Coronavirus Sars-CoV-2/Covid-19 Megathread

[viper37]

The UK strain has been detected in Canada.  Well, in Toronto, actually.  If not already, it will most likely spread to other provinces.  <sigh>.  Just when we had seen the light at the end of the tunnel.

[alfred russel]

For whatever it is worth, my family has canceled christmas gatherings and is doing bullshit zoom stuff.

I'm spending christmas with my fiance's family, who is gathering as they always have. Her sister is an er doctor and is actually getting the first vaccine shot this friday.

Turned out the gathering with my extended fiance's family got canceled, because a couple days before christmas her grandfather (who is 92) got covid. Now her grandmother (who is 88) is also sick. Both are doing pretty well.

[Caliga]

At the grocery this morning I encountered a piece of shit not wearing a mask.  Older white guy with a mullet and American flag baseball cap, of course.

I was pleased that later two Kroger employees confronted him and ran him out of the store.  Of course he screamed some nonsense about how he had the right not to wear one, but at least he left and didn't pull a gun or anything.

[viper37]

Watched the news today.  Again, reports of two illegal gatherings.  One by an Evangelical community in Quebec city, the other by a group of employees from Boston Pizza who apparently partied without the knowledge of the restaurant's owner.

[mongers]

Japan is probably concerned about the new variants of the virus, because from today 28th, through to the end of January, all foreign nationals are banned from entering the country.

[The Larch]

Japan is probably concerned about the new variants of the virus, because from today 28th, through to the end of January, all foreign nationals are banned from entering the country.

Japan has had entry bans for many countries for a long time now, AFAIK they're only allowing visitors from certain countries from Asia and Oceania at the moment, so banning all foreign travel is not *that* much of a stretch.

[The Brain]

I thought they were at war with Oceania?

[Syt]

According to social media lots of tourists in Austrian ski areas. Officially, all hotels etc. are closed, but business travel is permitted. So people are "traveling on business" - "It's ok if my wife comes, too and we stay a few days extra?"

Bunch of fucking wankers.

[Josquius]

Japan is probably concerned about the new variants of the virus, because from today 28th, through to the end of January, all foreign nationals are banned from entering the country.

Japan has had entry bans for many countries for a long time now, AFAIK they're only allowing visitors from certain countries from Asia and Oceania at the moment, so banning all foreign travel is not *that* much of a stretch.

Japan is terrified of corona as they still hope the 2020 Olympics can go ahead this year.
If they're delayed a second year then whether they even happen at all is in question.
Already they've been quite a controversial white elephant.

[Tamas]

I know I am being a bitter old guy again, but the Hungarian news site I frequent published the story of this IMHO idiot Hungarian law student in Genoa in the context of how cool the guy is. Probably because he did this all carrying a takeaway pizza. First of all, he decided a couple of things:
- he didn't want to Christmas alone
- he did not want to self-isolate for 10 days in Hungary, nor do the two negative tests he'd need to cut the 10 days shorter

So, he looked for options and decided he'd visit his cousin and his girlfriend in Stockholm, flying via Spain. Obvious gift to bring was a takeaway pizza.

After he got through security he was told the Spanish now require a negative test to enter the country due to the new British strain. He and half a dozen passengers without such test made a bit of a scene but they had no choice. The guy was recommended by the airport stuff to just give up and go home (as in Genoa).

He obviously would not have that. On his insistence one of the staff helped him browse restrictions and options, so he realised he could still make it via Amsterdam. So he paid for this new ticket and spent the night at the airport, partying with some random Albanians enroute to New York or somesuch.

The next day he made his way to Stockholm via Amsterdam, and upon meeting his cousin and the girlfriend they proceeded to spend the night partying with 3 other local Hungarians.

[Tamas]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/28/dozen-britons-remain-in-quarantine-in-swiss-ski-resort-verbier-covid

[Sheilbh]

Yes! On skiing - we need to lock this country down immediately and I hope the Swiss have very long prison sentences for Milly and Henry from Clapham
https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-around-200-british-tourists-flee-swiss-ski-resort-after-being-forced-into-quarantine-report-12173958

[Eddie Teach]

It just occurred to me, this year must have been particularly tough on travel bloggers.

[11B4V]

You're pretty sharp there.

[Eddie Teach]

I don't spend a lot of time pondering travel bloggers. /shrug