Gran Alacant Forum
Gran Alacant Forum => General Discussions => Topic started by: John H on November 04, 2020, 08:03.
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It's apparent that there are completely polarised views on whether people should be allowed to travel or not at the current time and nothing further is to be gained from debating the topic on the forum other than members restating their view.
People are travelling to Spain quite lawfully.
Let's stick to folk sharing their experiences of their recent visits to GA, I am sure that the vast majority of members of the forum will find that far more useful in their decision making process of whether to travel to GA or not.
Regards all
John
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We flew from Stansted when we went out to GA in October, and there were signs up saying that airflow within the building has been increased to minimise infection, seating is reduced, alternate seats are blocked off, same at Alicante airport, there was a card in our rental car saying it had been disinfected. A thought I had was that as the virus likes the cold the higher temperatures in Spain likely help to suppress it. We found around GA that virtually everyone wears masks as required and follow the rules. Staff in restaurants and bars were wiping down tables with sprays after people leave.
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I don´t think the Covid virus is affected by temperature. Some of the highest rates of infection have been encountered in places like Brazil and Spain itself.
As a resident I´m proud of and impressed by the level of mask-wearing here.
Bert
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Yes Bert, I was impressed by the Spanish people wearing masks, I don't think the Spanish population have this " it's my right to do what I like " attitude that is all to prevalent in the UK.
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Yes, I've been impressed too. Spanish friends have told me that they think the general behaviour is somewhat linked to the time spent "doing what you were told" under Franco, which of course was not so very long ago. I've been amazed, and perturbed, at the seeming discrepency between the good behaviour I see every day, and the level of cases.
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I’ve been hugely impressed by how the virus has proved that mask wearing has been a totally and utterly pointless waste of time. Spain and France have had mandatory mask wearing everywhere for months and ‘cases’ keep rising.
I’ve also been hugely impressed by uk shops, bars, restaurants, and gyms etc who have spent a fortune on equipment to ensure that they are Covid safe.....so much so that all of these establishments count for less than than 5% of infections......yet the government chooses to ignore their efforts and shut them down?
I’ve also been hugely impressed by work places, schools and universities, who whilst accounting for around 75% of infections have managed to be allowed to stay open.
It’s a funny ol’ world.
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I think the scientific community is divided over the efficacy of mask wearing but my gut feeling is that if masks are worn correctly and the same one isn't used over and over if it's disposable then there must be some advantage. It was reported this morning that Australia and New Zealand who are just coming out of their winter have had the quietest flu season possibly on record and they have put that down to, in part, mask wearing.
I know cases are rising even though masks are being worn but is there any data on where the majority of cases are? Are they amongst the people who gather in crowds and don't wear masks, or perhaps in educational environments. I don't know but I'll keep mine on and it may even become a permanent item in winters to come in places like supermarkets and indoor shopping centres.
Dave
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I go with what you say Dave, if there is a chance a mask helps even if not a hundred percent efficient then we should use them, they help to stop the wearer spraying other people, have read that the virus can enter via the eyes, me and the wife bought cheap reading glasses for a couple of quid each to wear on the plane to hopefully stop that source of infection
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"quietest flu season possibly on record" I might also put down to the fact that, to say it straight, Covid did away with some of those people slightly early.
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Michael Jackson was wearing a face mask years ago. It is also quite common in the far east although I think that is a response to air pollution.
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Flu cases (not deaths) in Australia: -
Jan - June 2019 = 132000
Jan - June 2020 = 21000
Seems fairly quiet to me.
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Come on surely you can see why. If people are not mixing and most wearing face masks then any virus will be prevented from being passed on. Resulting in less colds and less flu.
It is as simple as that.
Derek
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Just the usual update - no debate, latest stats as of this evening
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Thanks, John.
Food for thought.
Bert
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Brilliant suggestion "no debate" just what a good forum needs.
Derek
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Derek, the posts on the subject where going no where, comments were getting personal and the rules that have kept this a civil and safe place to post were being broken, those same rules will continue to be upheld.
Regards all
John
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Derek - you pedantry got me there - "no debate" as in they are the official stats (although I am sure you knew the context in which it was written
Brilliant suggestion "no debate" just what a good forum needs.
Derek
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Hi Beachlife,
Thanks for the update- interesting reading.
I got a lecture and a statement of the obvious earlier in the thread but couldn't be bothered answering as it only fans the flames - as John says the debate is over.
Hope the holiday went well.
Dave
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Yep Lanzarote was great - very quiet as you can imagine but with great Canarian weather was worth it.
BHX arrivals VERY hot on locator forms - luckily had mine in .pdf last night so got through quickly (unlike others)
Hi Beachlife,
Thanks for the update- interesting reading.
I got a lecture and a statement of the obvious earlier in the thread but couldn't be bothered answering as it only fans the flames - as John says the debate is over.
Hope the holiday went well.
Dave
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Glad you enjoyed it.
We came back on Eurotunnel last Sunday, had the locator form ready but it wasn't asked for at any stage.
Just finished first week of quarantine, it's not that onerous when everyone is in lockdown anyway and the pubs are shut.
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I think you could be correct.
Derek
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We had two weeks at beginning of October in GA and it was wonderful, went home and did two weeks quarantine had about five days of freedom and then the month quarantine kicked in, wonderful!
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The wonderful bit is you are still OK. No one likes how our freedom is being controlled but the alternative is death to many that could be saved if people obey the rules.
derek
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I'll decide what's wonderful Derek.
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Yes for yourself. But others including myself can also have an opinion on what is "wonderful" unless the debate is really over.
Derek
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Just a thought, I have one friend who I've known for over 60 years, we went to the same Infant, Junior and Senior schools and played rugby for the same teams until we were in our late 20's. He is the most law abiding citizen you could wish to meet and throughout the current period he has followed the rules to the letter.
He has been struck with cancers for quite a few years and has been in and out of remission several times, unfortunately at the back end of last year he was given the worst possible news, he was told that he had only 18 to 24 months to live.
He loves his holidays and has travelled the world.
When he was given the devistating news he booked four European holidays for this year for one last visit to four of his favourite places, he's only been able to go on one of them due to the travel restrictions.
He hasnt told many people about his condition.
It might be worth just thinking are other people in the same position as Mick when they are travelling to places they love.
Regards all
John
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Good point John.
I have lost friends to "that" disease and I tell you now that if I was in your friends position I would be doing just that not sitting at home waiting for who knows what.
So I will travel as soon as possible - I'll do all the necessary, negative PCR test before I fly and isolate for 14 days when I get home - and the minute I am allowed I'll be having the vaccine, no hesitation
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I’ll certainly have the vaccine when able, however in the slightly younger healthy category I will be in number 5/6 of list
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It doesn't seem to matter what the subject of a new posting is these days it just decends into bickering. I'm butting out for a while.
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Yes there’s some who preach it’s the end of the world if anyone travels etc but we’ve just got to stick to guidelines and do what’s best for you and family
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Sad news John; it just shows that most of us don't know what's round the corner. Luckily apart from visiting I've never been in hospital.
I have said before on this forum that I don't intend this virus to run my life and that's not changed even though age puts me in the vulnerable bracket. I have followed all the rules that apply to wherever I am right from being in Spain for all the first lock down and as soon as I can travel again I will. There is no need for a test if I go to Spain overland; it's only required if entering by sea or air.
Vaccine in January - hopefully - and then back to normal ish.
Come back soon Kev
Dave
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Cheers Dave and good luck.
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I reckon we all need a reminder every now and again about what's important to us Dave, the last 9 months have made us think.
I echo your sentiment regarding Kev, you will be missed Kev, don't let the mood hoover's keep you away.
Regards all
John
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Cheers John, I'll keep an eye on the forum. Hope you are well.
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Interesting article yesterday on bbc online regarding the virus variation effecting england in recent weeks, article refers to it as the Spanish mutation believed by the experts to have been bought back to the UK by holidaying Brits. Hmmmm
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55312505
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Really interested in that Wilson - could you post a link to that please ? I cant find it with the usual google tools
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Lots of articles about it on the net.....https://www.npr.org/2020/11/24/938593219/researchers-say-90-of-recent-coronavirus-sequences-in-u-k-came-from-spain
Regards all
John
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In El Pais today seems to be contradictory information on the source of this new stain of virus
" ........ Minister Salvador Illa in a radio interview with Rac1 on Monday. According to Illa, there is currently no evidence that the mutant strain of the virus is present in Spain, although this does not mean “that it is not here.”
Interesting article yesterday on bbc online regarding the virus variation effecting england in recent weeks, article refers to it as the Spanish mutation believed by the experts to have been bought back to the UK by holidaying Brits. Hmmmm
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55312505