Travelling against FCO advice
Comments
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It's not a police state on here either David so maybe you would have the graciousness to accept others views without condemnation. I don't ever recall one single person saying they would never travel abroad, there may be some just like there is somebody around, I forget who, who doesn't ever want to stay in the uk.
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Actually I think David is wrong, speaking as someone who travels both abroad and here.
People not travelling abroad will have geniune concerns about what those travellers will bring home with them. The FCO usually become involved when matters get a bit more serious and it needs those wishing to ignore the advice to think even more carefully about the consequences of their actions both to themselves and for when they return.
Sure, there will be plenty who go who can and will self isolate. They are not the ones I'm concerned about. It's the ones Ttda mentioned a few pages ago who think self isolation is for others. It's not just those though. Our Government have stated it is ok to get off a plane at Gatwick, travel by public transport to London, for example, using multiple means, then get on more trains to travel to near home and continue to come into contact with strangers until they finally get home and then start their "self isolation period". Bonkers.
Those remaining at home should have their say as well, in my view.
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I agree self imposed quarantine is a fairly ridiculous situation and, of course, the Government know that. The real intention is to curtail travel. In that respect it’s an effective instrument witness the exodus we see from France today and cancellation intentions.
The ‘over here’ and ‘over there’ labels we see so often on this forum are simply a way of differentiating between the characteristics of two mind sets.
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AD, I offer no opinion or even advice about the decision you have to make, but there are maps on line, updated today, showing the 23 departements of France where the situation is regarded as vulnerable because of Covid, and the 72 other departements where things are considered relatively safe.
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I don't think you have fully read my post. You have quoted a part of it but missed off the bit above:
"Back on track. The advice is not to travel outside the UK. While traveling within it acceptable.
As posted it is not too great an inconvenience (if at all) and people just have to accept it and find other ways"
You see I did say it was advice so why you seem to imply I didn't is puzzling?
I really don't know who this group is you are referring to? You replied to me but as you well know I travel to see relatives probably a lot more times over there than you but just don't stay as long.
But really whether one's travels or not is immaterial. Some in this country (any UK) may be worried about those traveling abroad against government advice and bringing back the virus with them and affecting their lives so they are certainly entitled to post in my view.
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Returning by air and using public transport of some description, and I include taxis in that, makes a mockery of quarantine. Either we do it properly or we may as well not bother. Make sure you have enough fuel to get home and you've been to the loo before you get off the ferry.
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Returning by air and using public transport of some description, and I include taxis in that, makes a mockery of quarantine.
If I had used a taxi to the airport to fly to one of the countries now affected I think that, without a taxi I would be unable to walk the 40 miles home even without a suitcase
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So as soon as you get in the taxi you pass the virus on to the driver and his subsequent passengers. Some quarantine.
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the government have accepted that it is not a catch all procedure but at present it is the best we have got.
For many returning who may be carriers of the infection the incubation period is 14 days so they are not a problem and hopefully these will be in the minority. For many travelling home they do not have the virus so no worries and hopefully these will be in the majority.
a few will actually have the virus and be contagious, hopefully this is in the very minority, testing is ok and my daughter recently returned from Spain had a test 3 days after arrival which was negative but she still had to complete her 14 days isolation.
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Masks👍🏻. It’s an aid to protection CY.
PS-the Taxi drivers are well onboard in this area I’ve yet to see one without a mask👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻. They don’t leave it to the conspiracy theorists to do the right thing.
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Reading Rocky 2 buckets post (a page or two back) prompted me to read some of Darwins Theory via the internet which made, for me, interesting reading as I knew the saying “survival of the fittest” but was not aware there was so much to it (the theory).
It made think more because Covid is now generally speaking worldwide, so I will continue to follow FCO advice re travelling and use a mask, frequent hand washing/sanitising, social distancing and try to avoid areas where I would be likely to come in close contact with too many others unless absolutely necessary eg for weekly supermarket shop etc.
Take care everyone and stay safe.
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Agree it is a crazy situation. Not just taxis. Somebody arriving at Heathrow might get a tube into London to transit to a mainline station, then of course be close to folk for several hours on the journey north. Then perhaps a bus jouney at the other end.
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JO, when Darwin wrote fittest he meant apt(Apparently)👍🏻. It spawned modern takes on the theory too, one being-The Darwin awards, they were awarded to the dumbest amongst us(worldwide) meaning as they risk/lose their lives the species gets that little bit stronger.
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for sure there is a risk, but it is better than doing nothing, taxi drivers are well aware of the risk and many are taking the necessary precautions, thousands of people travel on public transport daily even in areas of high infection to go about their daily work etc, going to pick up a newspaper poses a risk but in the main people are being sensible by wearing masks, sitting apart where possible on public transport.
The only other option is to test every person before they leave the airport, i believe Germany have such a scheme on trial but i would imagine it would not be much fun if 2 or 3 flights arrive together and everybody has to queue for a test and then wait for the result. My daughter was tested 3 days after arrival and was negative but she still has to self isolate for the remaining 14 day period.
what ever is put in place will work for some but not others, the FCO only advise against non essential travel to various countries, but people will be their own judge as to whether to heed the advice or not based on all available information.
Judging by the figures published this morning re new infections in particular we are just about doing ok in the UK 17 in every 100k as opposed to 33 in every 100k in France, I know where i would rather be right now.
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Testing, I believe there is now a 90 minute test would be useful, although I suspect it might be impractical given the numbers involved. However, quick temperature checks to weed out potential candidates for testing would certainly be possible. The problem would come in what to do with anyone who does test positive.
Much better would be to make travel to red list countries illegal (without a permit) rather than it just being an advisory. Then we would just have to deal with those already there.
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And the next dumbest (but fit) then get to manage our lives - ‘Peter Principle’ which says that people in a hierarchy rise to their level of incompetence. That works for me.
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There is yet another level. The one’s who have risen to that supreme level of incompetence are often there because the really, really dumb........balloted for them🤣
I hope this morning that the vast majority of folks over the channel have made it back safe and sound, whatever method they have used. Hopefully, all that’s returned with them is luggage and some interesting memories. 😉
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Well the FCO travel advice and quarantine restrictions has put paid to my trip to France in September. I guess there's a possibility the measures may be short-lived if the infection rate in France reduces, but I'm not going to take that chance.
As I stated in my original post, it wasn't a surprise, so I'll be contacting the Club on Monday (if I can get through!) to either get a refund or rebook for June next year.
John
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John
It might be worth having a read of Rowena's posts in this thread https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/club-together/discussions/sites-touring/overseas-sites-touring/fco-update-from-the-club-france-and-netherlands/?er=P687178#P687178 if you have not already done so. They will be contacting members with bookings but in date order.
David
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Posted on 15/08/2020 09:28 by Rufs
The only other option is to test every person before they leave the airport, i believe Germany have such a scheme on trial but i would imagine it would not be much fun if 2 or 3 flights arrive together and everybody has to queue for a test and then wait for the result.
The scheme, and it's not on trial but already in effect, only applies to mandatory checks for arrivals on flights from areas for which travel warnings exist and there aren't too many of them at the moment. Passengers do not have to wait in the airport until their results are known, but forwarded on to them later. (Unfortunately, due to a glitch in the system, some Bavarian results weren't forwarded and over 1000 people who were tested positive weren't informed of the result - it's a big political issue facing the Bavarian government at the moment).
The same applies to entry at the land borders. People entering from countries where no travel warnings exist have a right to be tested voluntarily, but at their own cost. Mandatory checks are free.
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Passengers do not have to wait in the airport until their results are known, but forwarded on to them later. (Unfortunately, due to a glitch in the system, some Bavarian results weren't forwarded and over 1000 people who were tested positive weren't informed of the result - it's a big political issue facing the Bavarian government at the moment).
Tks for info Lutz, so really you have the same problem as the UK, people leaving the airport and getting onto public transport do not know if they have the virus or not, so would be possible to infect, taxi driver, others on public transport & glad to see that it is not just the UK that falls down sometimes when trying to tackle this pandemic
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Much better would be to make travel to red list countries illegal (without a permit) rather than it just being an advisory. Then we would just have to deal with those already there,
Wow! Steve that is a very brave statement, for some i think this would be a bridge too far , i think i read somewhere on here somebody freaking out re "Police State"
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Good 👍🏻🍦🍹
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About the only way you can chill atm is to sit on a block of ice.
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