WTF? Or MWF? COVID-19 reflections on shared time and space
Posts
Novel Distancing - the new normal
The phrase "social distancing" is now in everyone's vocabulary. Caroline tells me that the phrase is troubling to her, because social interactions are critical to our well-being, and people should avoid social isolation. In the Age of COVID-19, the trick is to socialize safely. I think we will call it novel distancing... a new normal of distancing. Socialize, yes. But watch your spacing!
Novel distancing can be defined as increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness. It should have no relationship to the degree of socialization between people. For COVID-19, the prescribed distance is 6 feet, although I came across a World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation of only 3 feet! The average arm length for an adult male is about 25 inches, and probably a tad less for women. So in novel distancing, not only should you not be able to touch another person, but neither of you should be able to touch each other with your arms extended. In other …
Novel distancing can be defined as increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness. It should have no relationship to the degree of socialization between people. For COVID-19, the prescribed distance is 6 feet, although I came across a World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation of only 3 feet! The average arm length for an adult male is about 25 inches, and probably a tad less for women. So in novel distancing, not only should you not be able to touch another person, but neither of you should be able to touch each other with your arms extended. In other …
Covid-19 observations from the high risk camp...
At the time I write this, the coronavirus Covid-19 continues its march around the globe. I've written previously about my experience flying to Hawaii after 2 Caribbean cruises with thousands of passengers, including dozens (I assume) from China, and when arriving at HNL, I was "lyfted" home with nary a question on February 3. Later that week, I wrote to Dr. Bruce Anderson, the director of the Hawaii Department of Health, after attending a briefing at the Manoa Neighborhood Board meeting:
"As I listened to your presentation, I reflected that 3 days earlier, I had returned from a Caribbean cruise, with numerous people on board from Asian counties. Yet there was no question for me when I entered Hawaii. Perhaps the agricultural form that all visitors and residents are required to complete before entering the state needs to have a few questions regarding travel and health."
Dr. Anderson replied, "As far as I know, all airline and cruise ship passengers are infor…
"As I listened to your presentation, I reflected that 3 days earlier, I had returned from a Caribbean cruise, with numerous people on board from Asian counties. Yet there was no question for me when I entered Hawaii. Perhaps the agricultural form that all visitors and residents are required to complete before entering the state needs to have a few questions regarding travel and health."
Dr. Anderson replied, "As far as I know, all airline and cruise ship passengers are infor…
Coronavirus ramblings and a lucky miss...
This was an interesting time to be on a cruise ship. Caroline and I had left the Celebrity Edge for the Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas in January. On January 11, China reported the first coronavirus (COVID-19) fatality. On January 23, Chinese authorities closed off the metropolis of Wuhan, reporting 17 deaths and 570 cases. On January 31, the Trump administration suspended entry from any foreign traveler who had traveled to China in the past 14 days. On this date, 213 deaths had been reported and about 9,800 people were reported infected. On February 5th, crew and guests on the cruise ship Diamond Princess were quarantined in a Japanese port. On February 21, the number of worldwide cases topped 75,000.
After spending much of January on cruise ships with a very large international component, we arrived in Hawaii on February 3. Within the past 14 days, we had interacted with numerous people on two ships, including guests from China. You can't escape mingling, in the…
After spending much of January on cruise ships with a very large international component, we arrived in Hawaii on February 3. Within the past 14 days, we had interacted with numerous people on two ships, including guests from China. You can't escape mingling, in the…
Formal nights on cruise ships... observations from the deck
If you want to start a heated and vigorous debate in a cruising chat room or a ship's lounge, just bring up the issue of formal dress. A recent article in the Washington Post noted how a query about relaxed dress codes on Facebook "...struck a nerve and sparked more than a few squabbles, differences of opinion and downright insults." I reposted the article on a Facebook group for Celebrity Captain's Club members (frequent travelers), and received similar reactions.
So, I thought I would clarify the issue, so we could all be on the same page.
Right...
All of my cruises have been on Celebrity and Royal Caribbean (RC). In January, I was on both the Celebrity Edge and the RC Allure of the Seas. The Edge is considered a "high end" ship (you can interpret this in many ways... more Captain's Club (like RC's Diamond) members, more expensive, many experienced cruisers, and an older/wealthier crowd). The Allure clearly is a family-oriented ship, with a miniat…
So, I thought I would clarify the issue, so we could all be on the same page.
Right...
All of my cruises have been on Celebrity and Royal Caribbean (RC). In January, I was on both the Celebrity Edge and the RC Allure of the Seas. The Edge is considered a "high end" ship (you can interpret this in many ways... more Captain's Club (like RC's Diamond) members, more expensive, many experienced cruisers, and an older/wealthier crowd). The Allure clearly is a family-oriented ship, with a miniat…