European trip, no idea where to even start

[Felix The Cat]

Well, the good news is that in 3 weeks time, the US will probably have enough cases of our own so it's unlikely there will be a travel ban during your trip that would strand you in Italy.

[Radbird]

Sent notes to my Airbnb hosts and got the following replies:

Rome

Ciao Robert, good morning.
In those difficult days I’m sending messages to my guests to reassure about the situation in Italy, and especially in Rome. Here everything’s is absolutely normal for the citizens, I mean school, shops, malls, museums and restaurants are open as usual. We go out as usual and the only difference is the lack of tourists that we are used to see everywhere.
I’m sure that this overreaction is really too much, but on the other side I know that the perception of the italian situation in other countries made lots of people change their plans. I completely understand.
Thank you for asking me, I really appreciate. We can talk again in one week if you want, and than you decide what to do.
I confirm the cancellation policy, full refund until 11 March at 12 noon.

A big hug from Rome,

Chiara

Florence

Hello Robert thanks for your text you are welcome !!!!!! It is very important you know that The situation in Florence is very quiet and safe there are many tourists around including school trips because only few little towns inside Lombardia and Veneto are checked for coronavirus and this problem is not inside Tuscany and Florence , also Uffizy gallery is open because we have not this problem . After my friend Enrico will send you any photo abaout the situation in Florence today .
About the refund it is correct I hope that you will come to visit us, plus in these we are doing a nice renovation of the apartment so you also had a nice surprise on your arrival. Best regards Ilaria !!!
Regards
Enrico & Ilaria

Enrico sent also some pics like this one. Maybe less tourists is a good thing!


I understand they have no doubt taken a hit with the decreased tourism and have a vested interest in encouraging folks to come but wanted to confirm cancellation policies and see what they had to say about the virus.

Geddy, what are you hearing?

[GeddyWrox]

This is so reassuring. Thanks Rad! I actually haven't heard from my Air BnB hosts yet. I haven't reached out to them, either, though. Unless they close the borders, I am going.

Just this morning though, my boss told me HR might ask me to do a voluntary 2-week work from home upon my return. Fine with me! LOL.

[Radbird]

I’m actually more concerned about travel restrictions than the virus. Will we have to go into quarantine when we arrive home? Will we even be allowed to re-enter the US since we were in Italy? Could cancelled flights strand us?

I suppose there are worse places to be stranded.

[Radbird]

Italy: Coronavirus death toll to 107; 3,089 cases: Live updates

17:23 GMT - Italy closes schools and universities
All Italian schools and universities will be shut down from tomorrow until March 15 said Education Minister Lucia Azzolina.

The preventive measure come as the death toll from the outbreak of the coronavirus has risen by 28 over the past 24 hours to 107 according to the Civil Protection Agency, with the contagion showing little sign of slowing.

Not good news, especially since the school closings are nationwide.

[Radbird]

Death toll from coronavirus in Italy rises to 148; 3,858 cases

Italy has reported 41 new deaths from the novel coronavirus, its highest single-day total to date, bringing the number of fatalities in Europe's most affected country to 148.

The number of cases also jumped by a new high of 769, reaching 3,858 over the past two weeks.

The latest figures mean Italy has the second most deaths behind China, where the new virus was first detected at the end of last year.

Welp...

[GeddyWrox]

I wonder why Italy's outbreak is so much worse than the rest of Europe!?

[Smith Corks One]

I wonder why Italy's outbreak is so much worse than the rest of Europe!?

Wasn’t there a cruise ship or something?

[Felix The Cat]

I wonder why Italy's outbreak is so much worse than the rest of Europe!?

Italy has one of the oldest populations in the world and the elderly have a higher risk of dying to the coronavirus. They also had a super-spreader who infected a lot of people early on that precipitated the outbreak.

Japan shares that same characteristic so they might not be far behind...

[GeddyWrox]

That makes sense