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Original poster

Holiday in Rome on Friday

26 replies

pouncingtiger · 04/03/2020 14:27

Quick gage of hands-
I am due to fly to Rome on Friday- with my husband and my (small children) staying at home with my parents in the UK..

We won't get our money back on flights or our hotel- as it's still officially safe to travel to Rome. So we are set to lose a lot of money. Which we will just have to suck up I suppose.

In my mind (there's not that many cases in Rome is there???) I'm just as likely to get it here- so Its not that I'm afraid of going.

More a case of, would it be irresponsible to travel and potentially bring something back/ or get stuck there and can't get home.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I'm just not sure what to do for the best...Confused

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 04/03/2020 14:29

The news is they’ve just closed all Italian schools and universities.

I wonder if the travel advice will be updated to reflect this.

Original poster
pouncingtiger · 04/03/2020 14:31

Ooh I somehow missed that bit- thanks will go and google...

OP posts:
LIZS · 04/03/2020 14:37

They are considering closing schools - bbc jumped the gun or mistranslated. Rome won't be crowded at this time of year and much is in open air.

Gadgnkk · 04/03/2020 14:38

I would not go.

Italy is struggling more than the UK currently with coronavirus. We have about 80 cases, they have more than 2000.

cologne4711 · 04/03/2020 15:15

My son was there last weekend. He's fine (as far as I can tell). Are you going on Friday? A lot can change in 48 hours so I'd just wait it out and see what happens.

The advice may change in which case your insurer will need to pay out assuming they've not excluded contagious diseases (before you bought the policy).

longhaulstress · 04/03/2020 16:01

I was meant to be going too (without kids) on this coming Tuesday and I'm not not going now. More so because of incase quarantine happens and I'm stuck there or can't get back.
I'm hoping i may end up being reimbursed but otherwise I'm trying to view it as even though I've lost money on the holiday I'll probably break even saving on no spends.

HappyHammy · 04/03/2020 16:15

I wouldnt go. Italy seems to be badly affected. Such a shame. Ive cancelled my holiday for May.

blancheduboiss · 04/03/2020 16:19

My April flights to Rome were cancelled the other day ... so not sure how safe it actually is

Thisisworsethananticpated · 04/03/2020 16:19

They have not closed them ? They are deliberating about it

Main risk is travelling , airport etc . But no
More than travelling to anywhere right now

I’d go , but be sure you can afford to quarantine afterwards if you have to

picklebarrelfalls · 04/03/2020 16:42

Nope!

LizzieMacQueen · 04/03/2020 17:42

They have just announced that they are closing schools and universities. Until March 15. Theatres and other such places closed too.

LillyBugg · 04/03/2020 17:45

The case that is local to me in Kent, the man had recently travelled to Rome.
I don't think I'd go, not because I'm afraid to catch it, but I don't want to spread it. I'd also be worried about getting stuck there with my children at home.

Original poster
pouncingtiger · 04/03/2020 18:15

Thanks all.. I'm not going now. It's decided!!!
Especially as work have now said any travel to Italy (not just North) means two weeks self quarantine. That has also helped my decision.

Thanks for all your input.

@longhaulstress hope you get somewhere to escape instead. I'm now looking at other options for a night now since parents are having the kids! God knows where though! Might just hide in my bedroom! Grin

OP posts:
maddy68 · 04/03/2020 18:21

Go. Rome is no more a risk than anywhere in the UK

picklebarrelfalls · 04/03/2020 18:28

Maddy pretty much every case in the uk right now is traceable back to Italy.
It's just not worth it. Not for you ... but from all the cases you'd cause if you got it. I wish people would stop being so selfish!

RaininSummer · 04/03/2020 18:52

Depends as well on what impact it could have on your return. I visited a school today for work and had to answer questions about recent travel abroad. I was told that had I aswered yes to the countries listed, I would not have been allowed in.

Thisisworsethananticpated · 04/03/2020 18:59

I am meant to fly to Sicily this easter
It’s a custody visit so somewhat falls into ‘essential travel ‘ BUT can’t use current tickets as through north italy

It’s a nightmare a whilst FCO doesn’t bar it (so I can’t claim on insurance ) I cannot morally justify even transiting through a Northern airport , as not only a Risk for UK but for where we visit which has NO cases

Doesn’t help that Ex is EA and refuses to discuss it

Fuck me Sideways

Langbannedforsafeguardingkids · 04/03/2020 19:18

It's just not worth it. Not for you ... but from all the cases you'd cause if you got it. I wish people would stop being so selfish!

Yes, good on you OP for deciding not to go. Some people seem to carry infection without symptoms and there's a two week incubation - so every case will infect many more.

I have a mother with one lung (childhood TB) and she's over 70. Also a friend with cancer. They will be at serious risk if they catch it.

I wish people wouldn't just have this attitude if they're healthy they probably won't get it badly so can just carry on. It's selfish - they're basically saying 'my holiday is more important than this immunocompromised person's life'. Lots of companies have travel bans now, Italy is closing everything down. It's pretty clear stopping travel is one way to reduce spread. People should be less selfish about this and postpone their travel for a while unless completely essential. A holiday is not essential.

Original poster
pouncingtiger · 04/03/2020 20:17

@raininsummer - this exactly is now the problem with both myself and my husbands work!! We are not going

OP posts:
Original poster
pouncingtiger · 04/03/2020 20:19

@ langbanned- thanks.

OP posts:
CokeEnStock · 04/03/2020 20:25

We have flights booked to Naples at Easter, Dd is on a camp near home. DH says his company have said he would have to WFH for 2 weeks after travelling to Italy. Ive just started a new job and all business travel is cancelled. Im keeping my eye on situation but my biggest worry would be getting stuck there with dd (16) left at home. I am facing up to fact that we might need to cancel.

user1497207191 · 04/03/2020 20:26

We went to Rome out of season last October - everything was still heaving even in the "quiet" months. If you want to see or do anything, you''ll be in crowds. The underground and buses are heaving around the central areas - you'll be inches away from other peoples' faces (not to mention you'll probably get your purse/wallet nicked - the pickpockets are notorious). Trevi fountain is several deep in people, Vatican and St Peters are heaving with crowds. Don't think that it will be quiet in March - it won't be - it's a year round destination.

CokeEnStock · 04/03/2020 20:36

We went in October - the metro was uncomfortably packed and everywhere else heaving.

Frownette · 04/03/2020 21:20

I read this evening that 107 have actually died from it in Italy

CokeEnStock · 07/03/2020 11:28

I have now cancelled my Easter trip. Not worth the risk of getting stuck there.

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