Pauline
Forums Admin
Wow! Must be interesting times at work for you. Keep us posted whenever you have time. Good thing you had that Tenerife holiday before all this!
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Change of plans? (coronavirus)
- Thread starter BryanS
- Start date
Wow! Must be interesting times at work for you. Keep us posted whenever you have time. Good thing you had that Tenerife holiday before all this!
Beth Beeman
New Member
I have a trip to France and Italy planned for October. I'm in wait and see mode at the moment. As an aside, if you haven't bought trip insurance and you are outside the 21 day window - you can't get "cancel at any time insurance." That's the only type of insurance that will let you cancel for any reason, including an epidemic. All other carry exclusions for epidemics. Sigh.
I was just checking this type of insurance myself - it seems that Italy has already been removed from the countries covered by this policy! (At least with the local companies I checked here).
Here there is only a window of 7-14 days from the date of purchase of flight tickets to get the insurance.
Hard to beat these insurance companies....
Another good read on the subject, from "The Atlantic" :
www.theatlantic.com
"The Harvard epidemiology professor Marc Lipsitch is exacting in his diction, even for an epidemiologist. Twice in our conversation he started to say something, then paused and said, “Actually, let me start again.” So it’s striking when one of the points he wanted to get exactly right was this: “I think the likely outcome is that it will ultimately not be containable.”
Containment is the first step in responding to any outbreak. In the case of COVID-19, the possibility (however implausible) of preventing a pandemic seemed to play out in a matter of days. Starting in January, China began cordoning off progressively larger areas, radiating outward from Wuhan City and eventually encapsulating some 100 million people. People were barred from leaving home, and lectured by drones if they were caught outside. Nonetheless, the virus has now been found in 24 countries.
Despite the apparent ineffectiveness of such measures—relative to their inordinate social and economic cost, at least—the crackdown continues to escalate. .........
Lipsitch predicts that, within the coming year, some 40 to 70 percent of people around the world will be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. But, he clarifies emphatically, this does not mean that all will have severe illnesses. “It’s likely that many will have mild disease, or may be asymptomatic,” he said. As with influenza, which is often life-threatening to people with chronic health conditions and of older age, most cases pass without medical care. (Overall, around 14 percent of people with influenza have no symptoms.)
Lipsitch is far from alone in his belief that this virus will continue to spread widely. The emerging consensus among epidemiologists is that the most likely outcome of this outbreak is a new seasonal disease—a fifth “endemic” coronavirus. With the other four, people are not known to develop long-lasting immunity. If this one follows suit, and if the disease continues to be as severe as it is now, “cold and flu season” could become “cold and flu and COVID-19 season.”
You’re Likely to Get the Coronavirus
Most cases are not life-threatening, which is also what makes the virus a historic challenge to contain.
"The Harvard epidemiology professor Marc Lipsitch is exacting in his diction, even for an epidemiologist. Twice in our conversation he started to say something, then paused and said, “Actually, let me start again.” So it’s striking when one of the points he wanted to get exactly right was this: “I think the likely outcome is that it will ultimately not be containable.”
Containment is the first step in responding to any outbreak. In the case of COVID-19, the possibility (however implausible) of preventing a pandemic seemed to play out in a matter of days. Starting in January, China began cordoning off progressively larger areas, radiating outward from Wuhan City and eventually encapsulating some 100 million people. People were barred from leaving home, and lectured by drones if they were caught outside. Nonetheless, the virus has now been found in 24 countries.
Despite the apparent ineffectiveness of such measures—relative to their inordinate social and economic cost, at least—the crackdown continues to escalate. .........
Lipsitch predicts that, within the coming year, some 40 to 70 percent of people around the world will be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. But, he clarifies emphatically, this does not mean that all will have severe illnesses. “It’s likely that many will have mild disease, or may be asymptomatic,” he said. As with influenza, which is often life-threatening to people with chronic health conditions and of older age, most cases pass without medical care. (Overall, around 14 percent of people with influenza have no symptoms.)
Lipsitch is far from alone in his belief that this virus will continue to spread widely. The emerging consensus among epidemiologists is that the most likely outcome of this outbreak is a new seasonal disease—a fifth “endemic” coronavirus. With the other four, people are not known to develop long-lasting immunity. If this one follows suit, and if the disease continues to be as severe as it is now, “cold and flu season” could become “cold and flu and COVID-19 season.”
Cameron
500+ Posts
Until September 2019, my credit card provided free insurance for all travel-related purchases made with the credit card. It wasn't just my credit card, but many other brands. So, which credit card still provides trip insurance?
Since our trip isn't until the end of May, we have plenty of time to wait and see what happens. We do have travel insurance provided through our Chase Sapphire credit card. Out of curiosity, I checked to see what it did/did not cover and found this under exclusions:
Your disinclination to travel due to an epidemic or pandemic
So, I would recommend that everyone thoroughly check out the exclusions section of any insurance that you already have or are thinking about purchasing. The section on travel advisories only covers those issued for terrorist activity, not health warnings. It appears if all this does escalate, we most likely will not be able to claim any reimbursement on this plan.
Your disinclination to travel due to an epidemic or pandemic
So, I would recommend that everyone thoroughly check out the exclusions section of any insurance that you already have or are thinking about purchasing. The section on travel advisories only covers those issued for terrorist activity, not health warnings. It appears if all this does escalate, we most likely will not be able to claim any reimbursement on this plan.
NoSpin
100+ Posts
Hi Cameron, I have the Bank Of America Premium Rewards card.
It's a great card, particularly if you are platinum honors since that gives you a 75% bonus on points. I always convert my points to cash at the end of each month. I used to use the Citi Double Cash card, but now I get 2.625% back on regular purchases and 3.5% back on travel and dining.
Plus there are many other benefits and it is only $95 per year. I pay $550 for my AMEX Platinum.
Cameron
500+ Posts
Hi Cameron, I have the Bank Of America Premium Rewards card.
It's a great card, particularly if you are platinum honors since that gives you a 75% bonus on points. I always convert my points to cash at the end of each month. I used to use the Citi Double Cash card, but now I get 2.625% back on regular purchases and 3.5% back on travel and dining.
Plus there are many other benefits and it is only $95 per year. I pay $550 for my AMEX Platinum.
thanks for the info
Cameron
500+ Posts
Researching insurance--From InsureMyTrip.com
Cancel for Any Reason coverage is the only coverage option available for new policies to cover coronavirus. To see only the plans that may have coverage for Coronavirus during the quote process, select "Cancel For Any Reason" when choosing coverage to display. This benefit is time-sensitive and has other eligibility requirements, so not all travelers will qualify. Please be sure to read the plan details carefully before purchasing.
Cancel for Any Reason coverage is the only coverage option available for new policies to cover coronavirus. To see only the plans that may have coverage for Coronavirus during the quote process, select "Cancel For Any Reason" when choosing coverage to display. This benefit is time-sensitive and has other eligibility requirements, so not all travelers will qualify. Please be sure to read the plan details carefully before purchasing.
Pauline
Forums Admin
Israel will ban non-Israelis travelling from Italy! They already ban people from China and South Korea, etc.
www.timesofisrael.com
I worry for our Italian friends with their travel businesses and hope this sweeps through quickly.
My current worry about our upcoming trip to Israel. What if they become a “hot zone” and then we have to go into quarantine on arrival back in the UK?
Israeli diagnosed with virus after Italy trip; visitors from there to be barred
As first case in Israel outside of quarantine confirmed, interior minister says he will add Italy to list of countries from which travel is blocked
www.timesofisrael.com
I worry for our Italian friends with their travel businesses and hope this sweeps through quickly.
My current worry about our upcoming trip to Israel. What if they become a “hot zone” and then we have to go into quarantine on arrival back in the UK?
Jan55612
100+ Posts
I am in Barcelona, where I have been for 6 weeks. We fly back home in about 2 weeks. I think any of us could be exposed where we live or on a trip. We are particularly vulnerable when in crowded situations, such as metros, buses, airports, etc. I haven't really changed what I am doing, but I always carry alcohol-based hand wipes (individually wrapped) in my purse and use them before meals and after being in the metro, etc. Two years ago I came down with the seasonal flu while in Barcelona, despite having had a flu shot. It's just life.
Amy
100+ Posts
We are scheduled to leave for Andalucia in three weeks and France in late May. And no, our trip insurance will not cover cancelling unless we ourselves are ill. So much to consider--with more cases, will other areas do as northern Italy has done, with closing museums, cultural sites and events? For visiting Seville, Córdoba and Granada, that would seriously impact our enjoyment. And might we, in spite of all precaution, inadvertently come home infected but not yet showing symptoms and so possibly endanger those who might have a tougher time with the virus? Or has happened with those returning from China, need to quarantine at home to see if any signs develop?
We have till March 10 to cancel and still get 50% back from our apartment bookings for Spain, so sitting tight for now and watching news reports in Spanish newspapers.
We have till March 10 to cancel and still get 50% back from our apartment bookings for Spain, so sitting tight for now and watching news reports in Spanish newspapers.
I'm not overly concerned about being exposed to the virus, or even becoming infected. I'm far more concerned about being placed into quarantine on returning, and also about the destination being put into 'lock down' while we are there.
We were just about to arrange a trip to Germany and (our first visit) to Austria. Now my wife is having second thoughts, so I've agreed not to commit to anything just yet.
We were just about to arrange a trip to Germany and (our first visit) to Austria. Now my wife is having second thoughts, so I've agreed not to commit to anything just yet.
chiaro di Luna
100+ Posts
Just waiting...Portugal, Spain in Sept. still plan to go. Small $$$ loss if I cancel by July.
Florida in March---still going.
Florida in March---still going.
