Coronavirus: General discussion (see opening post for rules)

[Theblacksheep]

Our schools have several hundred thousand in school trips, none of which we will get back unless FCO prevents travel and cancel it for us.

 

This method of 'advice' and 'guidance' will see thousands of businesses close and schools hit for millions in cancellations. This isn't nationwide leadership.

[witch]

If Sleazy have cancelled the flight, that at least should be refunded. Ask (assuming) your credit card company - your contract is with them.

 

TBH the cost of the flights is nothing compared with the rest of the holiday

[elsiegee40]

Our local Iceland has announced special opening hours for the elderly and disabled

[Ditto]

TBH the cost of the flights is nothing compared with the rest of the holiday

As far as I'm aware, they can change T&C's on the renewal and exclude C19. Similar with a new policy, but I doubt they can wriggle out of cover on a current policy. The danger of an insurer going bust is another matter and I don't know what protection there is in that case. We have a ski trip booked to Norway booked, and the current insurance is due for auto-renewal just before we leave. So, at the moment we have no idea where we stand. At least FCO are currently advising against travel to Norway, but the current proposal in Norway was for a two week closure. So in theory, they could re-open, but I think the chances of that are closer to zero than any other number. On the upside, our travel company is small, looking to do the right thing and are suggesting we could transfer the booking to next year. Hopefully the world will be in rapid recovery mode by then.

[elsiegee40]

@mikeprice We just had an email saying the RSC has shut everything

Edited March 16, 2020 by elsiegee40

[mikeprice]

Right - it's happened

 

Wife's 60th tomorrow

 

had arranged a family meal at a pub tomorrow evening

 

had to cancel that

 

as part of her present I had arranged 4 days in Stratford with tickets to 2 plays - including King John which is a Shakespeare play even she had never heard of

 

just looked on the RSC website and they are closing down as of tonight

 

so that has gone West as well

 

 

However - we have identified the founding reason for this whole damn virus thing

 

 

something goes wrong with whatever is arranged for every birthday she has ever had which ends with a zero

20,30,40,50

all ****** up

 

however a global pandemic seems a bit extreme

 

anyway - note for the future for all

17th March 2030 - plan to spend a few months in a nuclear shelter - it will be BAD

 

 

 

(actually seriously upset about the whole thing - me not her - spent months worrying about what to do - now it is all ****** - feel I have let her down - which is daft but .........)

[6Foot2]

Link: xkcd: Coronavirus Research

 

 

Mouseover text:

 

Also, reading 500 coronavirus papers in a row and not sleeping? Probably not great for you either, but I haven't found any studies confirming that yet. I'll keep looking

[mikeprice]

@mikeprice We just had an email saying the RSC has shut everything

[ATTACH]57237[/ATTACH]

 

Thanks

 

see above

 

however - no email - but I have been checking the website a few times a day and spotted it juts before I posted the above

 

will have to ring the hotel and cancel that tomorrow

 

our second anniversary is coming up - that will probably be up the swanney as well

[elsiegee40]

Right - it's happened

 

Wife's 60th tomorrow

 

had arranged a family meal at a pub tomorrow evening

 

had to cancel that

 

as part of her present I had arranged 4 days in Stratford with tickets to 2 plays - including King John which is a Shakespeare play even she had never heard of

 

just looked on the RSC website and they are closing down as of tonight

 

so that has gone West as well

 

 

However - we have identified the founding reason for this whole damn virus thing

 

 

something goes wrong with whatever is arranged for every birthday she has ever had which ends with a zero

20,30,40,50

all ****** up

 

however a global pandemic seems a bit extreme

 

anyway - note for the future for all

17th March 2030 - plan to spend a few months in a nuclear shelter - it will be BAD

 

 

 

(actually seriously upset about the whole thing - me not her - spent months worrying about what to do - now it is all ****** - feel I have let her down - which is daft but .........)

 

You really couldn’t have planned for this

 

My friend’s son is getting married on Friday... in theory.

 

They definitely can’t go on their honeymoon

[jmak]

We have an annual travel insurance policy. We have been emailed today saying that any claims for Coronavirus will not be honoured from this point onwards.

 

Having only got back from holiday on Friday, I am relieved we are not away. I am not even sure it would stand up in court if we happened to be still away at the moment.

I was emailed by ours as well, but the wording was pretty reasonable:

 

On the 11th March 2020, the World Health Organisation upgraded the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to a worldwide Pandemic.

 

Based on this, as of the 13th March 2020, we haveclassed Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as a “Known Event” in line with the policy terms conditions.

 

How does this impact me?

 

If you purchased your policy before the 13th March 2020:

 

- For any element of your trip booked before the 13th March 2020, any subsequent claim will be considered in line with the terms and conditions.

 

For any element of your trip booked after the 13th March 2020:

 

- We will not cover any claims caused by or relating to Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Nor will we cover any claims relating to any fear or threat concerning this virus.

[/Quote]

 

It'd be difficult to argue that it wasn't a known risk if you booked something now.

 

Edit: But if you booked before then and had insurance in place, they absolutely should be paying out.

Edited March 16, 2020 by jmak

[bondbill2k2]

You really couldn’t have planned for this

 

My friend’s son is getting married on Friday... in theory.

 

They definitely can’t go on their honeymoon

 

Our honeymoons scheduled for early May, playing it by ear for the moment hopefully thing improve a little by then and the guests for the wedding don't turn up coughing. Stags also looking to be canceled and changes for the hen....yay!

[witch]

Daughter's friend probably can't get married at all as wife to be is from the US

[hardtailstar]

UK Scouting has been suspended until further notice from today's announcement.

[mikeprice]

Grand National cancelled

 

obviously

 

It has been announced that the Police and Ambulance will not support any events

 

which immediately trashes their insurance

 

which cancels the event

[kennysarmy]

I'm flying to Portugal on Friday for a 4 day golf break.

Your Golf Travel who we've booked with are not prepared to offer refund or even a postponement because flights to Faro are still going ahead and hotel open!!!! Even though the bars and restaurants are all closing at 9pm!

If we decide not to go we'll all lose over £700

[mikeprice]

I'm flying to Portugal on Friday for a 4 day golf break.

Your Golf Travel who we've booked with are not prepared to offer refund or even a postponement because flights to Faro are still going ahead and hotel open!!!! Even though the bars and restaurants are all closing at 9pm!

If we decide not to go we'll all lose over £700

 

Government advise to stop al unnecessary travel

 

would seem to be the same (to me) as saying don;t fly to $allcountries

 

which is probably covered by wording of the the insurance

[Ketlane]

We were going to Kenya. Kenya government has banned all inbound travel except for citizens. FCO advice is to avoid all non-essential travel. So we can claim on insurance - 90 mins on hold, 16-page forms to complete, it'll take longer than the flight times just to get the admin done.

[mikeprice]

We were going to Kenya. Kenya government has banned all inbound travel except for citizens. FCO advice is to avoid all non-essential travel. So we can claim on insurance - 90 mins on hold, 16-page forms to complete, it'll take longer than the flight times just to get the admin done.

 

16 page form???

 

sounds like someone trying to disincentivise claims

 

what is the insurance company?

[Ketlane]

Post Office though they use a claims handling company so I fancy other insurers will have the same.

[jmak]

I give up [emoji20]

 

US sales of guns and ammunition soar amid coronavirus panic buying

 

Sales of guns and ammunition are soaring across the US as fears of possible social unrest amid the coronavirus crisis are prompting some Americans to turn to firearms as a form of self-protection.

 

“Politicians and anti-gun people have been telling us for the longest time that we don’t need guns. But right now, a lot of people are truly scared, and they can make that decision themselves.”

 

the type of guns being bought was reflective of the fear prevalent among customers. There was almost no interest in hunting rifles. Instead, people were opting for target guns and there was big demand for AR-15 semi-automatic assault-style rifles.

[/Quote]

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/16/us-sales-guns-ammunition-soar-amid-coronavirus-panic-buying?

[6Foot2]

Link: Coronavirus: Universal is changing how movies are released [Los Angeles Times]

 

Universal Pictures, in a bold move to confront the coronavirus’ threat to the movie industry, is collapsing the theatrical window.

 

In an extraordinary step, the studio on Monday said it would make its movies available in the home on the same day as their global theatrical releases, beginning with DreamWorks Animation’s “Trolls World Tour,” opening April 10 in the U.S.

 

The company will also make movies that are currently in theatrical release available on-demand beginning as early as Friday, starting with the Elisabeth Moss horror film “The Invisible Man,” the satirical thriller “The Hunt” and Focus Features’ period comedy-drama “Emma.”

 

The movies will be available on a wide variety of on-demand services, including those owned by parent company, Philadelphia-based cable giant Comcast Corp. and its European subsidiary Sky, for a 48-hour rental period at a suggested retail price of $19.99. The movies will also be released on platforms including iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Prime and FandangoNow, which is part-owned by NBCUnivesal.

 

The decision is a radical departure from the longtime industry practice of waiting 90 days between a movie’s release in theaters and when it is available for home viewing. Theaters have long resisted collapsing the so-called theatrical window, fearing it would undermine their business by discouraging consumers from going to the multiplex.

 

The Nation Assn. of Theatre Owners, the Washington-based trade group representing cinemas, declined to comment...

[6Foot2]

Where's Wally? The Coronavirus Edition:

 

Edited March 17, 2020 by elsiegee40

[elsiegee40]

How To Work From Home And Actually Get Sh*t Done (HuffPost)

[paulkerton]

Sat in the office and before 8:10am and with no one on site, I've heard 3 staff members coughing up a good 'un.

 

Remember in South Park : Bigger Longer and Uncut when Chef's all black unit is put up front to take the bullets for everyone else?

Operating Get Behind The Teachers is in full effect.

[FishCustard]

Link: Coronavirus: Universal is changing how movies are released [Los Angeles Times]

Yes please, and let's hope this stays in place long after the pandemic is over. Cinema tickets are ludicrously overpriced these days, and there are only some films that I'm particularly fussed about seeing on a big screen.

 

 

Unrelated, but my bus to work had about three people on and stopped exactly twice before I wanted to get off. A typical 35 minute journey took 15 minutes. While I obviously hope COVID-19 goes away quickly, I could get used to that part!!

Edited March 17, 2020 by FishCustard