch the FCO advice very carefully.
If they suddenly advise not to travel, then you need to check that your insurance will cover your at all, if you go against your own gvt advice.
So you may still get to Thailand (quarantine is a separate issue) but unless you investigate you may not have any travel insurance at all.

This situation changing so quickly, I am in Asia, and it's literally day to day right now. We have a holiday on Thursday and Friday and people are deciding tomorrow if they will go as planned or not... The risk being they might find borders closed immediately, or quarantine imposed at no notice, this impacting their ability to return to work.

My employers have advised us not to travel at all right now... They can't insist, but I think it's prudent right now.

Penyu- would you advise my DS and his friends ( currently in Australia) to change their travel plans ( original plans to travel to Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Sri Lanka from mid March)?

My brother is in Thailand (has been for a few weeks, due back end of March). He keeps telling me not to worry that there are a few people wearing face masks but life is carrying on as normal. For what it’s worth I think he was mad to go when all this was going on but off he went...

@labelle yes I would be watching it really closely, sadly. Malaysia currently 'only' has 22 reported cases but most locals here believe there are more.

Indonesia apparently has none at all!!!

It's all about the detecting, reporting etc I guess.
If things stay stable, then great. Travel within Malaysia and Thailand is currently fine.

But things changing very quickly, for example there is currently a mandatory 14 days quarantine from visitors to Sabah and Sarawak (not peninsula Malaysia) from Singapore and that happened overnight.

As long as they stay aware, know exactly what their insurance will cover (imagine it was invalidated due to gvt travel advice and then someone got in an accident completely unrelated! You don't want to be anywhere in Asia without insurance)
And have money ready to buy tickets quickly, at this point, maybe ok.

Thank you penyu that is another helpful post.
I would never go if the government said not to.

How would I know if my travel insurance covers this? Should I call them?

@huggles yes absolutely, I would email so it was in writing actually. 👍😳

@ofwarren - how on earth do you thinks that all employers could afford to pay people?

@labelle it's not widely known in the Western press that all schools in Vietnam currently shut, have been for weeks, and HK schools shut now until April.
Expect others to follow. This is an indication of how worried these gvt are, how prepared they are in terms of dealing with an overwhelming situation in their already (Vietnam) dire public hospital system.
Both of these countries have a land border with China though.

That’s very interesting info, thank you. I’ll pass it on to DS

for example there is currently a mandatory 14 days quarantine from visitors to Sabah and Sarawak (not peninsula Malaysia) from Singapore and that happened overnight.

This is not correct. The mandatory quarantine requirement was lifted on 12 February.

www.theborneopost.com/2020/02/12/sarawakians-visitors-from-singapore-need-not-undergo-self-quarantine/

This is the current advice from U.K. government (Quoted on BBC News): “Based on the scientific advice of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) the UK chief medical officers are advising anyone who has travelled to the UK from mainland China, Thailand, Japan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau in the last 14 days and is experiencing coughing or fever or shortness of breath, to stay indoors and call NHS 111, even if their symptoms are mild.“ No one can even imagine what it will be in a month. It may be no worry. It may be that everyone who’s been to Thailand has to self-quarantine for 30 days (eventually if they want to quarantine, they’re going to have to accept 14 days isn’t enough after these cases where people still have it in 24 days, sigh).

As for your question, “What if it becomes a pandemic,” first of all, it is a pandemic by definition, I believe, but eh. Second, this from an Australian virologist you should follow on Twitter who believes in #PrepareDontPanic: virologydownunder.com/so-you-think-youve-about-to-be-in-a-pandemic/

His Twitter: mobile.twitter.com/mackayim

Thanks penyu
I called up. They will not refund anything unless government advise not to go there. Sigh.
I know it isn't about the money but it is hard not to look at that side of things. I'm feeling all kinds of mixed emotions at the moment. It is hard to plan and be practical when there is so much unknown (I'm talking about the trying to get any money at all back!)
Hopefully will know more soon. I'm trying to keep up to date with everything but if anyone finds any more out please feel free to update.

I have lots of sympathy for you!
I was looking to book Spain in April but the Tenerife hotel latest has put me off booking for now.
At least you have a month to see. It may be a lot clearer towards the end of March.
@RightYesButNo interesting read, thanks for posting that.
I've started to make sure the cupboards are more full.

Thank you :)
I'm trying to be hopeful and also realistic.
Been chatting with others who are meant to be going on the trip too and we have all voiced our thoughts and this seems similar to what I was thinking so we will have to just see how it all pans out.

@watcha ahh yes, you are correct.

It does appear now that countries in Asia are turning their attention from China to Korea, a few have suspended flights etc

I found this an interesting read, each country listed with the most recent events first.

www.aseanbriefing.com/news/coronavirus-asia-asean-live-updates-by-country/

@Cuddling57

Oh god I have menorca booked in May wonder if il be able to go now reading about Tenerife

@Cuddling57

But then aren’t we at risk in the uk aswell so would it be any different ?

@Ghdsa1
Are there any reports from Me IRC's yet?
Have you got insurance?
I was looking at somewhere near Barcelona so the latest news means I won't book there.