My husband seems slightly concerned

[BlueMTexpat]

because I am planning to join some friends from the US who have planned a tour of Spain (Bilbao, Madrid & Barcelona) in Barcelona and then we''ll all return to Switzerland where they'll visit me for a few days.

He's most concerned about the coronavirus epidemic. He forwarded a link stating that an international conference slated for Feb in Barcelona has been cancelled, citing coronavirus as a reason.

Given that most news outlets tend to concentrate on the sensational or provocative aspects of just about anything, I spent some time this am researching for actual information.

So, if you're interested, here's some of what I found.

This link may not be available outside Switzerland or Europe. But, if it is, it's well worth a listen. It's a 30-min podcast discussing many different things about the coronavirus ... still some questions left unanswered, but it's interesting to hear the POVs expressed.
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/podcast_inside-geneva--how-to-cope-with-coronavirus-/45549424

One primary source for information about global diseases/epidemics is the World Health Organization (WHO). Here's the link to the part of the website dealing with coronavirus: https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus

Here's a link to the part discussing the current outbreak: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

And here's some advice for the public: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

************
We're still planning to travel as of now. BUT we WILL take common-sense precautions. Please do the same for yourselves, wherever you are and wherever you go.

[jberryhill]

1. I don't see why you would be any more likely to catch it there than here

Be careful on the drive to the airport, and have a great trip.

[BlueMTexpat]

2. My POV exactly!

I've also been pretty sure that when it's my time to go to the Great Beyond, there'll be little that I can do about it.

So I prefer to concentrate on enjoying life while I can.

[Fla Dem]

9. I don't think it has anything to do with being in Spain.

It's being on a plane with recycled air and closeness of people you have no idea where they're from and their health.

How long do cold and flu viruses stay alive after infected people cough or sneeze?

Answer From James M. Steckelberg, M.D.

Cold and flu virus-laden droplets may remain infectious for several hours, depending on where they fall. Viruses generally remain active longer on stainless steel, plastic and similar hard surfaces than on fabric and other soft surfaces. Other factors, such as the amount of virus deposited on a surface and the temperature and humidity of the environment, also determine how long cold and flu viruses stay active outside the body.

It's possible to catch the flu or a cold after handling an object an infected person sneezed or coughed on a few moments ago. But personal contact with an infected person — such as a handshake or breathing in droplets from a cough or sneeze — is the most common way these viruses spread.

More>>>
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/flu/expert-answers/infectious-disease/faq-20057907

[Lefta Dissenter]

3. We're booked to go to Japan this spring

And I was on the phone with the airline just last night, clarifying the policy for changes. My daughter and her husband are supposed to go even before we are, and I’m guessing they’ll end up postponing their trip. We have family in Japan, including our only granddaughter, so we all have motivation to go - yet a lot of concern.

[BlueMTexpat]

4. Do be sure to read through

the WHO "advice to the public" page!

Most of it is common sense, but there are also things like "Myth-Busters" and other things that you may not see elsewhere. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters

All my best to you and your family! Safe and happy travels! I've not been to Japan, but the two friends I am meeting in Barcelona taught in a US DoD school near Tokyo for many years. They both LOVE the country and the people.

[Lefta Dissenter]

5. I definitely will read at the links!

I never thought Japan would be my country of choice to visit until my son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter moved there for a four-year position. I’ve been twice, but both times in fall, so I’m excited to go in spring, not to mention wanting to spend time with my granddaughter! Skyping just isn’t the same as being there with an 18-month-old.

Last year, when my family lived in Yokohama, we spent a lot of time at the park right there where the cruise ship is quarantined. It’s such a beautiful area.

And your friends are right. The people in Japan are lovely, and seem to have a lot of patience for the stupid tourists who are stumbling around trying to find the correct train. Last time, I had a teenaged girl just grab my hand and lead me to the right platform. It took her WAY out of her way and I hope she didn’t miss her own train!

[BlueMTexpat]

6. It sounds as if you have

another lovely stay ahead of you.

And yes, the Japanese are quietly and competently coping with those on the cruise ship.

How lovely your train anecdote was! If only ALL of us could be as kind to non-English-speaking tourists in the US as people all over the world generally are to us!

Of course, if only we could be kind to those of our own citizens who have difficulty speaking English as well.

[pdxflyboy]

7. My wife and I will be in Japan,

From mid April until May 3rd. We are monitoring the situation very closely. No decision to cancel just yet.

[BlueMTexpat]

10. I really hope that you

will get to go.

[nocoincidences]

8. This Twitter thread

has a lot of insider info and pics from China.

https://twitter.com/jenniferatntd

The reported number of confirmed cases jumped yesterday from 45Kish to 60Kish. Yikes.

Just be aware!!

[BlueMTexpat]

11. Apparently the spike in numbers

has more to do with the method of counting than with actual new cases.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-51495484

...
However, most of this was down to Hubei using a broader definition to diagnose people, said Mike Ryan, head of WHO's health emergencies programme.

"This does not represent a significant change in the trajectory of the outbreak," he said.
...

***********

But we'll see how things develop from here.

[DFW]

12. My work takes me to a different country every day.

I was just down in Barcelona Tuesday, Paris yesterday, Brussels today. I was in Switzerland last weekend.

So far, I am not sick. You can't protect yourself from EVERYTHING, of course, but, you can go overboard with precautions, too. The fact remains that with the current status of things, you are highly UNlikely to contact this virus in Europe. No guarantees, of course, but I'd say go ahead and run down to Spain. And tell Bilbao I said "Egun on!"

[BlueMTexpat]

13. Thanks, DFW!

I thought of you at the beginning of the week, not so much b/c of coronavirus but because of the weather!

I'm very glad to see that you survived. Everything was fine for me in the GVA area, where we were not too hard-hit other than boat traffic stopped on Lake Geneva and many flights cancelled Monday pm & evening. There were also road and rail closures elsewhere. But I did bring small tables and chairs that usually sit on my terrace inside to keep them from being blown into the windows and shutters.

I had some property damage caused in this way a few years back when we had some unexpected and very violent violent gusts of wind in June. So when I'm forewarned, as happened last weekend, I feel that I should at least try to control what I can.

And yes, other than someone officially forcing me to stay where I am, I'm STILL planning on heading to Spain next month.

Good luck with your own busy schedule! And stay healthy!