Corvirus

Coronavirus Triggers Alert in Pennsylvania While Shutting Down Travel in China

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The Pennsylvania Department of Health has advised health care providers to be on the lookout for a new coronavirus, the newest one to show an ability to jump from animals to people. It’s blamed for killing at least 17 people in China.

As of Thursday afternoon, the outbreak had sickened more than 540 people in China and was raising fears of global spread.

The Pennsylvania health department has forwarded information to hospitals and health care providers, alerting them of symptoms, and directing them to obtain a travel history from those showing possible symptoms.

They are further advising hospitals to provide face masks to those with possible symptoms, continue the examination in a separate area, and immediately notify the health department.

Health department spokesman Nate Wardle on Thursday said the present threat is “extremely low” for Pennsylvanians who haven’t traveled to China or had contact with people who had been there.

“At this point it is increased awareness, increased preparation,” Wardle said Thursday afternoon. “This is nothing we don’t exercise for and prepare for on a regular basis.”

So far, cases are mostly confined to several Chinese cities and nearby Asian countries including Japan. There has been one known case in the United States, involving a resident of the state of Washington who had returned from China. He was reportedly in the hospital and doing well on Thursday.

With its proven ability to spread among humans, it’s raising fears of global spread.

The coronavirus family is responsible for the common cold. But it’s also responsible for more severe illnesses that have caused major alarm in the past, including severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, and Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS.

The common symptoms include fever and cough. In severe cases, it can cause problems including pneumonia, kidney failure and death.

In China, protective face masks have been selling out at highly inflated prices.

To try to stop the spread, several Chinese cities have imposed travel restrictions and shut down train service.

At U.S. airports, people arriving on international flights and showing certain symptoms are being screened.

 

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Warm Clothes Winter Travel

Useful Travel Gear to Dress You Up, Keep You Warm and Light Your Way

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Even on the most sweltering days exploring, going sleeveless is not such a breeze for those who would rather keep our underarm flab to ourselves. And even the most toned traveler encounters situations that call for covering. A flab-conscious entrepreneur struck gold when she invented Sleevey Wonders slip-on sleeves.

Sleevey Wonders, made of stretchy, featherweight mesh, lace, or nylon, with just enough bodice to hold them in place without creating extra bulge, give the illusion of being part of your top or dress, covering the arms but not the outfit.

This year the company has expanded its original line of simple sleeves in basic colors to bolder styles and patterns that can add discreet or sexy pizzazz to a variety of garments. Slip on an off-the-shoulder jersey bandeau Sleevey with slinky cascading waterfall black mesh sleeves, and, presto, a black tank top gets flashy. Sheer gold mesh Sleeveys add sparkle to a strapless gown.

Most styles are reversible front and back; you can switch between a revealing plunge and demure round neck. Sleevey Wonders are great for getting multiple looks out of a few basic travel pieces . The slip-on sleeves take up minimal packing space, wash easily in a sink and dry overnight.

 

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Immigration

Travel Ban Could Morph Into Immigration Ban With Latest Expansion

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The Trump administration drafted plans to renew and expand its travel ban list to include immigration restrictions on seven additional countries, according to sources familiar with the process.

Unlike the travel restrictions currently in place, the new rules could limit certain immigrant visas from the additional countries, said a US government official — essentially creating a partial immigration ban.

Not all of the restrictions are uniform, said the official, adding that the proposal limits some immigrant visas from one country and other visas from another.

The plans, which are still under review, are based on interagency input from the departments of Homeland Security and State, as well as the White House, according to the official. President Donald Trump will make the final decision on changes to the ban.

The anniversary of the first travel ban — a Jan. 27, 2017 executive order signed by Trump that suspended refugee resettlement and barred nationals from seven majority-Muslim countries — comes at the end of the month.

According to the administration, the restrictions are used to encourage countries to comply with US national security requirements, such as sharing information with US agencies..

“This is the stick,” to get countries to comply, the official said regarding the new restrictions.

Another source told CNN that the administration is focused on immigrant visas because of the difficulty in removing someone from the US who holds a green card or becomes a US citizen if derogatory information surfaces after someone travels to the US.

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said Friday that the US is establishing criteria that all foreign governments must satisfy to assist in vetting foreign nationals seeking to enter the United States.

“For a small number of countries that lack either the will or the capability to adhere to these criteria, travel restrictions may become necessary to mitigate threats,” he said in prepared remarks for a Homeland Security Experts Group event.

The White House did not respond to request for comment. The Department of State declined to comment.

BuzzFeed first reported on plans to restrict certain immigrant visas on seven additional countries.

In 2018, the Supreme Court upheld the third version of the travel ban after the previous iterations were challenged in court. The current policy restricts entry from seven countries to varying degrees: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, along with Venezuela and North Korea. Chad was removed from the list last April, after the White House said the country improved security measures.

When asked about the travel ban on Wednesday, Wolf said the administration “continues to look at that.”

“It’s under review every six months. We continue to do that. We’ve done that for the past three years, every six months. This is part of the process,” he added, declining to provide a timeline for an announcement.

Restrictions are imposed because a country does an inadequate job of sharing information, or otherwise poses an elevated public safety or national security risk, according to Wolf.

In October, CNN reported that Trump administration officials were discussing adding more countries to the travel ban list, two sources said. At the time, fewer than five countries were under consideration, an official said.

The goal, the official said, is to “bring governments into compliance by using the power of access to the United States.” The travel restrictions would be tailored to the countries, if they’re added, and not impose a ban on them altogether, the official noted at the time.

 

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Traveling

Here’s When You Should Make Travel Plans in 2020

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Though it may seem like you have all the time in the world to figure that out and book your trips, there are several big benefits to making your travel plans sooner rather than later.

You don’t necessarily need to get every ticket, hotel and vacation rental booked this second, but a broad-brush plan will make things easier and more affordable.

We’ve probably all met someone who talks about all the places they’ll go without ever making it happen. It’s easy to tell yourself this is the year you’re going to Europe or South America or any other destination that interests you. Then life gets in the way. It seems as if you’re constantly too busy, so you keep postponing your trip. Before you know it, another year has passed, and you’re back to square one.

Planning is the key to making sure you go on the trips you want. Once you pick out a timeframe and start making the necessary arrangements, that trip moves from being a nice idea to a concrete plan you’re putting into action.

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Pet Cat

Family Cat Found Seven Months After It Escaped Travelling From Scotland to France

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A family is set for an emotional reunion with their errant cat – seven months after it escaped from their car as they moved to France.

Tootsie legged it after the Kane family stopped at a service station while relocating from Stirling to Grenoble last June.

The family searched high and low through woodland but were forced to give up and carry on with their journey.

Now, in a bizarre stroke of luck, the cat has been found and is set to be reunited with his owners on Monday.

Katie Kane said: ‘I am ecstatic he has been found after being on the run for seven months fending for himself.

‘There were no sightings of him for six months so it was a miracle he was found and he’s still in good shape.’

Katie, husband Sam and daughters Emilie, 18, and Chloe, 15, were 250 miles into their journey when they stopped at a service station in Markham Moor, Nottinghamshire.

When they opened the car door, Tootsie slipped out of his cat carrier and ran off into the woods.

Katie added: ‘He was in his cat carrier but somehow managed to get the zips apart with his head and when we opened the car door he escaped.

‘He had a harness on so when he jumped out we tried to grab him by the harness but the clips just came apart in our hands and he ran off into the wooded area.

‘We stayed for as long as we could but he wasn’t coming back and we just had to carry on with the rest of our journey.’

Tootsie, nine, had been with the family since he was a kitten and they issued a number of desperate online appeals and started a Facebook group for him with local Nottinghamshire residents.

There was a sighting of him on someone’s CCTV between Christmas and New Year but then he did another disappearing act.

On January 6, a lady out walking her dog spotted Tootsie in a garden and the owners set a trap to catch him.

The following day, the Kane family received a call from a lady saying: ‘I think we have found your cat.’

He is being treated with antibiotics for a chest infection and fluid on the lung but is said to be ‘in good shape.’

Katie continued: ‘He has not lost too much weight, there must have been lots of tasty mice around where he was.

 

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Relaxing

Manitowoc Artist Talks Travel Journals, Social Media and the Cloud

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MANITOWOC — Ah, winter vacations. Always welcome respite from the expectations of, and the kinetic activity attached to, the “holidays.”

As much as we enjoy the warm company of family and friends, we appreciate the sanctity of solitude, and most of all, relaxation. Rather than slog through the mounds of snow, we opt to soar over the landscape and find warmer destinations.

Whether we seek the warm weather south of wherever we are, or we just day trip to  museums, destination travel always has its rewards.

Navigating really large urban areas, I am always thankful of any notes I’d taken on previous journeys. Equally, I can appreciate a friend’s recommendations via a post on social media or sharing of a journal later.

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Airplane

Tips for Saving Money on Your Next Flight

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Whether you’re booking far in advance or are taking a last-minute vacation, Sara Skirboll, shopping and trends expert at RetailMeNot, has some easy ways to save money before booking your next trip.

It’s the Golden Rule of flying on the cheap. If you have some flexibility, red-eye flights, flights with layovers and off-season flights are usually the cheapest. Flying on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday will also often get you a better price on your airfare.

Deal sites like Google, Kayak and Hopper offer the option to watch the flights you’re interested in, sending updates if and when prices fluctuate. Most sites also offer calendar views, date grids or price graphs that map out the cheapest days to fly.

There might actually be a prime time to buy, too. According to CheapAir.com, the cheapest and best booking window for flights is between 112 to 21 days in advance. So file that away in your memory bank next time you’re planning a trip.

Search the RetailMeNot travel section for thousands of available travel deals updated daily. You might even be able to earn cash back on your vacation—I recently earned $50 for booking on Hotels.com!

If you’re interested in international travel, try signing up for a service like Next Vacay that delivers the cheapest flight deals from your home airport to your preferred destinations directly to your inbox. There is a small, $25 annual fee, but the first month is free and there is a six-month money-back guarantee if you don’t like the service.

It’s also worth following pages like The Flight Deal on Facebook and Secret Flying on Twitter for hot travel deals around the world.

If you have a flexible schedule and multiple destinations in mind, keep your eyes peeled for airline flash sales. Airlines like Southwest, JetBlue and Frontier run flash sales between certain cities and during specific timeframes, allowing you to book airfare for a fraction of the cost.

Booking a flight and hotel together on sites like Expedia, Booking.com and Southwest Vacations can oftentimes save you hundreds of dollars on your vacation. Expedia even offers the option to bundle in a hotel up until your trip starts with “Expedia Add-On Advantage,” so you can take your time finding the best accommodation option while getting a great deal.

If you’re in the market for a new credit card, consider signing up for one that comes with travel rewards. Nowadays, pretty much every airline has their own credit card—including Southwest, Jetblue, United and American Airlines—where you can earn points on purchases to redeem for flights, gift cards and more. Most will award you bonus points after spending a certain amount within the first few months—enough to land you a free flight. You’ll also benefit from travel perks like discounts on in-flight purchases, priority boarding, travel and purchase coverage, no foreign transaction fees, a free checked bag and more.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card is another great option for frequent travelers. You’ll get 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months (equivalent to $750 towards travel), earn twice the points when you spend on travel and dining, and get 25% more value when you redeem your points for flights, hotels, car rentals and cruises.

 

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Travel Gadgets

The Worst Travel Gadgets You Can Do Without

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With so many companies out there claiming that certain gadgets are the “must-have” for any frequent traveler, there are more companies than ever trying to take a share of the money travelers spend. From ridiculous fees on foreign currency exchange to paying far too much for rubbish food whilst waiting at the airport, we often part with our hard-earned money far too easily when we are traveling. This, in part, can be due to unfamiliar surroundings, or also the pushy marketing schemes that tell customers how their travel experience won’t be complete until you use their service or buy their product.

A plastic case for your banana to prevent it from being squished in your carry-on luggage. You did indeed read that right. Unless you are so desperate for a banana that you feel the need to peel and separately store in your banana case, then surely passengers could choose a slighter more durable fruit. Not to mention the washing and waste of time that comes with the banana case.

Self-explanatory, but arguably totally unnecessary. Unless you are traveling in a bubble of air, then purifying just the air around you surely defies physics entirely. However, for a cool $80 you can (supposedly) breathe in more pure air than passengers around you.

You either love this one or hate it. Personally, I don’t see the purpose of the neck pillow. It’s annoying to carry around and seems to have a final result of excruciating neck pain for several days. That’s if, of course’ your head doesn’t simply roll forwards when using this strange doughnut-shaped “pillow”.

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International Travel

Predicting The Future Of Travel In 2040

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By the year 2040, international travel will be a faster, easier and more ecologically sustainable activity than ever before, according to a report commissioned by Allianz Partners to help prepare for the travel-related needs of their customers in the future. Allianz Partners is a world leader in B2B2C assistance and insurance solutions, delivering global protection and care, and offers dedicated travel insurance services through the Allianz Travel brand.

Authored by internationally renowned futurologist, Ray Hammond, ‘The World in 2040’ futurology series presents likely future developments and trends that will impact international travel and the traveler experience over the next 20 years. The report identifies key trends which will, collectively, revolutionize the travel landscape by 2040:

Commenting on the transformation expected for travelers by 2040, Ray Hammond said: “The face of travel as we know it will change dramatically over the next 20 years. Airline passenger numbers are forecast to double by that time and the travel industry is coming under increasing pressure from travelers for faster and more efficient travel experiences. By 2040, personal software assistants will be sufficiently intelligent to help travelers book their trips online and they will be able to cope with all the complexities of multi-destination travel planning in order to meet the needs of the traveler. Travel will also become more about rejuvenation, adventure, fulfilment and learning new skills rather than just ticking off places to see from a list.”

Speaking about the impact of the report for the business, Joe Mason, Chief Marketing Officer at Allianz Partners, Travel Line of Business, said: “The ‘Future Travel Experience’ report allows Allianz Partners to foresee the trends and changes in travel so we can work towards redefining travel insurance. This includes the delivery of new innovative products and services, while also building more value for our partners and customers. We are already shifting our focus from travel insurance to travel protection as we move from a reactive customer service approach to a more proactive care approach. Our customers will benefit from this shift through more responsive claims processes, more sophisticated mobile solutions, and a greater sense of safety, security, and overall well-being when Allianz Partners accompanies them throughout their journeys.

“Though some aspects of travel should be much less stressful by the year 2040, there will still be some familiar risks for travelers to contend with, along with some new ones. Unforeseen trip cancelations, delays and emergencies abroad will continue to happen, meaning that travelers will continue to need travel protection and assistance services to travel with peace of mind.”

 

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Australia Fire

Is It Safe to Travel to Australia?

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As bushfires continue to rage across Australia, with scenes of glowing red skies and scorched landscapes filling social media feeds around the world, travelers planning to visit the country in the coming weeks are likely wondering whether they should cancel or postpone their plans.
The short answer? It depends.
In recent days, many embassies and government bodies have updated their travel advice to citizens concerning travel to Australia, telling them to stay abreast of the situation by following local media and be prepared to comply with any evacuation orders.
“Australia continues to battle serious bushfires across multiple regions,” says the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office in its latest update.