Cozumel COVID-19 updates

[JenLoves2Dive]

I'm not good with all the quoting and replies.
Yes, since when has any government given us clear and concise information?

I think regarding the car thing and the out-of-state plates, there's probably a bit of confusion, and how they want to interpret that, given the fact that one communication is from the State governor and one is from Pedro Joaquin (Cozumel). Given that Cozumel is an island, I can see where the interpretation might need to be different. I mean how hard is it to block cars from coming over when you live on an island? We will see how that one goes. The previous road closure thing was a huge mess - and of course, that was only one a day (thank God) and they figured out right away that was a not going to work. I had to go to the hospital for some bloodwork that day and I ended up parking my car near Mega and walking down to International Hospital. So if you see some photos I took of a deserted Malecon during the middle of the afternoon, that's why. lol

Yep, I was stuck in line at Mega too but it was in the afternoon right before 5pm. They had a line out the door, as well. So many things not well thought out, but it's up to the businesses and I'm totally happy we have plenty of supplies, food and toilet paper! They immediately put signage out saying how much you are allowed to buy of popular items at one time. The store managers had a grip on that one immediately They're probably used to seeing a lot of panic buying during hurricane season.

All considered I'm extremely impressed by the response and how they are handling the phasing. I'm more disappointed at a few expats that are just raising holy hell over all the inconveniences and screaming fake news, and all kinds of conspiracy theories. My God people. Leave your politics for your own Facebook page and stop trying to control things like you are in the good ol' U.S. (ffs)
Just let these guys do their job and stop trying to undermine things, right? We are still guests in their country and every country has a different playbook of emergency response to a pandemic. What part of that don't they understand? The "emergency" or the "pandemic"? I'll step away from the mic now.

I read something interesting from a woman who has a doctorate in epidemiology who said

"This is an unprecedented event in our lifetime, there is no roadmap or answers for when we can “reopen”. I don’t know the right solution for that, but what I do know is public health. I have a doctorate in epidemiology, graduate certificates in public health preparedness and surveillance and global health and my main focus is on virology. This pandemic is my area of expertise.
The most important thing I’ve learned through all my years of training is that a good public health response feels like an overreaction. And it should. It means our public health measures are preventing disease, preventing deaths. This allows everyone out there to complain about the overreaction, about the “low” case count and fatality rate in their county and how they shouldn’t have to be under lockdown."

So I feel hopeful and I feel like we have to take the wait and see approach - because Cozumel is still way behind the U.S. in terms of when we'll be seeing the highest numbers. Just like everybody else, I can't wait for this to end. I need to work. So does everybody. But with this being such a small island, it's wouldn't take much to tip this upside-down and that would be devastating. And for me, I am listening to all the physicians, nurses and medical care providers and first responders I know on this island.
And they all are pretty much saying the exact same thing.
So patience and prayers are in order.

Oh, and be thankful for the little things. ;-)

 

[WetInPortland]

From the 25-April noon update:

                                 Previous  ->  Today
Q Roo Confirmed Cases                 511  ->  550
     Social Isolation                 179  ->  186
     Hospitalized                     100  ->  116
     Recovered                        161  ->  171
     Deaths                            71  ->   77
Q Roo Tests pending                    51  ->   48

Cozumel
     Confirmed Cases                   15  ->   18
     Recovered                          6  ->    6
     Deaths                             2  ->    4

Data from SESA Quintana Roo on Twitter

The weekend movement restrictions were not implemented for this weekend, but are still being considered.

 

[DandyDon]

Thanks for the daily updates, Wet. Always hoping for the best. My next visit is not until mid-August, but that is looking iffy at this time.

This bug is certainly a challenging one. It's still early in the game, but I don't see how anyone can avoid getting it eventually. Highly contagious, transmitted without symptoms, no vaccine or effective treatment, and repeated reports of relapses. WHO now says “There is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection.”

It just may be the plague that we have to accept and hopefully live with even tho it's going to reduce world population somewhat. I'll keep hoping for a miraculous breakthrough for a future Nobel prize winner.

 

[mediumone]

My next visit is not until mid-August, but that is looking iffy at this time.

We cancelled our late March to early April trip, and due to my wife's work schedule, could reschedule for approx the last two weeks of August, or October 6 - 18. I chose the October option, which seems far from certain to me. I've given it no better than 50/50 odds.

 

[DandyDon]

I'm still hoping my trip works. I see that Main Cabin fares have come down $67 on roundtrip tickets for all of August, but my ticket was purchased last winter when I saw that I could fly for $424 instead of $650 like last year so I am not allowed free changes like they are offering now. I also see a 2 hour connection returning instead of the 4 hours I have now, and I would really like to change that but oh well.

I always expect airlines to change my flights anyway they want to when I book, and sometimes I can work that to my advantage in changes I prefer. In this case, I guess I'll just wait and see if I get to go. If the island doesn't open to tourists by then, I expect a cancelation and full refund. I just read an encouraging article showing that countries that were hit early are already seeing declines in rates of transmission, so there is hope.

 

[ggunn]

I always expect airlines to change my flights anyway they want to when I book, and sometimes I can work that to my advantage in changes I prefer. In this case, I guess I'll just wait and see if I get to go. If the island doesn't open to tourists by then, I expect a cancelation and full refund.

I heard something interesting on the radio the other day about airlines and cancellations. According to the expert being interviewed, the law is that if you cancel a flight on a nonrefundable ticket and do not use the funds within the window the airline gives you to reschedule, the money is forfeit, but if the airline cancels the flight and you do not reschedule by the end of the window, they owe you a refund.

 

[DandyDon]

I heard something interesting on the radio the other day about airlines and cancellations. According to the expert being interviewed, the law is that if you cancel a flight on a nonrefundable ticket and do not use the funds within the window the airline gives you to reschedule, the money is forfeit, but if the airline cancels the flight and you do not reschedule by the end of the window, they owe you a refund.

Yeah, and for tickets bought before March 1 I think, if you cancel, your funds will be penalized.

 

[ggunn]

I sure wish there was something else to talk about.

 

[WetInPortland]

From the 26-April noon update:

                                 Previous  ->  Today
Q Roo Confirmed Cases                 550  ->  603
     Social Isolation                 186  ->  205
     Hospitalized                     116  ->  140
     Recovered                        171  ->  179
     Deaths                            71  ->   79
Q Roo Tests pending                    48  ->   66

Cozumel
     Confirmed Cases                   18  ->   19
     Recovered                          6  ->    7
     Deaths                             2  ->    4

Data from SESA Quintana Roo on Twitter

The QRoo State Police Chief has been getting complaints from state residents about the ban on vehicles with out of state plates. He has reminded them that the law requires updating your registration within 60 days of relocating, which apparently a lot of people don't bother to do. Gee, Mexico isn't so different after all! (And now they are SOL because the DMV offices are closed. Those with QRoo registrations that expired *after* the offices closed have an automatic waiver.)

 

[Mark IV]

I sure wish there was something else to talk about.

Actually, there is. But the mods keep zapping it !