I’m travelling internationally this week (work-relatedly), here are impressions and thoughts from my trip via Amsterdam—spoiler alert: ‘kafkaesque’ is the word I’d use
In Puerto Rico, where I live, the corona-control staff in airport security is forced to don the PPE suits that make them look like they're dealing with ebola patients.
Only the silly jumpers are from painters' kits. Pure theatre.
Ha, too bad about that. I still remember the 'outdoor' airport at Kona, Hawaii, and I seriously wonder how any of these mandates were implemented there…
Thank you for your (cynical) take on travel in the COVID era. I have not flown since 2019 and I hated the 'theater' we had to perform for terrorism prevention. Now we will have to perform Covid prevention theater as well. A part of me thinks that hazmat suit is a joke. It is the kind of joke I would make...but I suspect in this case it was 'deadly' serious.
Not a joke - I saw 5-6 dressed like this in Frankfurt airport back in mid-January - I'd guess Asians are very risk averse. I only had the mask barely on and no masks for my kids (6 and under 2).
It's so weird, but then again, I already wrote about the elderly tourists with masks who, instead of walking, take a little bus. To get from their cruise ship to some other place and back.
I think that it's fear and normalised behaviour, as if these face-diapers wold help.
It is a combination of fear, risk-adverse and quackery. The funny thing is their eyes told them that most around them did not wear masks. I have not had one person stop to ask me why I did not wear one.
Provided they don't support mandatory masking, they can do as they want. There was a recent "survey" done in Sydney where the "majority" supported mask-wearing; but they did NOT support making it compulsory.
We still need to wear one on public trasnport, nursing homes and hospitals.
Recerntly I saw a quack or a nurse - an Asian guy in a dark purple medical uniform - walking to buy something outside with his N95 wrapped behind his head. I stared at him; he evaded me!
Recently I saw a pic of the Spanish fku where the nurses had masks on; whereas some gentlemen in suits had none. There is nothing new under the Sun!
Re the being asked part: there was a regular passport control at Amsterdam, and an additional one between immigration and the gate for my connecting flight.
At the additional ID check, a face-less woman checked my papers (all good) and asked if I had a mask. So, I replied in the affirmative, informing her that I'll wear one if prompted. I got a smile in return.
Ground staff at boarding wasn't even interested in my passport, he only asked if I had a mask with me. Since that guy wasn't wearing a face-diaper, I replied in the affirmative.
Once aboard the aircraft, I asked cabin staff: a 'reommendation', hence I was fine without such a thing.
I also saw people wearing two masks at-once, but the eyes are telling enough.
As to the mask/less issue, well, I suppose corporate policies are doing their thing.
While I agree with your air filtration comment, most people aren't aware of any of it.
Curiously, all cabin and hotel staff also 'wore' masks, which makes me wonder: if wearking these face-diapers is 'recommended', why do they continue to do so? (I suspect corporate policies behind this, and I shall enquire.)
As to the flying itself, well, it's a conference I signed up for like 1.5 years ago; I'm a panel co-organiser (i.e., can't really chicken out); and the conference is here in Europe (I wouldn't, or couldn't, go to the US for it). So, I'm honestly more worried about a pilot or so keeling over from injection-induced complications, tell you the truth.
It was always airborne. What changed was that an error in our "received understanding" of viral spread was corrected after much push-back by the powers that be:
Do give it a read. You won't be surprised to learn that a pompous CDC head was at the heart of the reason for the screw-up and this happened back in the 1940s...
In Puerto Rico, where I live, the corona-control staff in airport security is forced to don the PPE suits that make them look like they're dealing with ebola patients.
Only the silly jumpers are from painters' kits. Pure theatre.
Sure it's threatre, but it still boggles the (my) mind.
Also, I saw a second (Asian) traveller with the same 'outfit'. Maybe it's a thing, you know?
As to Puerto Rico, are security officials at least wearing, you know, sandals or flip-flops?
Yes, it boggles my mind and makes me see red. The government wants to terrorize people. I am afraid there were no flip-flops or sandals involved.
Ha, too bad about that. I still remember the 'outdoor' airport at Kona, Hawaii, and I seriously wonder how any of these mandates were implemented there…
Thank you for your (cynical) take on travel in the COVID era. I have not flown since 2019 and I hated the 'theater' we had to perform for terrorism prevention. Now we will have to perform Covid prevention theater as well. A part of me thinks that hazmat suit is a joke. It is the kind of joke I would make...but I suspect in this case it was 'deadly' serious.
Not a joke - I saw 5-6 dressed like this in Frankfurt airport back in mid-January - I'd guess Asians are very risk averse. I only had the mask barely on and no masks for my kids (6 and under 2).
Ha, that's odd as well, but apparently not uncommon.
Who knew how much 'fun' one could have.
Honestly, I wonder if they also wear like, you know, diapers to avoid contagion on toilets…
Oh, well, what can I say: if it was only theatre, o.k., odd, but whatever, I guess.
I agree with the seriousness of those involved: I kid you now--80% of my fellow passengers don these things voluntarily.
Here in western Sydney, Australia, the Asians are the most risk-averse. Yesterday I walked to an Asian suburb, and I saw the following:
1. About 55% of people still wear masks outside!
2. Saw an female Asian pensioner having a N95 on top of her disposable
3. An Asian couple masked in their car!
It was wet and rainy there.
Of course, they still wear masks inside shopping malls.
Odd, but I don't doubt it.
It's so weird, but then again, I already wrote about the elderly tourists with masks who, instead of walking, take a little bus. To get from their cruise ship to some other place and back.
I think that it's fear and normalised behaviour, as if these face-diapers wold help.
It is a combination of fear, risk-adverse and quackery. The funny thing is their eyes told them that most around them did not wear masks. I have not had one person stop to ask me why I did not wear one.
Provided they don't support mandatory masking, they can do as they want. There was a recent "survey" done in Sydney where the "majority" supported mask-wearing; but they did NOT support making it compulsory.
We still need to wear one on public trasnport, nursing homes and hospitals.
Recerntly I saw a quack or a nurse - an Asian guy in a dark purple medical uniform - walking to buy something outside with his N95 wrapped behind his head. I stared at him; he evaded me!
Recently I saw a pic of the Spanish fku where the nurses had masks on; whereas some gentlemen in suits had none. There is nothing new under the Sun!
Re the being asked part: there was a regular passport control at Amsterdam, and an additional one between immigration and the gate for my connecting flight.
At the additional ID check, a face-less woman checked my papers (all good) and asked if I had a mask. So, I replied in the affirmative, informing her that I'll wear one if prompted. I got a smile in return.
Ground staff at boarding wasn't even interested in my passport, he only asked if I had a mask with me. Since that guy wasn't wearing a face-diaper, I replied in the affirmative.
Once aboard the aircraft, I asked cabin staff: a 'reommendation', hence I was fine without such a thing.
I also saw people wearing two masks at-once, but the eyes are telling enough.
As to the mask/less issue, well, I suppose corporate policies are doing their thing.
Safe travels. Love the travel pictures
Thanks, mate, I made it to my hotel, too.
Now, I've got to find a store that sells adapter plugs so I can actually continue using my computer.
Have you seen the talk by Prof. Norman Fenton (Queen Mary)?
https://rumble.com/vtxi1h-open-science-sessions-how-flawed-data-has-driven-the-narrative.html
Check this out re the fudged numbers.
While I agree with your air filtration comment, most people aren't aware of any of it.
Curiously, all cabin and hotel staff also 'wore' masks, which makes me wonder: if wearking these face-diapers is 'recommended', why do they continue to do so? (I suspect corporate policies behind this, and I shall enquire.)
As to the flying itself, well, it's a conference I signed up for like 1.5 years ago; I'm a panel co-organiser (i.e., can't really chicken out); and the conference is here in Europe (I wouldn't, or couldn't, go to the US for it). So, I'm honestly more worried about a pilot or so keeling over from injection-induced complications, tell you the truth.
It was always airborne. What changed was that an error in our "received understanding" of viral spread was corrected after much push-back by the powers that be:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wired.com/story/the-teeny-tiny-scientific-screwup-that-helped-covid-kill/amp
Do give it a read. You won't be surprised to learn that a pompous CDC head was at the heart of the reason for the screw-up and this happened back in the 1940s...