Traveling now with coronavirus?

[Elizka]

Is anyone cancelling their business trips due to Coronavirus? I have PV and currently am not taking any meds for it, and will be 62 this month. According to the CDC even being over 60 and healthy you are still at at higher risk. Thoughts? Can't decide if I should cancel my upcoming trip within the U.S.

[Applesnpears]

Do you need to meet people face to face? Why not use this an opportunity to see whether you can use videoconferencing, skype etc to do your business? It could reduce your need for business travel in the future - more time with your family and fewer carbon emissions. Win-win.

[Elizka in reply to Applesnpears]

Agree. I already work remote and have daily Zoom conference calls. This is a board meeting and presentation with others traveling to attend a class at a University.

[Applesnpears in reply to Elizka]

Sounds like a good opportunity for lots of people to try something different.

[Paul123456]

IMO the greatest risk is access to medical facilities. The mortality rate appears to increase significantly once health services can no longer cope with the 15-20% who need access to oxygen and especially the 5% who need access to ventilators.

Hence it is very important that we, as a higher risk group, take every precaution so that we don’t overload the NHS. This applies especially the elderly and those with other complications.

[Lena70 in reply to Paul123456]

Exactly. My husband is a physician and explained to me an influx of severely affected coronavirus patients could lead to a lack of hospital beds and resources for the daily emergencies like heart attacks and strokes.

As of yet, we have no official cases in our region, but that is due to no test kits being available. There is a lot of anger in our group of friends, mostly medical professionals, over this situation.

[Borage]

I did wonder about the wisdom of sending hundreds of Anaesthetists and ITU doctors to a conference at this time.

[Sweetlucy]

I've had to use the tube to go for a blood test. No choice. Just pray I'm ok

[hunter5582]

I also have PV - age 64 - no meds. I am not changing my travel plans, but I am taking due precautions when in confined areas. I am in overall good health and am comfortable with the degree of risk involved. This would not be the right choice for anyone with immunocompromise nor for anyone who is concerned for any reason about their risks. Looking at options to get things done without travel in confined spaces is sensible when it can work for you.

All the best to all of y'all. Stay well!

[Elizka in reply to hunter5582]

That makes sense. My other issue in deciding to attend a board meeting is that my husband has asthma and other respiratory issues. If I were to pick up the virus I'd expose my husband do it.

[tifftriesit]

Major colleges have closed here in the US— some of our largest ones. To me, that would be enough to decide not to go.