Foreign Travel and Covid

 I got tested last week, strictly precautionary, since cases are rising and people are not wearing masks,  We I registered for the test, one of the questions asked was if I planning to travel; I replied no.  

But others are travelling abroad and while there are protocols to get tested before and after travel and masks are required on planes, there are so many variables to consider before someone makes an international trip.

In one case, Ireland is a selected trip.  The tour had been postponed at least once and now it is apparently set.  

So I checked the Ireland government webpage for guidance.

About a quarter of all cases have occurred in the last 28 days according to Johns Hopkins.

You decide.  

Ok, have connected airlines in Dublin, but that is my total time on the island.

Level 4: Very High Level of COVID-19 DO NOT CRUISE

 DO NOT CRUISE

That is what the CDC reports on 

December 30, 2021

The COVID-19 Travel Health Notice level has been updated from Level 3 to Level 4, the highest level. This reflects increases in cases onboard cruise ships since identification of the Omicron variant.

It is not safe.

I am seeing a ton of adverts with really tempting prices, but is it worth death or sickness?

I have only been on one cruise (the Inside Passage Alaska), and I recall the screening process before we boarded in Whittier. Picture below:

Whittier is pretty interesting since while you can get to it by boat, if you want to drive, you need to go through a tunnel that changes direction every half hour.

So back to health issues for cruises:

Key Information for Cruise Ship Travelers

• Avoid cruise travel, regardless of vaccination status.
• Even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants.
• The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads easily between people in close quarters on board ships, and the chance of getting COVID-19 on cruise ships is very high, even if you are fully vaccinated and have received a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose.
• Outbreaks of COVID-19 have been reported on cruise ships.
• If you travel on a cruise ship, make sure you are fully vaccinated before travel and get a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose if you are eligible.
• People who go on a cruise should get tested 1–3 days before their trip and 3–5 days after their trip, regardless of vaccination status or symptoms.
• Along with testing, passengers who are not fully vaccinated should self-quarantine for a full 5 days after cruise travel.  
• People on cruise ships should wear a mask to keep their nose and mouth covered when in shared spaces. While CDC is exercising its enforcement discretion under CDC’s Mask Order to not require that persons wear a mask under certain circumstances on board foreign-flagged cruise ships subject to the Temporary Extension & Modification of the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO), including onboard cruise ships choosing to follow the requirements of the CSO on a voluntary basis, individual cruise lines may require travelers (passengers and crew) to wear masks on board the ship.

Wait for more people to get vaccinated and it will be safe to cruise in a year or so.

New Year's Resolutions

 This year, I want to ask everyone to encourage friends and family to get fully vaccinated, to wear a mask and to practice social distancing.

I don't want to do this next year, but considering the selfish ba#^(@*$ out there, we may have too.

See the facts at this map and the WHO site

Do we want another shutdown?  Well folks, get with the program.

Let's end the Pandemic

 Three simple rules to save the world.

Get vaccinated.

Wear a mask.

Practice social distancing.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

This way we may have a normal Christmas in 2022, and give health care professionals a much needed break

Covid-19 and Applalachian Trail

 Yep.

Combined cramped lean-tos, un-sanitized privies, no masks and lots of un-vaccinated hikers and covid will spike along the AT.  In fact it has.

If you don't believe the world health scientists, your doctors and most sensible people get vaccinated for your family and friends.  

Do it for the world.

It is a global emergency.

Time to Boycott Tourism in Florida

 Since Governor DeSantis has lifted the facemask requirement, PLUS has banned businesses from requiring vaccinations against Covid-19, it is clear to this writer that the health of people is not important.

From AP "The company says the law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis is at odds with guidelines from federal health authorities that would let cruise ships sail in U.S. waters if nearly all passengers and crew members are vaccinated."

Even Fox reports this:  

"Meanwhile, critics, including local officials, have argued that DeSantis’ approach will put the public at risk and make it more difficult to respond to future emergencies.

In Miami-Dade County, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said a lifting of local COVID rules would ignore the dangers that remain to public safety.

"We are still in an emergency," Miami-Dade County Mayor Levine Cava said at a press conference, according to the Miami Herald. "We have fewer than half of our people vaccinated. We have new variants threatening us.""

So folks, cancel your trips to Florida, but if you must visit the grandparents, open wear your mask, show your vaccination cards to show everyone you care.

Gov. DeSantis apparently doesn't.

 

Florida removes mask order

 So, I guess the governor hasn't seen this new case map from Johns Hopkins.  After all this is science from a Blue State.

So tourist can visit without a mask, but I would suggest not to go to Orlando (Disney), Tampa or Miami

AT Hikers and Covid

 It appears the further north you get on the trail, thru hikers will become more threatened by COVID.

https://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=213418caea704f7daf90c37682a9c229&extent=-103.6512,28.7811,-51.8837,50.2991

So keep and mask or bandana handy for Maryland.

Zombie Preparedness CDC

We head back to the (virtual) classroom after labor day.  Many universities are attempting to meet face to face, while others have already said to forget it.  

Unfortunately, with K-12 and Universities heading back to the classroom I am expecting a rise in Covid-19 cases.

So, some lessons:

Paper masks are one time use ONLY, throw away after that single use.

Cloth masks can be used for one day only, so put in the wash daily.

Save the face shields and medical masks for the front line people.

Wash you hands frequently.

Sanitize your hands with an excessive amount of sanitizer to get all the nooks and crannies saturated and then let dry.

 

This is serious stuff my friends.  After all, in a tongue and check announcement, we even need to watch out for Zombies.

 

 

 

Covid-19 and Tourism

The next year or so we are going to seek a surge of research on the Covid-19 story.  Here is the first dealing exclusively on Tourism.

And best of all, free access this month!

Appalachian Trail, Covid-19, and AT Communities

See the route of the AT winding through the Covid-19 territory as well as the fantastic AT Communities by using this link.

Unfortunately due to the world wide virus, Damascus Virginia will now hold the 35TH APPALACHIAN TRAIL DAYS FESTIVAL - MAY 14, 15 & 16, 2021! 

Here is a photo of me drying out my equipment behind a hotel in Damascus.

April Fools Day

Typically on this day I post some nonsense. And it is usually about our buffoons in government and out parks and protected areas.  On the next day, 2nd of April I correct the statement.

This year it is a lot different, the buffoons are getting reamed on social media, so there is no need to add to that mess

So instead of making some political statement, I want to ask our readers to perform some

Acts of Kindness!

People have been super polite, and we need that to continue even after this crisis.  So help out a neighbor, clean up trash in a public area (practicing social distancing of course), ask and help out at a senior center, homeless shelter and don't forget about the pet shelters.  Don't put your self at risk, but do try to make our world a better place.


And remember, the 50th anniversary of Earth Day is coming soon.  thank you.

Hiking Responsibly

American Hiking Society has some recommendations during these extreme times.

https://americanhiking.org/blog/hiking-responsibly-faq-covid-19/

Today, I visited Robinson State Park to walk Bubba-Doo,  Came across others do the same, or riding a bike or just getting outside.  We stayed apart, but it was nice to say hi and wish the others "Stay Well."  Trails? Just stay apart.

Appalachian Trail alerts and trailwide updates

For the latest alerts for the AT, see here.

In my opinion, hikers will probably be the safest. 

COVID-19

Travel bans are coming to our campus after Massachusetts' Governor Baker urged colleges and high school to cancel international trips.  Next week, several international trips set for our spring break have been canceled.

Also Boston train system is now undergoing daily disinfection (not that they didn't need it before).

One of my students is studying in Italy this semester and was directed to return home and finish her course work online.  Well we know online teaching, and I do it, is not the same as teaching in place, especially in a foreign country.

If abroad, take steps to keep a healthy space.

So in the meantime, wash your hands.

Coronavirus

Seems to be getting bigger every day.

Travelers are warned about "all but necessary travel to China."

I do have a friend traveling to SE Asia soon and has a VISA for China. I wonder if he will need to change his plans.

And yesterday our State Department reported "Do not travel to China."

So there.

Medical Tourism Survey results posted

We have posted some of the results from our medical tourism survey on our website found at http://www.wsc.ma.edu/medicaltourism/. The perception questions and evaluation of sustainable tourism practices have been omitted for further analysis.