Scandenavia tour and Covid May29/22

Wow! I hope you are okay and if you got covid that your case was mild. So it sounds like the mask rule on the bus was not even enforced. There was another tour report for a RS Scandinavia tour where masking was inconsistent and tour members got sick. Did anyone get kicked off the tour because they were ill or did they just pretend it was an allergy? This is very disconcerting to hear as we have two back to back tours coming up in August. Was this reported to RS company?

I was on the 5/22 Scandinavia tour and 5 people out of 22 tested positive. Mask wearing on the bus was inconsistent, I’m including myself. I did almost always wear one in indoor places especially when I thought ventilation was insufficient and it was crowded. I and my two friends all tested negative. I included in my tour evaluation the lax masking.

Hi Mary, the mask wearing on the bus was followed by most , with a couple of exceptions and occasional slip ups. I was referring to the total lack of mask wearing throughout the countries by the citizens. The locals do not wear masks, even if they have Covid.
Four tour members were off the bus earlier but I suspect a number of us were also infected but didn’t know it until symptoms started to show or actual testing occurred.
When you are on a great adventure, you may not pay as much attention to increasing sniffles or coughs, especially during allergy season.

Just a side note, 2 of the people who were the most diligent in wearing their masks, were the first two to test positive, 😢

Yes, now that all masks are off in most places including here in the US we are going to hear of more cases of covid even among those who are being careful. My young neighbor got it when unmasked construction workers were in his office suite and coughing. My neighbor felt like crap for 5 days but made a good recovery thankfully. I no longer know what the solution is if people who are infected are knowingly infecting others.

It is valuable to hear about peoples' experiences.

But frankly, I just don't get the consternation.
Should the citizens of Sweden, Denmark and Norway all wear masks to prevent tourists from getting COVID?
Do the citizens of your home town wear masks?

In case others are not aware. The world isn't wearing masks any more. If you go out into the world, there is a good chance that you are going to be exposed to an infectious disease. The farther you go, the more places you go, the more people you are around, the higher your risk. Please use this information when you decide whether or not to travel.

Thank you, vandrabrud. Well said. And thank you for a report, Donna.

I am not speaking to knowingly infecting others. But all I am reading is pointing to the fact that both masked and unmasked are catching it. Testing is finding it and not finding it. Masking does not seem to be the same use it was earlier.

@vandrabrud -- I think, you need to give people the benefit of doubt. Many things have changed between April and now. When my deposit refund day in April came around for my tour in August none of this was a issue. The tours in March and April did not have too many issues. Then, slowly in May tours had more covid positive cases. I really didn't think it would spread as much in the summer. Obviously, bad on my part. If I could cancel my tour, I would, but I didn't buy cancel for any reason. If I cancel my airfare I have to pay the change fee. So, right now not totally worth it to cancel.

My daughter got Covid on a trip to Hilton Head Island. It was a bad cold with laryngitis, sinus infection and sore throat. She got it in early May. She is healthy and fit young person. She tried to go hiking the other day something she does regularly and couldn't make it up the steep incline. She instead had to pick a flat trial and she walked 20,000 steps. So, we know she can go the distance, but she struggled going up an incline that was like climbing several flight of stairs. So, hope none of this happens to others.

@Disney,
I am so very sorry that your daughter contracted COVID and that its affects are lingering. Again, I believe that hearing your daughter's story and Donna's experiences are extremely valuable. I hope people are paying attention.

In theory Texas mom there is no ‘masked and not masked’ basis for comparison because when tour members are eating inside, they are all unmasked.

Vandrabrud, in various places, folks are indeed wearing masks, including my home city (30-40% indoors). And the Scandinavian countries are being warned this week by their own public health officials that challenges with increasing Covid numbers await them later this summer. Copenhagen is currently experiencing an upswing.

N95 are very protective against infectious ailments including Covid. It is not an unrealistic goal after spending thousands of dollars to travel to want to reduce the likelihood of getting sick during the trip.

There is no way to prevent yourself from getting Covid 100%. Masking, distancing, avoiding crowds and washing your hands give you better odds. But not 100% regardless of the type of mask you have.

Traveling with a tour gives you higher odds of getting Covid. You are traveling in an enclosed tube (coach) for a long amount of time. You are dining in close proximity without masks. If one person gets it, you are more likely to see more than one other get it.

Traveling solo is a little better because you can choose where to eat whether it be in a restaurant
or in your hotel room, where you go and when to mask.

I'm traveling and I don't wear a mask all the time. I have eaten mostly in my hotel room or outdoors with an occasional indoor meal depending on how crowded it is. I carry a mask with me at all times (KF94) and if I hear someone coughing/sneezing or if where I am is too crowded, I put on the mask.

It's summertime and many of the popular tourist sites will be crowded. People are traveling again and they're not wearing masks. Whether you are a solo traveler or in groups you face the same issues.

Please also remember that you could just as easily be exposed to Covid at your local supermarket as you could at the Louvre.