Tor: COVID is really behind us...

[PasadenaDave]

5 hours ago, Let Me Travel! said:

I understand that there will be further relaxation of Covid requirements on April 1st and April18th…I can’t wait to see smiling faces! We will of course comply without complaint with any and all requirements, but we (our society) do need to learn to live with this horrid virus…you know, there are elements of the Spanish Flu from the early 1900s in our annual flu shots…I’m looking forward to all of us having the same level of fear of Covid as there is today for the Spanish Flu.

 

I do hope the daily testing will be reduced because there will likely be more asymptomatic or false positives…the daily testing does not make a lot of sense to me since the most recent variant is no more serious than a cold and since everyone has shots it’s likely that few people will become seriously ill…I’ll keep hope alive!

 

What is the further relaxation of requirements on April 18?  We fly to Istanbul May 4

[CCWineLover]

8 hours ago, Let Me Travel! said:

I understand that there will be further relaxation of Covid requirements on April 1st and April18th…I can’t wait to see smiling faces! We will of course comply without complaint with any and all requirements, but we (our society) do need to learn to live with this horrid virus…you know, there are elements of the Spanish Flu from the early 1900s in our annual flu shots…I’m looking forward to all of us having the same level of fear of Covid as there is today for the Spanish Flu.

 

I do hope the daily testing will be reduced because there will likely be more asymptomatic or false positives…the daily testing does not make a lot of sense to me since the most recent variant is no more serious than a cold and since everyone has shots it’s likely that few people will become seriously ill…I’ll keep hope alive!

 

Very well stated.  At some point, IMHO, we as a society need to move on with our lives and live with this COVID that will never really be gone gone.  Many countries and institutions (including airlines) are relaxing things as we speak.

Unfortunately, there remains a disconnect between government's (and people's) perception of cruise lines and learning to live with COVID.  Hopefully some day the cruise lines like Viking will be able to treat COVID differently.

My biggest concern with Viking has been that they go ahead and relax things April 1st (no masking) and April 18, but still maintain this daily testing.  As more and more vaccinated boosted people in the world get asymptomatic COVID, there becomes a higher and higher probability of people testing positive with no symptoms due to the continued daily testing.  The two policies are in conflict (continued daily testing and loosening restrictions).  Viking should in my opinion either maintain restrictions with daily testing or remove restrictions AND daily testing.  This in between is not helping.   Someone earlier posted in response to Viking's comments that COVID is behind us:  "If it is behind us, then why is Viking still doing daily testing on board. "

[basenji56]

On 3/25/2022 at 8:57 PM, imcpa said:

Is any other cruise line requiring the wearing of contact tracers? 

 

Crystal was.  We had them on our Endeavor cruise in January.

Oceania does not. I am currently on Riviera 

 

[OnTheJourney]

Much depends on what happens with subvariant BA.2   More transmissible than omicron.  Europe is looking a bit dicey. 

Edited March 27, 2022 by AnyWayIsGood

[Let Me Travel!]

Yes, I have heard that cases are up in Europe… but up with what? A cold? I don’t think the new variant is very dangerous…especially for those that have had shots…I do understand that the variant is very contagious… but so is a head cold…we need to get past the fear…I do think that our habits have changed since the end of 2020 though…I know I wash my hands and sanitize more than I did before…maybe that will help limit the transmission of all viruses?

[Let Me Travel!]

I was referring to the TSA dropping airline masking on 4/18

[LindaS272]

44 minutes ago, Let Me Travel! said:

Yes, I have heard that cases are up in Europe… but up with what? A cold? I don’t think the new variant is very dangerous…especially for those that have had shots…I do understand that the variant is very contagious… but so is a head cold…we need to get past the fear…I do think that our habits have changed since the end of 2020 though…I know I wash my hands and sanitize more than I did before…maybe that will help limit the transmission of all viruses?

Ever hear of Long Covid? I for one don’t want to get it. Covid is not just a cold or the flu. And as for 4/18 and TSA masking—it will be reviewed then to see if it will be further extended. It’s not a deadline to end masking.

[Let Me Travel!]

Just a hope….

[SJD117]

1 hour ago, Let Me Travel! said:

Yes, I have heard that cases are up in Europe… but up with what? A cold? I don’t think the new variant is very dangerous…especially for those that have had shots…I do understand that the variant is very contagious… but so is a head cold…we need to get past the fear…I do think that our habits have changed since the end of 2020 though…I know I wash my hands and sanitize more than I did before…maybe that will help limit the transmission of all viruses?

Covid is hardly a “head cold” — not by a long shot.

[Ceegeefl]

My husband, 2 grandsons, daughter-in-law and myself all had covid the end of January.   It was much milder than any head cold I ever had.  Within a week our symptoms  were gone too.  Hope the majority of people have the same experience. 

[OnTheJourney]

Just read that a Princess ship returned to SF with "multiple covid cases". We had one in our hallway on an RCL ship last week. Couldn't get to our room for a few hours since they blocked the hallway at both ends until the person was out of the room and moved to a lower deck for quarantine. I suspect they then sprayed the entire hallway. It happened early in the cruise and thus was just a bit 'unsettling'. 

[OnTheJourney]

4 hours ago, LindaS272 said:

I for one don’t want to get it.

 Agreed. Neither am I digging the idea of maybe being removed from a ship following a positive daily PCR test and having to deal with quarantine at a hotel and arrange transportation home, etc. I'm still struggling with 'to go or not to go' in May. 

Edited March 28, 2022 by AnyWayIsGood

[Let Me Travel!]

21 hours ago, SJD117 said:

Covid is hardly a “head cold” — not by a long shot.

The first time my DH and I had it was prior to shots… it was like the flu…aches, weak, no taste or smell…lasted a week to 10 days…had the milder variant around Christmas…after shots and booster, and it was much milder than a head-cold… I think the shots plus the change in variants have really reduced the severity…so, I respectfully disagree… it IS just a head cold…long Covid was a byproduct of the original Covid virus…it’s not happening anymore, at least it’s not happening to people who are not immunocompromised. My opinion is that it is time to reduce our level of fear.  It is time to take steps toward a normal life…I’m not going to let fear guide my life. 

[OnTheJourney]

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/common-cold-vs-covid-19

[SpiritRiver]

21 hours ago, AnyWayIsGood said:

 Agreed. Neither am I digging the idea of maybe being removed from a ship following a positive daily PCR test and having to deal with quarantine at a hotel and arrange transportation home, etc. I'm still struggling with 'to go or not to go' in May. 

We are struggling with the same question about our May cruise, especially with Viking’s relaxed Covid protocol.   It feels like there are more opportunities for exposure and for testing positive.  

[OnTheJourney]

4 hours ago, SpiritRiver said:

Viking’s relaxed Covid protocol.

Not sure what you're referring to? As far as I know, they still are doing daily PCR. Most cruise lines have relaxed masking and distancing. We were just on a RCL cruise and most people not masked (crew excepted - which was always masked). 

[rbslos18]

8 hours ago, SpiritRiver said:

We are struggling with the same question about our May cruise, especially with Viking’s relaxed Covid protocol.   It feels like there are more opportunities for exposure and for testing positive.  

While the end or the pause in the Viking mask mandate is reasonable, what concerns us is being quarantined in a foreign country. Some of the quarantine stories have been disconcerting. We are deferring our  cruises to 2023. We did a cruise in late December and did have the fear of being quarantined hanging over our heads. Viking handled everything beautifully. While they said no one had COVID, we saw someone escorted off our floor by people wearing hasmat suits!

[rbslos18]

12 hours ago, Let Me Travel! said:

The first time my DH and I had it was prior to shots… it was like the flu…aches, weak, no taste or smell…lasted a week to 10 days…had the milder variant around Christmas…after shots and booster, and it was much milder than a head-cold… I think the shots plus the change in variants have really reduced the severity…so, I respectfully disagree… it IS just a head cold…long Covid was a byproduct of the original Covid virus…it’s not happening anymore, at least it’s not happening to people who are not immunocompromised. My opinion is that it is time to reduce our level of fear.  It is time to take steps toward a normal life…I’m not going to let fear guide my life. 

I think the head cold generalization falls short. Yes it is like a head cold for many. I have no doubt yours was a head cold. But the range of symptoms are very wide. There is a minority of people who are fully vaccinated and end up very sick and even die. Yes, it's just a head cold until a loved one or friend dies from it. Through my work, I have been humbled by the tragedies involving fully vaccinated people. I am glad  you and your family were so fortunate. 

I do believe given the vaccinations that you are correct: "it is time to take steps toward a normal life..."  and to not live in fear.

[Let Me Travel!]

Well I did it…just made my appointment for a 2nd booster (4th shot)…hopefully this will prevent any asymptomatic “storing” of virus particles that could possibly produce a false positive test result…I really want to compete all of my 2022 cruises (re-books of re-books)…I’m longing for NORMAL!  Anyone else planning on 2nd booster?

[BigBee51]

Yes

[MamaFej]

Got my second booster yesterday morning. I'd already had an appointment. Hubby came with me. Due to the new approval, he was able to get his as well. 

[slewis7]

I see some posts here about the second booster.  Is anyone offering that already or are folks just scheduling a booster without specifying that this is actually a second booster?  The reason I say that is that where I live, I have seen the pharmacies that I got my shots at offering the second booster yet.  We have a cruise coming up in late April and we would love to get another shot before then.

[MamaFej]

1 minute ago, slewis7 said:

I see some posts here about the second booster.  Is anyone offering that already or are folks just scheduling a booster without specifying that this is actually a second booster?  The reason I say that is that where I live, I have seen the pharmacies that I got my shots at offering the second booster yet.  We have a cruise coming up in late April and we would love to get another shot before then.

I scheduled with my regular health care provider. It's super easy to schedule shots and drive-thru tests online with Kaiser SoCal. While there, the nurse reviewed my health records, to verify that I was eligible (I'm 55 with a lousy immune system) and compared the shot record to my CDC card, to be sure they matched.

 

At first, they said they didn't have Kaiser approval for second boosters for everyone over 50, and that it usually comes within a few days of CDC/FDA approval. However, during my post-jab wait time, the nurse in charge said that she had heard us ask, and she got an MD's approval for Hubby to get his as well. His doc was out of the office, so the nurse asked another.

[njhorseman]

7 minutes ago, slewis7 said:

I see some posts here about the second booster.  Is anyone offering that already or are folks just scheduling a booster without specifying that this is actually a second booster?  The reason I say that is that where I live, I have seen the pharmacies that I got my shots at offering the second booster yet.  We have a cruise coming up in late April and we would love to get another shot before then.

I see that Walgreens is offering it on a walk in basis as available and they'll start accepting appointments on Friday.

[slewis7]

23 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

I see that Walgreens is offering it on a walk in basis as available and they'll start accepting appointments on Friday.

Yes, I see that now.  That is great!