I have just returned from a 2 week holiday in Cambodia, with a few nights in Singapore either side. I’ve avoided this thread for the entire duration for my own mental health.
I feel completely healthy and have shown no symptoms for the whole of my trip, touch wood. I will of course do the sensible thing and monitor my health for the next 2 weeks, and if I show any sign of fever or cough I’ll self-isolate myself for a minimum of a fortnight and seek medical advice if necessary.
A few points of observation from my trip away.
- Everything was functioning completely normally throughout, including all transport networks.
- A lot of people were choosing to wear masks, but not all, I’d suggest about 40% were in public in Singapore, far fewer in Cambodia.
- Singapore was on this virus like a tramp on chips. I had my temperature checked frequently, including checking in to all hotels and even when ordering drinks at a bar. Hotels were also asking for detailed information of where we had been previously, even as fine details as airline seat numbers, just in case they had to assist with any contact tracing.
- Singapore Airport was conducting mass temperature screening for everyone both departing and arriving into the country.
- Singapore seemed quiet at the end of the trip with tourist attractions a bit more solemn, and a few events cancelled, but night life areas still extremely busy.
- Cambodia has only one confirmed case which ironically is fewer than here in the UK (albeit we have to be careful with this number as it’s possible Cambodia could be underreporting).
- I DID NOT have my temperature checked at either Frankfurt or Manchester airport on my return home. No screening WHATSOEVER. On this basis I have much more confidence in the Singapore authorities for managing this outbreak.
In terms of my own efforts, I carried alcohol gel at all times, applied it frequently, and tried to avoid touching my face. It really was as simple as that.
This brings me to my final point. The effects of this virus are twofold. Firstly, there’s the epidemiology, the science. The death rate, the window period, and so on. Secondly, and something we need to look at more closely, is the media misrepresentation and the panic this is causing, sometimes unnecessarily. Effects on mental health.
I have to be honest with you Q. The comments you made on this forum over two weeks ago about my upcoming holiday made me feel really, really awful. I’m quite an anxious chap at the best of times, I suffer with a bit of health anxiety and your comments really concerned and upset me. It made me dread the trip.
I’m not saying that to make you feel bad, and I have no reason to suggest it was anything other than genuine concern on your part, I’m simply saying it because it’s true. A perfect example of online communities such as these being a foe, as well as a friend.
As a global community we really need to get a handle on the social media spin, sensationalism, and media misrepresentation which has also taken hold surrounding this virus. As well of course think of those poor souls suffering so badly in mainland China.
I’ll also say it again - I faced ZERO screening of ANY description of my return into both Germany and the UK on my return from Singapore this morning. I don’t know what other people think but frankly I think that’s a joke.
Originally Posted by: Joe Bloggs