Summer holidays abroad ‘extremely unlikely’ as third wave hits Europe

Winterewhite, the school I work in had a covid outbreak recently. The students were in isolation (return from another area of the country) when the first student tested positive. The time between the first and the last student showing symptoms was 17 days. The students were in isolation (boarding school, so PROPER isolation in their own room, alone, not at home with family) the whole time. So symptoms took 17 days to come out in the last student.

Testing does not guarantee covid free. Two of the students tested negative 3 days before testing positive. As I said, in isolation all that time.

Just because you test negative before you fly home, doesn't mean you won't go on to develop it a week later. By which point you have infected friends, family, supermarket workers, people in the office and on and on.

I am overseas and am desperate to see my family. It isn't time yet.

The UK is lucky to be an island where if they want they CAN stop it being brought in. The borders where I am are a road or a train. No one checks. The virus is flowing around freely.

The sickest person was a mid 40's PE teacher. SUPER healthy and fit. He was dangerously close to ending up in intensive care. Now still suffering debilitating effects, 20 days after his positive test.

I'm happy where I am for now, I'm going to go on day trips on weekdays to the beach, etc when we are allowed out of our area. A two week holiday can probably wait this year, I feel for people who have family abroad who haven't a clue when they will get to see each other again.

The filthiest beach I've ever been on was in La Baule in Brittany. The one lavatory was a hike away and that, too, was rank! My then toddler DS was violently ill with a stomach bug after that particular visit! It certainly outdid the disgusting factor of any British beach I've ever visited!

My French SIL living in UK hasn't seen his parents for over a year and they only have one grandchild so I'm hoping that it'll be possible for family visits on compassionate grounds. Holidays abroad are not essential.

I agree with winterwhite.
I’m concerned about the erosion of our civil liberties. I’ve complied with the rules and followed the advice. I still got Covid. Now I’ve had Covid I’ll have antibodies and on top of that I’ve had the vaccination. I don’t feel unsafe. The Oxford developers of the AZ vaccine are already working on tweaking the vaccine for other variants. They have said it can be ready by Autumn. My son, a barrister, is extremely concerned about the the erosion of our civil liberties. I am too. We’ve done what we were asked to do, but now we’re threatened with further extension of lockdown rules ie no travel abroad.

We cancelled our holiday to the Canaries last year and rebooked for this June. I'm really not keen to go.
Jet2 at the moment say flights will resume in May, I'm hoping that the government change this and Jet2 will have to cancel our trip.
We could rebook for next March.

Our main sticking point is that we're taking my Dad (90) and mother-in-law (93) who are both conscious they might not still be here by then!
They just say as we'll all have had both vaccinations we'll be safe.
They seem incapable of realising that we could act as carriers and bring the virus back with us.

First world problems indeed, but it's so sad having to disappoint them when their world has been so restricted for over a year now.
Telling them to be glad they're still here isn't proving very helpful any more ☹️

Reconciled to having a second Summer of no visits from, and to, family living abroad. Pinning all hopes on Christmas as being big reunion time.

Just because we may be able to travel abroad doesn’t mean we should.
I think it is selfish to put ourselves and others at risk for two weeks in the sun.
I do of course feel very sorry for those with family abroad but I haven’t seen my D and GC for nearly 15 months and she lives in this country albeit 250 miles away.
We have stuck rigidly to the rules.
It would be nice if everyone did the same and not consider themselves special or above the law.

Holidays abroad may very well be essential if they help to bolster the mental health of citizens. No one should assume that because they’re happy to have almost all their civil liberties removed, including the basic right to see one’s family, that everyone is in agreement. If you want to stay at home do so, but don’t expect everyone else to do so on your behalf.

Counting my blessing that we have a home in a place where the weather is generally good. Those of us who can stay away from beauty spots while schools out should - for our own good and to help those who do need to be out and about. Imagine being in a high rise with energetic children through the summer weeks.

We have a huge mental health crisis in this country. No one is too interested in that.

What do you all think the vaccine was for if you have to carry on living in lockdown?

Looks as though we will cancel out September trip to the dordogne, already deferred from 2020. The French are slow in vaccinating and now seem terrified of Astra Zenica, so I guess their infection rates will remain high. Trying to decide which part of England to visit instead, hopefully taking in visits to AC/GCs too.

"What about those of us with AC, GC and other family members living abroad?

If we have had both vaccinations why should we be prevented from visiting them?"

These are very good questions and I have every sympathy with those who have relations and friends abroad and those who just need a break and some sun. Goodness knows, I do.

However, the short answer to these and other such queries is that it is too soon to mix with those overseas while their circumstances are so different from our own.

Yes, we are all going to be vaccinated soon - but this is not the case in Europe and further afield. The danger of many visitors bringing home infections and dangerous Covid variants could jeopardize the safety of the whole country and might plunge us back where we started.

Waiting a little longer will give those abroad a chance to 'catch up' with immunity and will offer the scientic community the time it needs to develop a general coronavirus jab and the means to vaccinate or develop a pill to neutralise rogue variants.

Another year, after such a year of sacrifice, would not kill anyone.

I have a holiday let in Cornwall but have certainly not hiked up my prices... have quite a few returning guests and do not wish to upset them plus it's just greedy! It is fully booked until Oct so we can't go to make use of it sadly til then but would not plan to go abroad this year.

maddyone

What do you all think the vaccine was for if you have to carry on living in lockdown?

Now, I'd say it's to help stop us getting very ill if we do contract the virus.
But the virus is still with us. A local school currently has two year groups isolating at home after a positive test, they'd only been back a week!

I feel so sad not to see my grandchildren in Sweden, I last was with them the Christmas before last. But I do understand that though I will be fully vaccinated by summer, I can still carry the virus or its variants back from countries which are way behind us with the vaccination programme.

Perhaps a change of language would help.
We are not being restricted, locked down, imprisoned, having our human rights removed.
We are being kept safe, kept alive, looked after, protected.
Maybe poor mental health could be helped by this change of language.

I have already been very ill with Covid. I was hospitalised for twelve days. I had nine different treatments, oxygen, antiviral infusions, antibiotics, steroids, blood thinners, potassium infusions, and that’s not all the treatments I was given. On top of that I’ve now had my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
But I’m being told I still have to carry on with the privations. I had enough of it. Nearly losing my life has made me realise that life is to be lived, carefully, cautiously, but lived. I was carefully all last year and it landed me in hospital. Enough!

They advertise holidays to Europe very heavily here. They must be joking. For a start you might not be able to get back. Our airports are still only open for local travel or over to New Zealand.

I agree with Maddyone on this, although I understand everyone's concerns about new variants etc. We have endured lockdown, serious curtailment of our civil liberty, have had vaccinations, so what else are we supposed to do? Stay at home indefinitely? I am unlikely to travel abroad this summer for various reasons, but would not criticise anyone who does. Going overseas is about more than lying on a beach, it may be visiting family, it may be taking a stressed, mentally ill relative out of home, just for something to look forward to, something different. I for one, will not judge anyone who decided they need that break.

But if you flit around the world Maddyone, you risk spreading the illness that you suffered to others who may not be lucky enough to survive.
I do understand that you are feeling low and frustrated but would you really be happy to spread the virus to others.
Rights go hand in hand with responsibilies

It’s just miserable - my gc are over in Spain and we have family in hospitality businesses out there ... I do hope it all opens up and we can all get out there. Vaccinations / more testing and positive vibes are needed ?? - I need my gc snuggles - youngest is 9 months now ? she’ll be walking before I can get out there !!!

Have you checked out the prices for holidaying here in UK!! A weekend break we had to cancel last year due to Covid has doubled in price for same period later this year. ?

@maddyone. Understand the point you’re making but there seems to be a growing movement of unrest at the moment - you only have to look at what happened in Bristol last night to see that. I agree that the right to protest is a basic human one, but in my opinion, the majority of protests that have taken place so far have proved that those taking part are intent on civil disobedience and have little or no regard for social distancing or the safety of others. Unofficial protests have taken place despite organisers cancelling events. A pandemic because of a highly contagious and deadly disease is not the setting for mass demonstration- we’ve seen business owners and individuals facing hefty fines for breaking lockdown rules, so why should protestors be treated any differently ?