So interesting, the unspoken assumption that the US will somehow escape this.

World Health Organization: If you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with suspected 2019-nCoV infection.
https://www.who.int/emergencies/dise...w-to-use-masks

I don't understand what's going on, either this coronavirus is a fake to intimidate people, or it's actually so bad and the epidemic is spreading.

I agree, menachem. We're expecting a whole bunch of different guests from the USA this spring and summer, and the emails have started coming in from some of them about possibly canceling. First of all, we're not exactly worried about coronavirus here in St-Cirq, and second, what makes them think staying in the USA is going to turn out to be any safer?

We took 3 different trains in France yesterday, including the new 300-kph TGV from Bordeaux to Paris, and you would have been amazed at how many people were sneezing and coughing on all of them. I probably don't even normally notice that, but I did yesterday, and my conclusion is if you're out and about and traveling in the world you're going to be exposed to stuff.

This is crazy. So we´ve had, as far as I can remember, the following "deadly" menaces in the past few years: Ebola (which was the end of humanity), SARS (everybody wearing masks), A-Flu (we spent zillions in useless vaccines), Zyka (we even pretend to kill all mosquitoes in the world...), and of course, the yearly influenza (flu) that kills so many without further notice, also affecting those of older age and with previous severe conditions. In Spain there are 24 infected, and I´ve heard them on the radio today: it´s like a flu, I´m just taking paracetamol and staying in bed, sweating. The OMS (WHO) is saying that wearing masks doesn´t make any sense, it´s the hands we should worry about. What are we going to do, remain at home forever or until the virus mutates? Or shall we continue enjoying life as we have done until now, when we know that flu and other infectious diseases are all around us? I just don´t get this tremendous scare, and it makes me think about how humanity is constantly condemned to repeat the same foolish attitudes over and over again.

This one looks serious with the virus spreading to almost all the parts of the world. Its traveling with the air. I have cancelled all my travel plans for the time being till this dies.

I was looking forward to this, but I'm guessing they will cancel the procession this year right?
The number of infections seems on the rise in Spain.

But come to think of it, Santa Semana worshippers will be already wearing masks, so the risk of contagion is negligible.

Again...wearing masks is useless and does not protect against anything. 24 cases at the moment in Spain, more tomorrow, like any infectious disease...every year hundreds of thousands die of flu worldwide and nothing happens, and because of something very similar we (the world) have to cancel processions, soccer games, theaters, cinemas, festivals, concerts...everybody at home for the rest of this year??

mikelg, have all the activities already been canceled or is it still undecided?

It stops infected people coughing on healthy people. In other words the mask doesn't protect the wearer but the rest of us.

No, nothing has been cancelled...and I doubt it will be, but in this senseless world nobody knows what will happen. Masks don´t stop any contagion...it´s the hands, not the masks!

Thank you mikelg for posting your thoughts, I was beginning to go crazy thinking I was the only person that thought that way. I think we're approaching collective hysteria, not a good way to operate. And totally agree, its the hands!

This seems to be collective paranoia, spreading quicker than this virus, cruiseluv, and thanks to the extremely quick communication means we have nowadays (and mass media, of course). Oops, I´ve forgotten the avian flu, that was propagated by chicken and was also considered a deadly menace.

”Thank you mikelg for posting your thoughts, I was beginning to go crazy thinking I was the only person that thought that way. I think we're approaching collective hysteria, not a good way to operate. And totally agree, its the hands! “

It might be a bit early to know how to protect oneself ..
Also, although it not 100% effective, the flue vaccine is available -
this virus is unknown and mutating.
​​​​I was looking forward to Madrid Open( have the tickets) but if it is canceled I will
probably postpone my trip to Spain until the fall.

menachem since you quoted me to your post -- of course the US isn't going to escape this, but having to worry about all of these factors domestically is apples to oranges compared to dealing with it while on travel, no matter your country of origin (read any account from the Spanish students whose parents were frantic to bring them back from university in Northern Italy, for example). My response to the OP was to say that it's not necessarily a fear of catching the virus -- it's the potential for quarantines and the impact to infrastructure if things progress rapidly while we're there (which could happen during a two week period). It's an anxious thing to consider when there's no protocol other than "do what feels right to you", and I can understand wanting to find some amount of community in discussing it rationally on a travel-related forum -- especially for those of us with plans to travel in the next few weeks, not months.

It's mind boggling to me that people should want to travel for pleasure in this situation.

Well said. I was going to respond to StCirq's statement of "what makes them think staying in the USA is going to turn out to be any safer?" with a similar response, but NicWil summed my response up nicely.

Much of the world's response to the this has been overblown...but the response is still happening. Getting stuck on a ship for 2 weeks because a few people got sick is a reality. That reality must be factored in when planning travel right now.

'It's not necessarily a fear of catching the virus -- it's the potential for quarantines and the impact to infrastructure if things progress rapidly while we're there (which could happen during a two week period). It's an anxious thing to consider when there's no protocol other than "do what feels right to you", and I can understand wanting to find some amount of community in discussing it rationally on a travel-related forum -- especially for those of us with plans to travel in the next few weeks, not months"

Bravo for this reply! The reality while traveling (and at home): every time you cough or sneeze, no matter what its cause, you 'll have "stinkeye" directed at you Ok, so you can live with dirty looks. Far worse-- you could be hauled off a flight (this just happened to a young family in Europe, because the baby sneezed.) I'm wondering if we will eventually hear stories of planes not being permitted to land in particular airports because someone on board might eventually test pos for Covid; meanwhile, passengers are stuck onboard for hours. Paranoia? Maybe, but it 's a symptom of the overall pall of uncertainty. A cruise ship that was no where near a source of outbreak departed from Miami, then was denied entry into Jamaica and Cayman Islands. Unless I'm missing something, that makes no sense.

Whether overreactions or not on the part of government, travel companies, etc, they are realistic concerns, and possible nightmares, for those who live them.

Re events in Spain being cancelled--yes, the huge tech conference due to be held this week in Bcn was cancelled after numerous companies withdrew, although the Spanish govt is saying there was another reason Hmmm.

For those tentatively traveling to Spain in the next couple months, I don't envy your anxiety around the decision. Heck, I'm even wondering about a trip to Greece in early June!

Wash your hands and enjoy life!