Covid 19
Mar 5th 2020, 9:28 am
#76
Big Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,889
Re: Covid 19
I'm currently living back in the UK, family in Dubai (the plan was for our daughter to finish Easter term then I'd come back to close everything down and we'd leave together).
With the schools closing early I changed flights to fly back to Dubai this Sunday, close down banks/utilities, cancel residency etc.. and HR just told me not to risk flying in as the rules on quarantine aren't clear.
With the schools closing early I changed flights to fly back to Dubai this Sunday, close down banks/utilities, cancel residency etc.. and HR just told me not to risk flying in as the rules on quarantine aren't clear.
Mar 5th 2020, 10:11 am
#77
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Mar 5th 2020, 12:26 pm
#79
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,467
Re: Covid 19
We were/are meant to be travelling in a couple of weeks, but now school holidays have changed she can't go. She might fly this weekend and I might still go, might not. Don't want to go and then not get back easily, but don't think there'll be a meltdown of international travel and all flights banned etc.
In fact, we've just had a work email advising that if you travel for personal reasons and can't get back into the office for reasons of needing to be quarantined (if you go to somewhere on a list) - you either work remotely and that's that, or you have to take it as leave / unpaid. Everyone has a laptop and mobile though, so hardly an issue. If kids can be expected to learn from home then every office based adult on earth can work from home.
**** 'em, eat 'em - doesn't matter. Someone's going to do it.
In fact, we've just had a work email advising that if you travel for personal reasons and can't get back into the office for reasons of needing to be quarantined (if you go to somewhere on a list) - you either work remotely and that's that, or you have to take it as leave / unpaid. Everyone has a laptop and mobile though, so hardly an issue. If kids can be expected to learn from home then every office based adult on earth can work from home.
**** 'em, eat 'em - doesn't matter. Someone's going to do it.
Quite like working from home / having film marathons.
Mar 6th 2020, 10:52 am
#80
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Buraydah , Saudi Arabia
Posts: 2,863
Re: Covid 19
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel...-a9376916.html
I just cancelled my trip. £600 down because of it. Think it's only a matter of time before Saudis do something similar or more severe.
On Saudia website they are now saying that if you've been in,or transited through China or Iran you need to be in corona free country for 14 days before entry. I'd expect Italy to be on that list soon, and other countries down the line.
It's a fast changing situation.
I just cancelled my trip. £600 down because of it. Think it's only a matter of time before Saudis do something similar or more severe.
On Saudia website they are now saying that if you've been in,or transited through China or Iran you need to be in corona free country for 14 days before entry. I'd expect Italy to be on that list soon, and other countries down the line.
It's a fast changing situation.
Mar 7th 2020, 11:17 am
#82
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2014
Location: Saudi Arabia
Posts: 110
Re: Covid 19
I was planning on a week's leave to spend with parents in Pakistan around mid March however not sure about all the travel restrictions are in place and which continue to change on a daily basis.
My multi exit re-entry visa expires this in 10 days, my backup to save it was exiting and re entering KSA on Bahrain causeway but even that option is off the list as of this morning due to latest restriction by KSA on land entries from Bahrain and UAE.
F*** YOU COVID 19
My multi exit re-entry visa expires this in 10 days, my backup to save it was exiting and re entering KSA on Bahrain causeway but even that option is off the list as of this morning due to latest restriction by KSA on land entries from Bahrain and UAE.
F*** YOU COVID 19
Mar 7th 2020, 11:38 am
#83
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Re: Covid 19
Can’t help thinking some of these border closures are economic. kSA must be fed up with so many expats doing the commute.
Mar 7th 2020, 12:13 pm
#84
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2019
Location: Riyadh
Posts: 317
Re: Covid 19
Mar 7th 2020, 12:29 pm
#85
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,900
Re: Covid 19
Was planning to go to the UK with my family next week. Probably going to cancel everything. The Saudis are bringing in more and more travel restrictions, and what with the recent spike in UK infections, and expected spike in the coming weeks , I just can't take the risk of not being able to get back in to Saudi. Giving it a few more days to decide.
On the one hand is going to save me a fortune even after losing a bit on bookings already made, but on the other hand my 8 weeks are up and I need to get away.
Might go to Thailand instead because it seems like they've got things under control there, and at the moment only tourists into Saudi from Thailand are banned.
What to do?!
On the one hand is going to save me a fortune even after losing a bit on bookings already made, but on the other hand my 8 weeks are up and I need to get away.
Might go to Thailand instead because it seems like they've got things under control there, and at the moment only tourists into Saudi from Thailand are banned.
What to do?!
Mar 7th 2020, 12:56 pm
#86
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Re: Covid 19
You are assuming Thailand has the capacity (and the will) to accurately report and diagnose over large swaths of the country. I think it is far more likely it is ripping through the country at a massively underreported rate, with some deliberate misinformation out there to save face and national pride.
Mar 7th 2020, 3:07 pm
#88
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2014
Location: Hilton Lounge 22nd Floor 1800-2000
Posts: 331
Re: Covid 19
Paper cups only in Doha City Centre Starbucks this afternoon. No cases in Qatar of virus carriers coming in over the land border.
Mar 7th 2020, 7:11 pm
#89
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 35
Re: Covid 19
Surely distance learning is not going to be of the same quality (and cost) as in school learning?? especially since we won’t be using school facilities, plus it’s going to fall on us parents’ shoulder, and our sanity to make sure our children log in and actually do the work
Mar 7th 2020, 7:17 pm
#90
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Buraydah , Saudi Arabia
Posts: 2,863
Re: Covid 19
You are assuming Thailand has the capacity (and the will) to accurately report and diagnose over large swaths of the country. I think it is far more likely it is ripping through the country at a massively underreported rate, with some deliberate misinformation out there to save face and national pride.
They do have the capacity to report though, although maybe not the will. If there were loads of unreported cases I'm fairly certain there would be a lot of mention of it on Thai social media, and that isn't the case according to my wife.
They've been living under the military rule for a long time now so they know not to believe the party line as it were, but at the same time, where are the posts on fb from health workers about sick people in the hospitals etc. They aren't there.
What with the millions of Chinese who visit Thailand, there should be thousands of sick people there, and in Cambodia too, but that's not the story on the ground.
Just have to wait and see I guess.