I'm going to Greece on Monday ...still safe?

[beetroottt]

I'm going on holiday on Monday to Crete.
Do you think it's still "safe" to go?
I've heard mixed messages about possible lockdowns etc

Shielding is currently paused

The list is being kept, as people may well be recalled to shielding, locally or nationally, over the autumn winter.

It's surely up to the shielded person, if necessary in consultation with their consultant, to decide the level of risk that's prudent? If she's anxious about going, it does sound as if she's unhappy about her initial decision to go.

She needs extremely good health insurance, and if this cannot currently be had, then she at least should probably reconsider. If it's a preexisting annual policy, might be worth checking Covid cover (or lack of) for holidays booked after pandemic started.

We have recently returned from Crete where they have had barely any cases on the island. They test about 30% of the plane on arrival for the virus (wish UK would think about doing this too!) It is incredibly safe, beaches are quiet and sun beds spaced out. When you compare to Cornwall or Devon at the moment, I know where I’d rather be.

You would be infinitely safer in Yorkshire, least of all because you will have access to proper healthcare should you need it!

The air travel alone means that it is much more dangerous to travel overseas swish or do you suppose they will cycle there in the fresh air?

Personally I would not want to be out there, and responsible for her - I am not sure you are going to get the kind of insurance cover you need to safely travel anyway. I would look into your insurance options before doing anything else.

Op, I have to say some people are really stupid, COPD is a serious lung condition.

COPD is a serious lung condition.

No shit! Do you think the OPs MiL knows?

Why would the OP be responsible for her? People living with COPD are more than capable of looking after themselves and taking responsibility for themselves.

Firstly I would check your MILs insurance. She may not now be covered for Covid. I would not want to be in a Greek hospital with Covid.

I agree it's a bad idea, I can't berate her individually as this situation has been tough on lots of people and I understand the desire to travel, even though I am not doing so this year.

I would check insurance and also ask a trusted doctor in an effort to persuade her to rethink.

The facts are - any travel increases risk, she is high risk anyway, Greece doesn't have great healthcare, cases are rising in both Greece and UK.

I wish the the facts were different.

if i had anxiety issues i would not go abroad

however you are going.
keep washing your hands, keep your distance

the restaurants and bars may close earlier than usual, well they are closing at 11.00 pm

keep informed

Why would the OP be responsible for her? People living with COPD are more than capable of looking after themselves and taking responsibility for themselves

If she is seriously ill in hospital or worse, are we expecting op and boyfriend to swan back home and carry on with their lives? Do they simply unlucky this was your insane decision so we are flying home. Anyone that has been seriously hurt or injured overseas (and I have had this experience personally) will know it is a terrifying experience, and the lack of communication and being so far from home is really scary. Combined with a lack of insurance, I hope you have deep pockets. The medical bills could be astronomical. I do believe we need to be prepared and have a plan if things go wrong, and look at worse case scenarios in a pandemic.

@beetroottt

Probably should have put it in my first post but it's me and my boyfriend plus his mum (she has been shielding for 4 months) due to COPD She's desperate for a break and has anxiety issues and really needs a change of scenery.

Well no in that case I definitely wouldn't be going. The virus is still around it didn't disappear because of an arbitrary date to end shielding with a lung condition.

[quote beetroottt]@latticechaos she is in the mind frame she's shielded for months and she's realised it's really effected her mental health,she wants to come away with us,she's been on her own for months.
Obviously we did food at door step drops and spoke at door (well we were at garden gate )
She's so lonely and she's happy to risk it now.[/quote]
Totally understandable that she has had enough. But if she was that lonely she would just be happy with a week away in Yorkshire with you both, not travelling 1000s of miles and being in contact with hundreds more people than staying in this country.

Ironically in my friendship group it is those who were shielding that are travelling abroad. Probably a reaction to the cabin fever. We’re staying home for the first year ever but outdoors in Greece is fairly safe I’d think but it’s so unpredictable what it will be like in 2 weeks.

Your boyfriends' mother ha COPD and you are taking her on a plane and overseas?!!!

Yeah i must say that seems a strange decision!

His mum is only 61 and won't be told what to do.
If it was my mum I would have told her lakes is a better choice but I don't feel comfortable sticking my nose into her life choices.
She would probably tell me to get lost.

Hi OP. We are flying to crete on Saturday. It was booked nearly a year ago. It’s certainly concerning all the latest news, but we are still planning to go but be cautious whilst we are there. We are staying in an air bnb I western crete and intend to do mainly outdoorsy things. If we eat out it’ll be at outdoor places. Avoiding crowded hotspots.
I have got some antibacterial wipes to take and intend to be the madwoman on the plane wiping down arm rests and tray tables! Will do the same for our hire car and air bnb.

I’m sure sky news were reporting yesterday on Greece and the risk of it being added to quarantine requiring countries but can’t find it

Plus if she has COPD your MIL is insane

I do believe we need to be prepared and have a plan if things go wrong, and look at worse case scenarios in a pandemic

Nah, much better to call people names and treat them like kids who don't know how to manage the condition they have lived with for years like they don't know the realities.

The travel and journey itself is the riskiest bit.

I'd be worried the whole time that I'd caught it en route to the airport, in the airport, on the plane (all that recirculating air?), other public transport etc etc. Hardly relaxing.

Does your MIL (and you) have good travel insurance and are covid related things covered?
We took out our travel insurance when we booked last September and we are covered for Covid, the insurer even emailed us to confirm

I cannot believe planes are healthy places to be! Surely being in small enclosed space with lots of randomers and recirculated air isn't great?

@Bloodybackpain what use are "antibacterial wipes" against a virus?

its what my hospital uses!

Have to add also I’m pretty sanguine about risk of being quarantined in the uk when we get back, would just work at home. Kids might miss first few days of school. The Greek numbers are still much lower than Spain or France. I think there’s more of a risk of a lockdown in Greece whilst we are there tbh

Her anxiety can’t be health related if she’s willing to get on a plane and holiday abroad in the current climate!

I would check her insurance. Make sure she is covered for Covid and pre existing conditions. I would imagine her insurance would cost most than the holiday!