Getting out of the UK now - heading for the (sunny) hills?

[whathaveitakenon]

I've n/c because of identifiability here but I'm (obv because I'm on this board!) worried about coronavirus as an asthmatic parent, and daughter of elderly parents.

We are lucky enough to have a tiny rural house on a sunny Greek island and the usualplan is to go there for Easter, always assuming our house hasn't washed away in winter storms!

Coronavirus hasn't put us off going at all because it's in the middle of nowhere, by the beach, and our exposure to anybody else at all there is minimal, compared to living in London, DH working in a big organisation, 3 kids in primary, public transport etc. I will definitely feel a lot more secure there than here.

(There is a big hospital there & two or three medium ones. It's just our location that is v rural.)

My question is WHEN. Yesterday 209 cases, today 273, so what - 1000 by Friday? What is the point at which schools close? Airports?

There are cheap flights on Saturday and indeed for any day thereafter. Both DH and I can WFH v easily. It literally makes no difference to us. Kids are easy to entertain there (beach!).

FWIW we have friends living here in London from the same island (no kids, similar industries to us with WFH capacities) who are going back there next week too for this reason.

DH would go tomorrow if I gave the all clear. I'm more cautious about schools etc.

I don't know what my question is, but is anyone else in a position like this? What would you do if you were?

Can you live there for a year?

Book those flights and go

I’d already be on the plane!

Is it Crete.....we are moving over full time in May......driving over with our 2 dogs.....have a house.....can't wait x

And what if you have the virus now? You may get it at the airport, on the plane...

You risk infecting people on whatever island you are going to.

The point about trying to avoid getting it is so you don't infect other people, not to avoid being it yourself.

Jeez in your position I'd be going.
Do you need a cook? I can cook? (Frantically tries to think of other portable skills OP might like....)

The point about trying to avoid getting it is so you don't infect other people

I'm not that altruistic I'm afraid. I don't want it because I don't want to be ill!

@cologne4711 I actually cant believe you wrote that.

Do you not understand that not infecting other people is so the NHS doesn't grind to a halt, so that the economy doesn't suffer, so that share prices don't plummet wiping out our pensions? Have you really not gathered that this is why we don't want it to spread?

Can you live there for a year?
Yes.

Is it Crete?
Yes! Lucky you! It's so wonderful there. :)

The point about trying to avoid getting it is so you don't infect other people, not to avoid being it yourself.
I have asthma, and would prefer not to get it myself, either.

I think I will talk to the school this week about what penalties there around taking the kids out early before the Easter holidays. I would anticipate coming back when new cases have stabilised - it's kind of pointless trying to anticipate what is "reasonable" at this point, which is what is making me hesitate/anxious.

If we didn't have kids we'd be gone in a heartbeat. I just want to keep their disruption to a minimum.

Have you really not gathered that this is why we don't want it to spread
I think we can hold both thoughts in our heads at the same time though, surely? Not wanting to spread it AND not wanting to be hospitalised for weeks and risk death? I'm freelance - if I don't work, I don't earn. I would really like to avoid severe illness for selfish reasons as well as altruistic ones.

Personally I wouldn't go. Greece has already closed its schools and banned large gatherings so it's there as well. If any of you get it there it will be harder to deal with.

I would look at doing it if you’d consider home schooling just for an amazing experience for the dC for a while, what is there to lose! If we had somewhere like this I’d want to slot a long stint into their childhood regardless , and teach them from home before it becomes harder with exams etc.

We're pretty pro home schooling. I wonder what the school would say though...? There is no precedent for this so how do they account for absences? Fines etc?

You could hire a private teacher for the children no problems in Crete. Whereabouts is your house....ours is in Plaka near Almyrida. Excellent hospitals and medical centres in Crete. Working remotely is fantastic and is only going to be the future where possible, Fantastic opportunity for you and your family x

I think if you are going for a year you will lose your school place, is that a risk you are willing to take?

Also if you do catch this virus how to you feel about the Greek healthcare system - do you think they will look after you better than the NHS?

*will probably lose school place

I don't think we'd be gone for a year! I'm mostly thinking about getting out of here during this period of uncertainty.

Good point about hiring a private teacher - if only for their rather creaky Greek! We're on the south coast, but getting to Heraklion isn't too bad. Lucky you near Chania @user1497997754 - I love it there. We go to Ginger Concept a lot, and when I'm rich & famous I'll buy all my Crete clothes in Just Brazil.

@crosspelican exactly my point. It is important people don't get it so they don't spread it and impact the economy. You being I'll impacts you, and the economy potentially. So yes, it is for both reasons.

My reply was to someone who said she only cared about not getting ill herself.

Will your kids lose their school places?

Like a pp I’d be on the plane now if I were you. Life’s too short.

Will your kids lose their school places?

I doubt it. If schools are open after Easter, we will assess the risk (insofar as anyone can) and come back then - obv. we have our flights already for then. If schools are closed/the risk is still high, I don't think their places are at risk. School undersubscribed this year anyway in their years (one is in Y6 anyway and has his secondary place secured).

Can you speak Greek? I'd hate to be sick somewhere and not speak the same language as the doctors.

Will you have to pay to access healthcare in Greece as a post-Brexit UK citizen?

As someone who has seriously thought of doing the same thing (different place to go to), I would be thinking through what happens if there is an outbreak there. Are the hospitals equipped to cope? Do you have insurance - not sure if EHIC cards are still valid? Language? Support network? If you're ok with all of that then I reckon now is a good time to go. Can't see the situation getting any better.

It seems a ridiculous overreaction to me and can’t imagine in practice your work and kids schools will just wave you off for Christ knows how long

Easter holidays are a month away already