Can't decide whether to cancel trip to New York or not. Help us decide?

[Apolloanddaphne]

DH and I have a trip to NY booked, flying out on Monday. We are not the worrying sorts but my DH is keen to cancel. He really has his eye on the ball with the CV issues as he is in charge of the current plans re the virus for the large international company he works for and he believes things in NY will get worse soon as he has been talking with staff there. He fears having to self isolate at any point. His work are already under massive pressure and I know they are already going to struggle without him for a week while he goes on holiday.

We can cancel our accommodation with no penalty and get a refund on our flights (we were using airmails to travel). Our trip to the the UN has already been cancelled due to CV concerns and refunded by them. We have tickets for a gig and a show. If they are not cancelled by them we would lose that money and they were very expensive.

Do you think it would be prudent to pull out now? Wait a few days and see what happens in NY? Go anyway? DH wants to discuss our plans this evening and I want to have my thoughts straight.

I'm really surprised the UK is exempted - I don't see any reason in terms of number of infections, government actions, etc. If anything, from what I see, the US is moving faster in terms of getting into social isolation mode, closing universities/schools, cancelling large events etc than the UK appears to be.

I'd expect travel to and from the UK to be shut down at some point too.

I don’t think flights are super high risk. Air is hospital grade ventilation. But avoid public transport if you can, crowded places and check your insurance! Will it cover you.

I live in NYC. I would not recommend coming at the moment. I work in healthcare and the prediction is that it will get much worse before it gets better. I personally don't believe you will be in any particular danger health wise (unless you have underlying health issues) however the risk of being stuck here or having to isolate later is very real, plus you are adding to the problem by traveling.

I would not risk it now. With the Trump announcement on flights to the rest of Europe closed down, there is a significant chance travel to and from the UK will also be banned. Not worth the risk!

@LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett I live in NYC. What do you want to know?

Oh OP. I’m a huge billy Joel fan too. However...if it is any consolation I saw him this summer in London, and he was - dare I say it - a tiny bit boring. I was glad I’d seen him, but it wasn’t the concert to end all concerts (that honour, for 2019 at least, goes to Pink).
And Hamilton in London is fab and I’m sure it is pretty much as good as broadway. Not that you’ll be able to go to London, either, the way things are going.

Surprised that the UK is exempt from 45’s ban. But pleased in case I need to dash back to visit my mum.
One good thing in all this: NBA has cancelled the rest of the season. Hubby and I are thrilled. Can’t stand bloody basketball. Hopefully MLB will still go ahead this summer.

I would probably cancel in these circumstances, you can get back most of your money, plus it’s possible the events you planned on seeing may be cancelled too

My DHs company have asked all staff to advise their upcoming personal travel plans. They will be assessed by HR and warned if necessary that if they choose to go to high risk category 1 or 2 countries they will be expected to self-isolate upon return and they won’t be paying them full pay. For anyone who is thinking of traveling you may have to factor in the loss of earnings if you find yourself stranded, in self-isolation or ill with COvid-19.

His company have banned all business travel and business shin-digs where booze is flowing and people are in close contact.

Waves from NYC!

I live here and feel Governor Cuomo is doing a decent job but I wouldn't visit right now. I'm avoiding the subway as much as I can, apart from essential appointments. I do have an underlying condition.

Tonight for the first time, our Wholefoods (supermarket) was looking distinctly bare.

Waves at fellow New Yorker MNetters too

Well I guess Trump has answered that question for you

Trump just announced a travel ban between the US and Europe for 30 days.
Not sure where that leaves you but some airlines are offering free flight transfers/different dates.

I'd cancel, relatives are going soon and I was wondering if insurance would actually cover them if they got ill with this particular virus. Given obviously we know it's a risk.

@BritWifeinUSA - why on earth would you be thrilled the basketball season is cancelled just because you don’t like the sport? There are lots of sports I don’t like but I wouldn’t be thrilled that they were cancelled.

Your post jumped out at me as we were due to fly to Chicago in two weeks and going to a basketball game.

@SnipSnipMrBurgess - I’m sorry. How disappointing for you.

Trump hasn’t cancelled flights from the Uk, just from the schengen area. Which means anybody from mainland Europe who wants to go to America will travel through the UK first.

Trump hasn’t cancelled flights from the Uk, just from the schengen area. Which means anybody from mainland Europe who wants to go to America will travel through the UK first.

You won't be able to fly through the UK to the US from the Schengen area - the statement they issued makes that more clear.

www.dhs.gov/news/2020/03/11/homeland-security-acting-secretary-chad-f-wolf-s-statement-presidential-proclamation

Today President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Proclamation, which suspends the entry of most foreign nationals who have been in certain European countries at any point during the 14 days prior to their scheduled arrival to the United States. These countries, known as the Schengen Area, include: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

This does not apply to legal permanent residents, (generally) immediate family members of U.S. citizens, and other individuals who are identified in the proclamation.

Broadway shows all shut down, and any gatherings of more than 500 people in NY (which presumably will shut down the Billy Joel concert too).

www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/coronavirus-nyc-venues-shutter-1284249

Live Nation has cancelled all its concerts

@absentmindedwoman waves back* my Whole Foods also looking bare. You know it's bad when people are panic buying from Whole Foods . Are you in Manhattan too?

OP, don't come, postpone your trip. Everything is shutting down, as the previous poster said, your concert will be cancelled.

Also the city feels really "off" doesn't have its usual energy and vibe. It wouldn't be a good trip.

Makes me glad we decided to cancel our trip. The Billy Joel concert was the main reason we were going. Hopefully we will get our money refunded now.

@allfurcoatnoknickers really my question is around whether it's worth coming or not - moral questions about travel adding to the problem aside, there's no point spending £££ if when we get there everything is shut down. I'm talking attractions, restaurants, transport etc. Although when I first posted on the thread it looked like it was business as usual. Things like Broadway shutting down suggests the situation is moving. I really don't want to waste the money (it's a lot for us) if all we'll be doing is sitting in a hotel room... so even if we lose the flights I don't think it will be worth it.

Hotel emailed today to say we could cancel at any point, so that's something.

(Apols for the pity party because I'm sure you're having to deal with your own problems over there, it's really only just hitting that we probably won't go and I'm feeling upset).

Sorry @allfurcoatnoknickers missed your subsequent post when you said don't come, I'm all over the place this morning.

@LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett Leaving ethical concerns aside, this really isn't NYC at its best. The city's quiet and very subdued.

With broadway and the museums closed, I'd wait.

DD has just sent this - E 79th St at 8.30am. It would normally be quite a bit busier...

Manhattan clearly officially dead until further notice