UK set to be the pariahs of Europe thanks to our government's mishandling of the crisis

[effingterrified]

www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/may/29/britain-left-off-safe-list-of-countries-free-to-holiday-in-greece

Britain left off 'safe list' of countries free to holiday in Greece

"The UK was not included on a list of 29 countries released by Athens on Friday deemed to fit an “epidemiological profile” that makes travel from them relatively safe."

Greece decided to ban British travellers on safety grounds even though "the UK is one of Greece’s biggest markets. Last year close to 4 million Britons travelled to Greece, with most heading to its extensive archipelago, which has remained remarkably Covid-free."

How depressing that our government's utter failure to manage the disease, giving the UK the highest death rates in Europe, means that we have now become the pariahs of Europe.

Belgium, USA, Poland, Italy, Ukraine, Sweden, Ireland, Bosnia, Iceland, Norway, France, Spain, China, Canada, Brazil... are also not on the list. I mean, 29 isn't very many on the allowed list, which will be reviewed again on 1 July.

ps: so the box of pariah countries sure is a big one.

Along with France, Spain, Italy and many others.

I don’t understand why British people are so obsessed with Europe. Sure it’s close but it’s not that important in the grand scheme of things. It’s like if US people were constantly comparing themselves to Canada or Australians to New Zealand.

But it’s perfectly sensible. I wouldn’t travel from a corona zone to somewhere where it’s relatively controlled without quarantine, I don’t think I could deal with the stress of having potentially brought it with me and causing an economic meltdown.

So more countries are not on the list than are. Not sure how that makes us pariahs.

Well, that's alright then.

Not like we'd hope to have managed our pandemic response better than Greece, that well-known economic superpower.

And as long as some posters on this thread are happy to be in a select group of pariah nations.

Fantastic, always great to have company in being in that select group of countries with really high death rates.

Regardless of who else is on the list, I think for many this will make them sit up, and, I really hope, realise how serious the situation is in our country and how unsafe we are at this point.

Why all the constant government bashing? So Greece doesn't want our dosh, so what?
How about people spending money holidaying in this country and support the NHS by contributing to suppliers who pay tax here?

I’d much rather be a pariah than spread it around though. It’s a bit late for anything else at this point and I’m glad that other countries are protecting themselves.

Can't see many people wanting to rush off on holiday right now anyway.

Set to be? I agree the virus has been mishandled but we've been the pariahs of Europe ever since Brexit started up.

BeltaneBride - it matters because it shows quite how poor our government's response has been compared to other governments.

Even broke and usually incompetent ones like in Greece.

If even poverty-stricken Greece thinks we are so dangerous that it doesn't want our cash, then we really should be re-examining quite how badly the government has mismanaged our public health.

And as long as some posters on this thread are happy to be in a select group of pariah nations

I think you have a rather idiosyncratic defintion of the term 'pariah nations' if you include countries like Canada, Norway and Sweden - renowed for having the highest quality of life anywhere - in that list.

Few will deny that the British govt's handling of this crisis has been shambolic, but being temporarily omitted from a list of nations which are welcome to travel to Greece - to be reviewed July 1st - hardly makes Britain a 'pariah'.

Well it doesn't make good headlines to say Greece is being careful about who can have a holiday there, and how they are right to do so.

Pelleas - previously we were just pariahs in a political sense.

We weren't actually being banned from visiting countries as tourists because they thought we were carriers of disease!

IcedPurple - I don't quite the same comfort you do from knowing that other countries like Sweden ALSO have really high death rates.

That's a group I'd be quite happy not to be part of, even if apparently you are quite blasé about all the deaths.

Oh come on. No one is ‘happy’ about any of this. It’s all absolutely shit. We’re just choosing not to see the worst in every possible situation and work ourselves up more and more. Does wonders for your mental health.

That's a group I'd be quite happy not to be part of, even if apparently you are quite blasé about all the deaths

You're basically just ranting now. When did I say anything about being 'blase'?

So, given that you appear to define 'pariah' status by being temporarily unable to take a holiday in Mykonos, if and when Brits (and Swedes, Norwegians, Canadians etc) are able to do so - quite possibly as soon as July - will that 'pariah' status be lifted?

All the threads you start are doom and gloom. You seem to see the negative in absolutely everything. It must be exhausting.

Yes, we as a country have handled the situation badly. It's too late to change that now. We aren't the only ones though. All we can do is move forward.

Oh dear, OP. Looks like no one's biting, eh?

Waxonwaxoff0 - and all your posts are about how great the Government is doing and sunny uplands etc.

I'm sure you'd like to sensor my posts.

If you don't like the threads I start or posts I write, you are not obliged to read them or comment, you know?

I bet Tunisia will have Brits... and Egypt? Greece is not the only Med destination.

feelingverylazytoday - did you have a point to make about the OP?

How do you feel about he UK having the highest death rates in Europe, then?

Or do you just not think that's worthy of discussion, then? :)

I've never once said the government is doing a great job so no idea where you've got that from. I think they've done a shit job. Doesn't mean I'm going to sit around being miserable and moan about it non stop.