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Original poster

To escape UK amid Coronavirus fear?

85 replies

roomonthebr00m · 18/03/2020 11:10

I'm originally from one of the Asian countries where Coronavirus is managed relatively better with high number of ICU beds per 1,000 people and a low mortality rate.

A silly thought maybe. But after looking carefully at the analysis of the government modeling published, I've got scared. I may be refused a bed as I have this condition, if I get I'll during peak. I have an underlying health issues and hearing the worst stories in Italy. Whereas in my home country I feel that at least I will have ICU bed and doctors.

My friend in the country are worried about getting it, getting ill and spreading. But they don't at all worry about not having enough beds or potentially being refused a treatment.

AIBU to fly ASAP before that country closes the boarder with Europe which looks very likely soon?

OP posts:
Tartyflette · 18/03/2020 12:12

Go for it, it sounds sensible for you and your family. Book the flights while you can.

Winter2020 · 18/03/2020 12:12

It would be the connecting flight that would worry me. If flights are cancelled or borders closed at the wrong time you could end up stuck in the connecting country.

Could you afford accommodation/meals there for weeks or even months and would healthcare be available and free or would your family be destitute/stateless there?

applemango9 · 18/03/2020 12:13

If I were you, I definitely go to your country. You’d better self-isolate for 14 days no matter what you have a symptom or not, once you arrive at your home country. By doing so, your family could be protective too.

PepperPrepper · 18/03/2020 12:17

Thing is, this is how viruses are spread and this is how some outbreaks start in other countries. YANBU to go but your receiving country would not BU to turn you away.

NanSlayer · 18/03/2020 12:23

Personally I would get out of this Herd immunity experiment

It's a nonsense because immunity only comes from vaccines, gaining immunity though infections takes generations and generations the ramification of this will be incalculable.

MorganKitten · 18/03/2020 12:24

On what flights.

NemophilistRebel · 18/03/2020 12:24

Id far rather be under the care of the NHS right now than anywhere else. Dont believe everything you see in the media.

MagnoliaJustice · 18/03/2020 12:30

Check you can actually get there on your indirect flights. A friend of mine has been quarantined in Hong Kong and not allowed to travel on to his destination. He doesn't have the virus.

MrsJoshNavidi · 18/03/2020 12:35

People moving around are what spreads the virus. We've been told to stop all unnecessary travel. You're more likely to pick it up travelling than if you stay at home. You could take it to your home country. And every extra bit of the journey - in terms of indirect flights - increase your risk, and that of others. I think you're feeling an understandable urge to be in your home country at a very difficult time, but I think it would be selfish and foolish to go

This ^

However you should also consider what health care you are entitled to in your home country, whether you can afford it if you have to pay.
Will your home country even let in?
Will you able to come back?
If you can't come back do you have the wherewithal to support yourselves for a long time?
Do your children speak the language?
And a myriad of other questions...

Selfishly, you're a whole family less for our NHS to worry about, and to denude our supermarket of food.
But only you can decide.

mamma5367 · 18/03/2020 12:39

Singapore? We are from the UK but living here now. I feel safer and more reassured by what the Singapore government is doing and very anxious reading about what's going on in the UK. If you can take the risk of flying then I would go.

nannybeach · 18/03/2020 12:43

Yes MrsJosh, uneccary travel avoided. How does anyone imagine this virus left China in the first place.

HoldMyLobster · 18/03/2020 12:50

As of now, we would need to go through some testing on arrival and if all ok self quarantine at home for 2 weeks.

What would happen if you fail the testing they do on arrival?

MotherOfDragonite · 18/03/2020 12:50

YANBU, I think anyone who can get out to another country should.

Original poster
roomonthebr00m · 18/03/2020 12:56

@HoldMyLobster
If they find out that I have the virus on arrival, I will he sent to one of their hospital isolation unit. I won't be sent back to the UK

OP posts:
Bluetrews25 · 18/03/2020 12:56

Which is this Utopian country which has one ventilator per head so that you will be guaranteed a bed and a ventilator if you need it? Either you are a member of some foreign royal family, related to a dictator, or you are being incredibly naive.
People moving around the planet spreads the virus. It's as simple as that. If we all stayed in and stopped moving, cases will reduce. Do you want to import the virus to your home country?

Marieo · 18/03/2020 12:57

Yes, go.

Original poster
roomonthebr00m · 18/03/2020 12:58

Ok I just spoke to my MIL who is in the UK about this (so she is informed in case we do leave).

She is now v v v upset that we are considering leaving her........

OP posts:
HoldMyLobster · 18/03/2020 13:00

The coronavirus is in every country now - the OP isn't going to import it. She might add to the number of cases there, but it sounds like she'll be self-quarantining anyway. The bit where you're most likely to potentially spread it is during the journey.

It's a tough decision. I wouldn't want to be at the mercy of the underfunded, understaffed NHS right now, plus you'll be releasing resources for others in the UK potentially.

Dontletitbeyou · 18/03/2020 13:00

The few posts about the NHS collapsing , are as another poster pointed out , very disrespectful to the health providers doing everything they can to keep things running as smoothly as possible .
Think about it , if this virus takes a serious grip of your country ( wherever that country should be) and worst case scenario ,couple of thousand people need hospital admission/ ventilation , which country has the ability to care for that amount of patients . None , no country is adequately equipped to deal with the numbers they may have if things get much worse .
If you can get better healthcare in your own country I say definitely go for it . Hopefully you don’t get that sick , if you do ,you will be well cared for and you will have freed up a space for someone in uk if they need it . Win win

Original poster
roomonthebr00m · 18/03/2020 13:01

@Bluetrews25

It's not a utopian country. It's not perfect. Nothing is guaranteed. It's just that so far their mortality rate has been v low and there is a statistically much higher change of getting an ICU bed there vs UK.

OP posts:
FeelTheRush · 18/03/2020 13:02

If you’re thinking Hong Kong, the government has just imposed 14 day self quarantine on people arriving after midnight tonight, you get a wrist tag at the airport and are subject to random police checks. You cannot leave your apartment for that period AT ALL, if you do it is criminal conviction and a fine. If you test positive on arrival I’ve heard you are police escorted to government quarantine/hospital depending on your symptoms. The government here have gone seriously hardcore as we’re about to get another wave of cases from people rush who to get in before quarantine and import it from US and Europe.

AsiaTruly · 18/03/2020 13:18

Same @mamma5367

BovaryX · 18/03/2020 13:19

Many countries are effectively shutting their borders and refusing to issue visas as long haul travel ends. Those who are advising to fly with BA? Are you aware they are cutting 75 percent of flights? One of the many casualties of this pandemic will be airlines and BA will be hard hit.

bumblingbovine49 · 18/03/2020 13:20

I would even rather be in Italy than the UK now. My niece has been in lockdown for nearly 3 weeks. She has been ill, though she is young and it seems to be mild for her so far. She can email her doctor and gets a reply within very quickly.

Her FIL has been ill and her DH was visiting him to take care of him. He has deteriorated and, a doctor came out to see him. Her DH was eventually able to call an ambulance. Her FIL is now in a hospital waiting to be tested with pneumonia. The hospital calls her and her DH 'twice a day' with updates . Despite being overwhelmed, they do this for all the patients as no visitors are allowed. Can you imagine this happening in the UK?

Here, my other sister who needs a prescription cannot get through to her GP. There is no information on their website, the GP is closed to visitors and the phone is off the hook!!

When people are really ill, they are calling 111 and being left for hours and being told they shouldn't go to hospital even when they have serious trouble breathing.

Can you imagine getting twice daily phone updates on patients from a hospital here , or having a doctor actually reply to your question via email or phone within less than a few days

I have even seem people here tell others not to call an ambulance when their sats are dangerously low. I despair, I really do.

I am really worried It is going to be much worse here than in Italy.

missyoumuch · 18/03/2020 13:22

If you're talking about Hong Kong, there has been a spike in new cases all related to people like you trying to get out of the Europe. So don't hold out too much hope that the beds and ventilators will be available should you need them.