Coronavirus....

[saundra]

I hope it all goes to plan stuff your son owes you big time

[cromwell]

He certainly does. I'm glad the Embassy have been on the case Suff.

[Suff]

The embassy has been great. Argentinian government, piss ups and breweries come to mind. They cancelled all the flights but Aerolineas Argentineas but notified nobody. The Embassy had to inform my son. So as I was trying to book a flight on AA for him, they started disappearing like snow off a dyke in high summer. All gone now. Also they demanded a valid passport number and date to book.

Meanwhile the KLM flight through Brazil to London has been cancelled but they have not cancelled the AMS-London leg. Next stop call Expedia and get the whole thing refunded.

I'm getting low on options now. There is a possibility to get him driven. There is someone who is willing to hire the vehicle and himself as a driver, for around £550. My son was looking for others to go with him and share the cost but I'm thinking I pay for it and whatever he can get back from others goes in his pocket to fund him until we can get him out.

I'm thinking I need to get him into a hotel in BA until his passport arrives and then fly him out to France. Direct flights into Europe are possible whereas direct flights to the UK are impossible. The problem is that the two direct European hubs are Madrid and Rome. Which seems like frying pan and fire to me. I'm trying to work with options. Germany next.

Fortunately I don't get overly frustrated. Unless Mrs S is giving me a hard time about being on my computer at a time like this...

We can worry about what he owes me later. We will have one death in the family this year, I won't have another I can avoid, neither will Mrs S.

[JanB]

Big debate going on here about land borders.

Every year, thousands of Portuguese nationals, who moved abroad, France, Switzerland etc, come back for the big holidays. Christmas, Easter and the whole of the summer. Some people wanted them turned back at the borders, others say no.

We've just had our first case in the Beja district of the virus.

It's a French/Portuguese, come down to visit family for Easter

[TheOstrich]

Suff, KLM are still running regular daily flights to South America from AMS. Three outward bound over our house in the last hour, Quito, Rio de Janeiro and Willemstad (Curacao?). There should be more this afternoon.

[cromwell]

Jan, there is a big debate in the UK right now about rich Londoners fleeing to their second homes in the country, or hiring a cottage in the country. Usually Cornwall, the west country or the Cotswolds etc.
You can understand why and see both sides of the argument. The Londoners don't want to stay in a virus hotspot, the locals don't want Londoners piling into their towns and villages, potentially bringing the virus with them. Especially as the local hospitals tend to be small (if there even is one) and would be totally overwhelmed by an outbreak of coronavirus.

[Suff]

Thanks Ossie, into BA and out of BA are Interestingly different. Also, what you see as available suddenly becomes either cancelled after you book it or not available as you try to book it.

Intensely frustrating.

[Suff]

Some. Info from OZ, from within their health system, that was passed on within the family.

Some Corona guidance...

This is advice given to hospital staff. Explains the virus and how to prevent the virus. Please share with family , friends and work colleagues.
Internal email for RBH (Royal Brisbane Hospital) staff:

Virus Detection:

The simplest way to distinguish Coronavirus from a Common Cold is that the COVID-19 infection does not cause a cold nose or cough with cold, but it does create a dry and rough cough.
The virus is typically first installed in the throat causing inflammation and a feeling of dryness. This symptom can last between 3 and 4 days.
The virus typically then travels through the moisture present in the airways, goes down to the trachea and installs in the lungs, causing pneumonia that lasts about 5 or 6 days.
Pneumonia manifests with a high fever and difficulty breathing. The Common Cold is not accompanied, but there may be a choking sensation. In this case, the doctor should be called immediately.

Experts suggest doing this simple verification every morning: Breathe in deeply and hold your breath for 10 seconds. If this can be done without coughing, without difficulty, this shows that there is no fibrosis in the lungs, indicating the absence of infection. It is recommended to do this control every morning to help detect infection.

Prevention:
The virus hates heat and dies if it is exposed to temperatures greater than 80°F (27°C). Therefore hot drinks such as infusions, broths or simply hot water should be consumed abundantly during the day. These hot liquids kill the virus and are easy to ingest.
Avoid drinking ice water or drinks with ice cubes.

Ensure that your mouth and throat are always wet, never DRY. You should drink a sip of water at least every 15 minutes. WHY? Even when the virus enters water or other liquids through the mouth, it will get flushed through the oesophagus directly into the stomach where gastric acids destroy the virus. If there is not enough water, the virus can pass into the trachea and from there to the lungs, where it is very dangerous.

For those who can, sunbathe. The Sun's UV rays kill the virus and the vitamin D is good for you.
The Coronavirus has a large size (diameter of 400-500 nanometers) so face masks can stop it, no special face masks are needed in daily life.
If an infected person sneezes near us, stay 10 feet (3.3 meters) away to allow the virus fall to the ground and prevent it from falling on you.
When the virus is on hard surfaces, it survives about 12 hours, therefore when hard surfaces such as doors, appliances, railings, etc. are touched, hands should be washed thoroughly and/or disinfected with alcoholic gel
The virus can live nested in clothes and tissues between 6 and 12 hours. Common detergents can kill it. Things that cannot be washed should be exposed to the Sun and the virus will die.
The transmission of the virus usually occurs by direct infection, touching fabrics, tissues or materials on which the virus is present.
Washing your hands is essential.
The virus survives on our hands for only about 10 minutes. In that time many things can happen, rubbing the eyes, touching the nose or lips. This allows the virus to enter your throat. Therefore, for your good and the good of all, wash your hands very often and disinfect them.
You can gargle with disinfectant solutions (i.e. Listerine or Hydrogen Peroxide) that eliminate or minimize the amount of virus that can enter the throat. Doing so removes the virus before it goes down to the trachea and then to the lungs.
Disinfect things touched often: cellphone, keyboard, mouse, car steering wheel, door handles, etc

[Workingman]

Experts suggest doing this simple verification every morning: Breathe in deeply and hold your breath for 10 seconds. If this can be done without coughing, without difficulty, this shows that there is no fibrosis in the lungs, indicating the absence of infection. It is recommended to do this control every morning to help detect infection.

And is total bollocks... as this article and many others will tell anybody wise enough to go look.

Case in point: A recent viral coronavirus "simple self-check test," which medical experts say is completely inaccurate.

Written on what appears to be the iPhone notes app, the three-part post falsely claims that people can find out whether they have coronavirus simply by holding their breath for more than 10 seconds. If they can hold their breath without coughing, the test claims they don't have the virus.

The post, which began circulating Twitter, Facebook, and emails last week, was falsely credited to a member of the "Stanford Hospital board."

The BBC also has some good myth busters here and here. They actually deal with some of the crap from the above post such as sipping water, sunbathing and hot baths.

And get this:

The virus hates heat and dies if it is exposed to temperatures greater than 80°F (27°C).

So, at an average temperature of 36.5–37.5 °C (97.7–99.5 °F) the human body should kill it stone dead as it is some 10°C (19 °F) above what the virus can stand.

We can all well do without the misinformation and just stick to the known facts. Keep the crap for Faceache and Twitbook and do not share with anybody.

[JoM]

Really hope he’s soon on his way back Suff.