General Info

[Elvis 2008]

1) There hasn't been a shortage of ICU beds here in Colombia in decades. That was always fake.

2) Right now I'm getting photos of hospitals and Corferias where they've set up all those makeshift ICU units. They're all EMPTY.

So just like the USA then? That is too funny. It is well known now that the hospitals could get $39 k in the USA for putting down Covid.

3) They've been caught attributing deaths to this Wuhan virus (I'm never saying Covid), and then illegally cremating the bodies, and families are suing. It's all over the news and social media here.

OK, that fits. I was told third world countries had incentives to mark down Covid deaths, and I found an article showing the World Bank was pledging billions to help countries with Covid so even Colombia has an incentive to put down a questionable death to Covid.

FWIW, a huge development that has not gotten publicity is the availability of testing. Eight weeks ago, there were practically no tests. Just four weeks ago, there was limited number of testing and labs had strict criteria. They would refuse to run tests even if doctors ordered them. Just one week ago, I got word that the 15 minute rapidly available tests could be done in hospitals and not shipped out, and doctors were being encouraged to run tests on every patient they could so anyone with even one symptom of Covid SHOULD be tested.

The availability of in house rapid testing is why IMO the sports leagues are talking about or going to reopen.

Will airlines do it? I don't know. My thinking is that it will depend on the cost.

Anyway, so those predicting a second wave are sure to be right. The problem is that now there will be many more cases but far fewer deaths percentage wise. I have to wonder if this was the reason Colombia opened up.

One poster was constantly talking about the second wave to hit Colombia. Colombia hasn't even entered a period of decline yet, so they are not done with the first wave. However, if rapid testing is available, then you can test and isolate which is what should have been going on all along instead of isolating everyone.

The CDC and FDA not allowing private companies the ability to produce their own Covid tests for 4 weeks was a fuckup that I hope somebody pays for. Whomever made that decision has been hidden away and maybe 30 years from now, we will know who that is.

[Bango Cheito]

Yeah, I get why Colombia and Peru did what they did. They had so few ICU and ventilators and went into an immediate and thorough lockdown, the opposite of Sweden. So whereas Sweden is seeing a decline in new cases, Colombia and Peru are still going up. By flattening the curve so much, it seems like the virus is going to take longer to burn itself out in these countries.

I am still at the no one knows nothing stage, but I did see some studies showing masks are good, travel is bad, social distancing is good, and lockdowns were horrible and unnecessary but destroyed economies, but I think it has gotten to the point where there are so many conflicting reports, you can justify any POV.

A.

1) There hasn't been a shortage of ICU beds here in Colombia in decades. That was always fake.

2) Right now I'm getting photos of hospitals and Corferias where they've set up all those makeshift ICU units. They're all EMPTY.

3) They've been caught attributing deaths to this Wuhan virus (I'm never saying Covid), and then illegally cremating the bodies, and families are suing. It's all over the news and social media here.

[Bango Cheito]

That still means nothing when someone is bankrupt.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/learning...efunds-at-risk

Totally agreed. I wouldn't recommend booking any flights here or anywhere else right now, unless there's some place you HAVE to get out of and it's one-way.

I was thinking of going back to the USA to work and get my money situation back on point, but I'd need to be sure I don't have that 14 day bullshit slapped on me.

If you come to Colombia right now, you will DEFINITELY have that bullshit slapped on you. And don't think you're just going to order escort room service. You wouldn't be the first person to wind up on the national news here if you did.

Where I live in the south of Bogota, enforcement isn't as strict as it would be for you coming in from outside and staying downtown, Chapinero, the north etc.

[Mr Enternational]

The good thing is you might be able to purchase a flight at a bargain and use later. However it's like the extended warranty on a new vehicle, unless you read all of the fine lines you will get rammed. I want to return to the USA in September and right now there are some great deals, however until these flights actually start happening I would refrain from clicking on the "Purchase Now" tab unless the flight was completely refundable.

That still means nothing when someone is bankrupt.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/learning...efunds-at-risk

[Beavis]

Agree.

And how many times have flights been shown as available, only to be cancelled closer to the time. Some have gone through the cycle of booking, paying, flight cancelled, now are trying to manage their refunds / flight credits / whatever the airlines are required to do, or willing to do.

Virtually every airline in the world is bankrupt or on the verge of bankruptcy. I'm not about to book anything where I have to pay and then fight to get my money back.

The good thing is you might be able to purchase a flight at a bargain and use later. However it's like the extended warranty on a new vehicle, unless you read all of the fine lines you will get rammed. I want to return to the USA in September and right now there are some great deals, however until these flights actually start happening I would refrain from clicking on the "Purchase Now" tab unless the flight was completely refundable. Eventually all countries are going to have to face the reality that deaths are going to occur because of Covid and either relax their regulations or watch their economies go down the tubes. It is going to be interesting.

[Zeos1]

DC, just because flights are resuming, there still may be quarantines in play. Also, as of now, you do need to be going to Mexico for essential non-recreational purposes or at least say you are.

Agree.

And how many times have flights been shown as available, only to be cancelled closer to the time. Some have gone through the cycle of booking, paying, flight cancelled, now are trying to manage their refunds / flight credits / whatever the airlines are required to do, or willing to do.

Virtually every airline in the world is bankrupt or on the verge of bankruptcy. I'm not about to book anything where I have to pay and then fight to get my money back.

[Elvis 2008]

I see published fares LAS to Bogota are $350 ish on Google. Anyone know about customs letting us in? Mexico is no problem.

DC, just because flights are resuming, there still may be quarantines in play. Also, as of now, you do need to be going to Mexico for essential non-recreational purposes or at least say you are.

[DonCarlos1234]

International flights to / from Colombia to resume from September 1, 2020.

I see published fares LAS to Bogota are $350 ish on Google. Anyone know about customs letting us in? Mexico is no problem.

[Elvis 2008]

We could do much better if we translated this to the "you know nothing" stage the we have a start.

And Thank God, we have people like you who have it all figured out.

It is funny how I do not remember your opinion on anything.

[Questner]

International flights to / from Colombia to resume from September 1, 2020.

[Paulie97]

I am still at the no one knows nothing stage

Excellent. We could do much better if we translated this to the "you know nothing" stage the we have a start.

[Elvis 2008]

Still only 20 k confirmed cases. They have been way too restrictive.

Yeah, I get why Colombia and Peru did what they did. They had so few ICU and ventilators and went into an immediate and thorough lockdown, the opposite of Sweden. So whereas Sweden is seeing a decline in new cases, Colombia and Peru are still going up. By flattening the curve so much, it seems like the virus is going to take longer to burn itself out in these countries.

I am still at the no one knows nothing stage, but I did see some studies showing masks are good, travel is bad, social distancing is good, and lockdowns were horrible and unnecessary but destroyed economies, but I think it has gotten to the point where there are so many conflicting reports, you can justify any POV.

[JjBee62]

But less than 1 k deaths almost 3 months after patient zero. And there are several horrible scandals regarding false positives, and deaths from other causes being attributed to the virus.

It's almost like they WANT this to be more serious than it is.

Interesting question:

If someone is laying in an ICU, being kept alive by machines, with the doctors just waiting for a signature from the next of kin to pull the plug, and while the papers are being signed I walk in and shoot the person, what was the cause of death?

They had stage 4 cancer, they were already effectively dead. I only sped things up by a few seconds. Yet for some reason, I'd end up in prison. Strange.

While I can't speak for Colombia, there are no scandals in the US about deaths being wrongly attributed to COVID-19. There are a lot of conspiracy theories about that happening but not one shred of evidence and there is no motive for hospitals to do this. In fact, due to numerous laws, it would be incredibly stupid and expensive for hospitals to start wrongfully attributing deaths to COVID-19.

Have you ever visited a nursing home or assisted living facility? I've had to visit a few over the years. Not my favorite thing to do, but there are family duties. There are always a lot of residents who are approaching the end of life. It can be grim. Usually, every week or 2, one of the residents will die. That's just the way of things. They die from many different causes.

Now consider a small town nursing home. About 50 residents and roughly as many staff. One day, an otherwise healthy resident begins experiencing symptoms and a few hours later they're at the local hospital in ICU on a ventilator. They are tested for COVID-19 and 4 days later, on the day they die, results come back positive.

Immediately, everyone at the nursing home is tested, residents and staff. Over half test positive. Within 2 weeks 15 of the residents die. Four others lasted a little longer. 19.19 out of about 50 at risk people dead. All with symptoms of COVID-19, all with positive results for COVID-19.

Perhaps that doesn't sound serious to you. It's probably just some exaggeration, some conspiracy to topple governments and install a new world order. Perhaps.

To me it sounds serious. I knew those people. The first to die was my closest living ancestor. Several of the others were the mothers and fathers of my high school classmates. Others worked in the local stores and restaurants, when I was growing up. Four months ago I could have told any of them my name and they would know me, my parents grandparents and cousins.

I sincerely hope that you never have it shoved in your face, through personal loss, that this is serious. It is.

[Bango Cheito]

I would say less testing being done anyways.

But less than 1 k deaths almost 3 months after patient zero. And there are several horrible scandals regarding false positives, and deaths from other causes being attributed to the virus.

It's almost like they WANT this to be more serious than it is.

[Zeos1]

Which country was it and was the amount very large?

Country was Costa are. Amounts always less than 6-700 dollars.