Traveling in Uncertain times (Peru & Guatemala) but could have happened anywhere nowadays)

While I have some sympathy for this couple's predicament, I don't have any sympathy for their blaming the government for not swooping in and rescuing them. Anyone starting an international trip on 3/12 was aware of the fluid changing of borders around the world.

They took a risk, it backfired. Instead of complaining about the government, they should be thankful that there is potential for heading home in 17 days.

I posted this as a warning to some of the posters that I have read that plan to "go boldly forward" despite the uncertainty of these times.

Seems (and I will say I am not positive) we heard (maybe on another channel) that their hotel was closing, too, so they had to find somewhere else to go.

Also heard Dr. Burke in today's briefing say that young people are beginning to get disproportionately ill with the virus in parts of Europe, said as her (repeated in recent days) warnings to the young people of our country (to take this seriously and practice social distancing). So many young STILL think this is an old-person's problem.....yeesh.

To Maggie's point, unfortunately as things are rapidly progressing we continue to learn that young people are vulnerable as well. That in turn is affecting the continued spread of the virus. We are continuing to learn from this. Spread facts.

Sorry, no empathy here. Hate to say so but your in their world, their rules. Waiving an American Passport doesn’t get you a free pass. The world knew this was coming in January and still they (travelers) got on planes and ships.

Agree with Carol, except for the sympathy part. They were irresponsible idiots and now they think its "the government's"( i.e. us taxpayers) responsibility to bail them out.

You did not ask my advice before you left, so do not ask for my dollars now.

hey hey all
i totally agree with joe32F. this issue has been out there before march 12. why would they even consider going out of the country at a time like this "weekend getaway"? now complain about peru or travel guide should have informed them, contact "our government" and want help out. let's wave the magic wand
as onefastbob says, your american passport means nothing to peru or a Free pass. they have their own people in dire need and help, their country their laws/rules.
thanks maggie for this article, so many more out there of people that did travel, young people thinking it's only for old people, think again.
aloha

They made poor decisions and have themselves to blame.

No sympathy from me either. I wonder what they were thinking when they decided to go, or maybe they just weren’t thinking at all.

Oh my gosh.......here is yet another story about a Nashvillian stranded....this one took a last-minute trip to Guatemala.

https://fox17.com/news/local/nashvillian-among-americans-stranded-in-guatemala-amid-covid-19-restrictions

Again, folks: No last-minute trips to other countries right now. Stay home! Uncertain times.

Just last week, some people on this forum were still talking about traveling in April. And others are still crossing their fingers for Europe in May. Two weeks ago, people were talking about going because they didn't want to lose the money they had invested, while others were spewing at the insurance companies. Everyone was balancing their investment and planning vs the "possibilities" that an Italy or Iran could happen where they were going. Now two weeks later, we know.

I don't know when they left the States, but Peru has 145 cases today. Four days ago, it could have been much lower. They probably thought they had time and didn't want to lose their investment, just like many posters I read on this Forum.

So what choices do they have: 1. contact the Embassy, which is what I would have done too; 2 contact a government official in the States (they aren't going to send the Marines), 3.make a media fuss (which displays an American superiority complex), or 4.just ride it out (shut up) and live like a local. It's tough; I feel sorry for them, and hope they don't get ill.

Removed original comment, as some found it inappropriate.

It was intended to be a bit of humor, but it seems I failed.

I had no intent to denigrate a city.

Joe, I do not think there is anything unique in the water here that causes bad judgment......I think I have just kindly posted two situations as a warning to those of you who might be able to help prevent similar people in your communities (where you live or here on our Forum community) to not take similar actions. No doubt, there are people from other locales stuck in Guatemala now....the story referenced several, as well as even in hospitals in Europe. Most cities, large and even small, may have similar tales of late that may or may not hit the media.

As much as Nashville has grown, we are still a tight, small city in the way we live, where word spreads quickly .....people care about each other.....the 30,000 people who signed up to volunteer to help with clean-up and then grass-roots donations for the recent damage from the huge tornado (effort still undergoing) and the efforts of the community to help others cleaning up from the mega flood in 2010 reflects that. No wonder people are pouring into our city, not only to visit, but to live here. We long-timers (and even many newcomers) want to push the "pause button," though, as building (and resulting traffic) has really gotten out of hand. historical structures under threat (that have not already had protections put in place), and there is a recent push for tree protection/replacement. Much of our growth is by young people moving here, with fabulous job opportunities, and news stations easily pick up on social media postings.

Just south of town in Franklin, the local "patient zero" who caught the virus at the Biogen conference in Boston came out and shared his story, with emphasis on how kind neighbors and even strangers were to the family (as word spread informally re: who they were)....as he said, he witnessed the "church of community"....it does not take a building, it is human deeds of kindness was the paraphrasing of what he posted on a public Facebook page.

Here in Nashville, we get bombarded with young people traveling from around the world to enjoy. Even though our mayor recently closed all bars (to stop the crush of visitors cramming shoulder to shoulder on Lower Broadway (the honky-tonk section of Nashville) and in popular parts of town, like 12South, and it has worked, tourists have their ways. Local TV cameras were finding young tourists still walking very closely and sort of partying closely outside, quoted as saying things like (not exact quotes) : "I'm gonna live life fearlessly." and "I'm young, healthy and not worried." Thus, my frequent post reminders to remind those young people in your lives. Dr. Burke has also as of late reiterated, almost every chance she has, that young people in Europe are showing infection disproportionately, some hospitalized. Last night it was reported an infant in Kentucky has the virus. Florida beaches were crammed with young people, playing, partying..........you get the picture, all "living life" afterall it was their spring break!!

It's a team effort, and we all have to change our lives now. Stay home. Social distance.

Tourism is a very important revenue source for Nashville.....our city will hurt $-wise, as many of yours and locales around the world will But, right now, ya'll stay home, and come see us in better times.

With respect to the risk to young people: Dr. Fauci has mentioned on CNN that information out of China now shows some "recovered" young people have significant permanent lung damage--lung functionality 20% to 30% below normal. You do not want that.

Dr. Fauci has mentioned on CNN that information out of China now shows
some "recovered" young people have significant permanent lung
damage--lung functionality 20% to 30% below normal.

That may (I don't know, of course) be simply due to higher proportion of young smokers in China (smoking rates in China are likely high across the whole age distribution compared to other countries). I would imagine young people with no smoking history and healthy lungs would generally not be at increased risk of permanent lung damage.

No comment (except that on future travels I will make sure to register w/S.T.E.P., as I've seen advised on this forum!) :

NYT: Americans Stranded Abroad: 'I Feel Completely Abandoned'

BuzzFeed News: U.S. Citizens Are Stranded in Latin America ...

Argentina is in a total lockdown now, so please don’t schedule a weekend getaway, get stuck there, and expect the U.S. government to get you out.

I understand there are some stranded in Morocco as well.

I can't imagine that anyone would have traveled anywhere after we knew this thing was out there everywhere!
As much as I was looking forward to a trip to England in May, I knew it was not going to happen after hearing the initial reports of this virus.

To comment on a post by Janis:
"To Maggie's point, unfortunately as things are rapidly progressing we continue to learn that young people are vulnerable as well. That in turn is affecting the continued spread of the virus. "

We all now know that an infected person can remain symptom-free and be a carrier. So think twice about going through a drive-through to pick up food that has been handled (food and cardboard cartons or paper wrappers) by young workers.
The virus can stay on cardboard and paper products for quite a while. You touch that, then your food, and then the food goes straight into your mouth.

Everyone stay safe and we will get through this.

Rebecca,
Thank you for keeping this thread alive and reiterating my concerns. It's hard to believe what has transpired in 3 weeks. I receive daily updates from the CDC and my WA State Department of Health, Dr. Fauci, etc. I am finding it challenging to keep up. Due to the fact that this is a novel virus we are still learning. I realized from the beginning when WA State became the epicenter in the US it was imperative to practice social distancing. Lo and behold it is working here. Our proactive Governor Inslee continues to mandate stay at home. It has now been extended to May 4th (for now). As far as the surfaces you mentioned, follow the most updated recommendations from the CDC, but always expect new information going forward.

We had a wave of ( first below). Hopefully it has peaked and receded but I see reports of people starting to making almost a religion of ignoring the constraints. See second one below for example. But there's much stranger offshoots starting to grow.

www.nytimes.com › 2020/03/13 › travel › coronavirus-travel-deals

"Young, Confident and Flying, Virus Be Damned - The New York Times..."

Mar 13, 2020 - “Flights are cheap, lodging is cheap, there are no tourists.” Traveling during the pandemic flies in the face of expert advice and government ...

www.theatlantic.com › politics › archive › 2020/03 › social-distancin...

"Social Distancing is Political Now: The Politics Daily "
4 days ago - The Atlantic Politics Daily: The Social-Distancing Culture War ... [T]he comments set off a familiar sequence—a Democratic backlash, a pile-on ...

"follow the most updated recommendations from the CDC, but always expect new information going forward. "
Janis, thanks. Good advice, as always.

I’d like to point out that the people in the original article were just two of thousands from countries all over the world when Peru closed down overnight. Some countries are still repatriating their citizens. We piled on these two kids pretty heavily, but when they took off, South America and even the States had few cases, or maybe it was no worse than the flu back then.