Is it possible to travel responsibly (during a pandemic)?

[KenGordon]

I have posted this in pub thread but it particularly applies here https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/feb/07/scientists-call-for-rethink-as-doubts-grow-about-achieving-herd-immunity

 

[uncfnp]

I have a very hard time feeling too guilty over my travel plans and I generally have a well developed sense of guilt. I have spent the last year “doing it right” as I watched few others mirroring my precautions. And I have spent the last year fighting and mostly losing a battle at work trying to help others act responsibly and being largely ignored. I had yet another patient with pneumonia, probably covid, refuse testing because he “didn’t want to miss work” last week.

If I thought my sacrificing our down payments, in the thousands, on trips planned long before the pandemic would make a difference to society in the long run I might be convinced. But I just don’t see it given the behavior I see all around me. Although if I had not already planned and paid for the LOB trips I would not plan them now.

 

[uncfnp]

So they fool themselves into believing that they can take precautions and be safe in a way better than the next person so the rules don’t really apply to them.

I see a lot of folks that feel the “rules” don’t apply to them but not sure it is because they feel they take better precautions. In fact these people take few if any precautions. And they can’t really give me a reason beyond they don’t want too and don’t feel like they need too.

 

[MichaelMc]

Roughly:
'There are idiots out there being irresponsible. My joining them will not have a big impact and I'm tired of this.'

 

[uncfnp]

Roughly:
'There are idiots out there being irresponsible. My joining them will not have a big impact and I'm tired of this.'

View attachment 640909

Are you addressing that to me? Do you know me? I assume you feel competent to pass judgement on me?

 

[MichaelMc]

Are you addressing that to me?

I did not address it to you.

 

[tursiops]

I have a very hard time feeling too guilty over my travel plans and I generally have a well developed sense of guilt. I have spent the last year “doing it right” as I watched few others mirroring my precautions. And I have spent the last year fighting and mostly losing a battle at work trying to help others act responsible and being largely ignored. I had yet another patient with pneumonia, probably covid, refuse testing because he “didn’t want to miss work” last week.

If I though my sacrificing our down payments, in the thousands, on trips planned long before the pandemic would make a difference to society in the long run I might be convinced. But I just don’t see it given the behavior I see all around me. Although if I had not already planned and paid for the LOB trips I would not plan them now.

@uncfnp You can't really post the above, and not expect people to read it as, "Everybody else is doing it so why should I even try? There is jo point in being responsible if everybody is irresponsible."

 

[uncfnp]

@uncfnp You can't really post the above, and not expect people to read it as, "Everybody else is doing it so why should I even try? There is jo point in being responsible if everybody is irresponsible."

Except that I really do know how to travel responsibly! Despite Ken’s post. But yeah. I see your point but I am posting how I really feel about it. I think my point was I know my travel will be far safer than most people’s daily behavior.

So yes, I admit I am perhaps not as altruistic as I should be.

 

[wnissen]

Hat tip to Undercurrent for passing along this story of a liveaboard where 21 of 24 passengers tested positive, despite pre-flight testing and extensive Covid protocols.

We did a lot of research (which turned out not to be enough) and made a calculated decision based our own willingness to take a health-risk and government regulations at the time: Non-essential travel outside of the country was allowed and the Maldives were a travel corridor country — with no quarantine required upon return.

Their party only discovered the near-universal infection because a guest was going to Dubai, which did require a test on re-entry.

I was feeling comfortable enough in summer to go for a couple of local dives. But conditions have shifted again in a highly negative way. South Africa's withdrawal of a suddenly considerably less effective vaccine is a terrifying development. Virus mutation and recombination is what they do.

Scientists worry that recombination might allow for different variants of the coronavirus to combine into more dangerous versions inside of a person’s body. The B.1.1.7 variant first detected in Britain, for example, had more than a dozen mutations that seemed to appear suddenly.

Specifically, they appear when populations of people mix, allowing multiple variants to swap genes and allow the most infectious ones to outcompete the others. It's just like sourdough starter, all you have to do is give them the opportunity.

The other piece of newer information is that the virus is transmitted primarily by superspreader events, like the liveaboard. You can get lucky many times before a highly infectious person gives it to everyone in the vicinity.

 

[formernuke]

I avoid questions too personal but you have mentioned your inability to get the vaccine several times so I have to ask why? Currently the only ones that I know of that are strongly recommended against vaccination are individuals allergic to the vaccine ingredients and specifically peg/polysorbate.

My Dr. Gave me a list of prexestisting conditions that make the vaccines potentially dangerous and were reactions have occurred. Though all well controlled I have 3 of them.