Medellin Reports

[QUOTE=SavePros321;2552171]Another thing travelers are not adding into their calculus: what if you go down there and happen to catch COVID? Do you really want to be in a situation where there is no room for you in the ICU with the current levels almost at 100% capacity? What if they have to transport you out of the city to a place where you have no connections and are trying to get by with your kindergarten Spanish-speaking skills? Talk about a nightmare scenario![/QUOTE]You bring up an issue I grappled with back in November when I came down to Medellin for a week, albeit at the time the ICU's were not overflowing. Back in November there were no testing requirements to either enter or leave the Country, and at that time I had not been vaccinated so I decided to come down for a week and also took out a health insurance policy for the week I'd be here. The specter of being in a Hospital in Colombia, which for many issues would not be a problem, but for COVID I don't think so given the limited availability of treatments. So for my trip in November my rationale was if I got infected I would most probably be back in the USA by the time I knew it as the thought of being hospitalized in a foreign country doesn't sound good.

For anyone contemplating coming down to Colombia in the near future I would strongly recommend three things.

First make sure you have been vaccinated, secondly, have medical coverage that covers COVID, and is acceptable at most of the Hospitals, albeit availability may be an issue, and lastly, wait until the current surge has subsided and there are no more weekend lockdowns.

I've been vaccinated and have worldwide health coverage, so I'm just waiting for the weekend lockdowns to end, and suspect there are many other board members sitting on the "side lines" like myself ready to leap, and hopefully sooner than later.

I have so many wives, candy girls, and coffee girls whom are walking the streets of Medellin waiting for my return!

I am not seeing much discussion about vaccination status as the path back to normality. I am NOT talking about whether or not you believe in the vaccine or politicizing it, I don't care. But I believe the handwriting is on the wall that being vaccinated is going to be required for international travel. I have been back in the USA for two weeks and in that short time there have appeared two huge, free, drive through vaccination stations set up in the busiest areas of the city. I don't need to be vaccinated, I am still immune, I didn't really want one, but they made it so easy, I did not have to get out of my car or show ID to get vaccinated, for free. I have an appointment for my second dose. Colombia won't be like it was until a critical mass of it's population is vaccinated. I don't have a timetable for that but the drug companies are trying to vaccinate the entire world, not just the USA, obviously. The buzzword I keep hearing is "vaccination passport."

Yes, I definitely would go without being vaccinated. I I think you'd be crazy to go down there without being vaccinated.

[QUOTE=SavePros321;2552171]Another thing travelers are not adding into their calculus: what if you go down there and happen to catch COVID? Do you really want to be in a situation where there is no room for you in the ICU with the current levels almost at 100% capacity? What if they have to transport you out of the city to a place where you have no connections and are trying to get by with your kindergarten Spanish-speaking skills? Talk about a nightmare scenario![/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Surfer500;2552179]For the comparison of Florida and California, I agree, the lockdowns in California didn't seem to make any difference.

But I don't think you can use the same logic when it comes to Colombia, with the differences being the percentage of people being vaccinated, the housing situation with multi-generational families living together, and the variants in Colombia.

Regardless, time will tell. If we see a drop in infections within the next few weeks and the weekend lockdowns stop, that is great news and perhaps indicate they helped, if not, we might never know.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=JjBee62;2552173]The rule I've been using for the past year is 6 weeks. Whatever a city or country does takes about 6 weeks before you will see results.

This works both ways. When the US started with the lockdowns and masks things looked much better after 6 weeks. When states reopened schools, after 6 weeks we were in another surge.

It actually takes 4 weeks before numbers should start dropping, but it takes an additional 2 weeks to get below the level you were at before you took action.

If these lockdowns are effective, ICU numbers should be coming down before the end of April and should look much better by mid May.[/QUOTE]It amazes me here we are a year later, and people are still talking about IF lockdowns work. There is no evidence that they do and even if they did, it would not matter because as I have said a million times before, viruses mutate and in some cases get more deadly. Colombia has the Brazil variant of the virus.

[URL]https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-colombia-idUSKBN2B50FW[/URL]

And if you look at the numbers in Brazil, and you will see they are scary as shit.

Like the PCR testing for entrance and the travel ban, this is the Colombian government "doing something" about Corona. In this case, it is once more doing something stupid. With this kind of incompetence, my bet is the COP is going to stay down for a long time.

What works? The mRNA vaccines work best and the amazing part there was actually a country that followed the data versus just kowtowing to the private interest groups like the vaccine companies and blowhards like Fauci. The UK had public health experts that actually looked at the data themselves and recommended that more people get one dose of the mRNA than prioritizing high risk people get two.

And now the UK is wide open.

100% of Colombia's effort for Covid prevention should be focused on the vaccine. For travelers, that should mean getting rid of the pointless PCR testing, taxing travelers, and putting said money into vaccines and increased ICU capacity. The testing is just a fucking gift to lab companies when Colombia itself needs the money.

I have twice now taken a Colombian to Mexico. In fact, I am here now with three women (two Mexicans and one Colombian in tow). I asked the Mexican women and many people in their families had been vaccinated. The Colombian woman told me no one in her household has gotten vaccinated but I do know one Colombian girl whose grandmother has been.

I cannot tell you how different the attitudes are here in Mexico versus Colombia.

Another poster mentioned that going through customs put a damper on his trip.

The Colombian I have here had never traveled before so it was interesting to see things through her eyes. So we get to the airport three hours early and get to Wingo. I mean they were not bad there, but it was like 15 minutes per person. I think I have gotten a handle on it, but I forgot to download my Mexican entrance application. We got the Corona app for her but not one for me.

So outside the airport, there was one checkpoint for the Corona app. Then there was the Wingo counter. Then a woman who prevented us going through customs until our Colombian migration form was filled out. Then there was Customs itself. Customs had prevented another one of my women from getting in so I was worried about that stop. Fortunately, we were able to be seen together and whisked through.

Then once we got through customs, we ran into two tough looking police officer types who asked about money right outside of customs. All in all, there were five check points in the Bogota airport.

In Mexico, there was the migration form. Then a Covid form that had to be filled out. We go through Mexican customs. My Colombian girl only had gotten her passport the day before but fortunately as I traveled with her, we go through customs no problem. I was proud of her. My mixed Costena had the part down perfectly. With every question, she smiled and said "Si senor" showing total compliance.

Then there was the baggage, one checkpoint to tear our Covid form, another to collect them and hit a red button, another where we put our bags through a machine, and a new wrinkle, Mexican customs thoroughly searching every bag. All in all, there were 10 yes 10 fucking check points. If you are a government expert loving type douche, you say all this is necessary.

The humor is when we finally exited the automatic doors and got approached by someone selling us a taxi who tried to look official. I laughed and told my costena, "No, it is okay. You can tell her to fuck off. ".

Well, I am off to Xcaret to teach my Costena how to snorkel. She learned about tacos pastor, horchata, and cenotes yesterday. And tonight I will get back to the tough job of satisfying all these women. I am glad though that one country is still interested in having tourists.

Well I just got the news that the toque de queda or curfew will extend for the the following weekend. If you are caught you may get fined 900 mil peso. Well what can we do? I'll be there that weekend but will follow their strict rules.

[QUOTE=Kafka;2552320]Yes, I definitely would go without being vaccinated. I I think you'd be crazy to go down there without being vaccinated.[/QUOTE]You would go without being vaccinated, but you think others have to be crazy to go without being vaccinated? I have been to 9 countries since this thing started and Colombia 3 times during the past year. I have no intention of getting vaccinated. I was at a packed comedy show a couple weeks ago and the comic clowned me because I was the only one with a mask on. Haven't caught it yet and not even worrying about it.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2552342]You would go without being vaccinated, but you think others have to be crazy to go without being vaccinated? I have been to 9 countries since this thing started and Colombia 3 times during the past year. I have no intention of getting vaccinated. I was at a packed comedy show a couple weeks ago and the comic clowned me because I was the only one with a mask on. Haven't caught it yet and not even worrying about it.[/QUOTE]As soon as availability for my age group was announced I set up my appointment. I'm now 3 weeks past my second shot (and still wear a mask wherever I go). Lost an aunt to this crap a year ago. One of my cousin's lost her husband about 7 months ago. He was in the ICU room next to me when I spent a night there. Just found out yesterday that 3 other cousins (all of them "nobody is going to vaccinate me" types) are sick, 1 just went to the hospital.

I'll keep postponing my next trip until things are looking better in Medellin. Maybe by the end of May.

[QUOTE=Surfer500;2552179]For the comparison of Florida and California, I agree, the lockdowns in California didn't seem to make any difference.[/QUOTE]You should google it. Compare it by county or region, then you might get a different picture. There are 50 states, why only pick these two states? Why not compare all 50 states? I would agree with this conclusion if I see consistency across the nation.

If there is one populous region in a state that is hit very hard, the entire state won't look good. If I were going to debate it by cherry picking, then I would pick two counties that would bolster my argument and ignore the rest of the counties that are against my argument.


[QUOTE=Surfer500;2552179]
All very depressing regardless of how you look at things.[/QUOTE]

Indeed, just when I started to consider Thailand, it now also looks shaky.

[QUOTE=Osteoknot;2552309]I am not seeing much discussion about vaccination status as the path back to normality. I am NOT talking about whether or not you believe in the vaccine or politicizing it, I don't care. But I believe the handwriting is on the wall that being vaccinated is going to be required for international travel. I have been back in the USA for two weeks and in that short time there have appeared two huge, free, drive through vaccination stations set up in the busiest areas of the city. I don't need to be vaccinated, I am still immune, I didn't really want one, but they made it so easy, I did not have to get out of my car or show ID to get vaccinated, for free. I have an appointment for my second dose. Colombia won't be like it was until a critical mass of it's population is vaccinated. I don't have a timetable for that but the drug companies are trying to vaccinate the entire world, not just the USA, obviously. The buzzword I keep hearing is "vaccination passport."[/QUOTE]Unfortunately Colombia is a long way off from it's population becoming fully vaccinated, and as your aware a lot of people in the Country got the Chinese vaccine wth an admitted low efficacy, and those people are now going to want to get the Pfizer vaccine. The actual question is whether a Country can actually vaccinate it's way out of the Pandemic which the USA is attempting to do right now, but may never achieve given that a lot of people are reluctant to get vaccinated, so nobody really knows at this point in time. As far as Colombia, it may end up that the virus will just run it's course thru the Country versus being eradicated thru the population being vaccinated.

As far as vaccination passports, I am perplexed when I hear people who are against them for whatever reason, and a lot of people are against them. I see no difference with the "Yellow Fever Shot" required for entry into certain Countries and don't know why this hasn't been worked out already but am guessing the authentication of those people being actually vaccinated is part of the reason. It will eventually become a worldwide requirement, it's just a matter of time, and Countries are already starting to accept them as a basis for entry.

[QUOTE=Nounce;2552370]You should google it. Compare it by county or region, then you might get a different picture. There are 50 states, why only pick these two states? Why not compare all 50 states?[/QUOTE]Because those 2 states handled it complete opposite (Florida out partying with the Covid; California hiding in the house from the Covid), but still pretty much have the same results.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2552395]Because those 2 states handled it complete opposite (Florida out partying with the Covid; California hiding in the house from the Covid), but still pretty much have the same results.[/QUOTE]Nounce was correct. This is cherry picking of data, which is especially popular among those eager to take off their masks and get their dicks wet. We can also look at very restrictive states like Vermont and Hawaii that have both done way better than FL or CA. There's also distinct differences between FL and CA when it comes to housing and population densities. And as we know, restrictions without effective enforcement / compliance are much less irrelevant.

[URL]https://www.healthline.com/health-news/why-do-california-and-florida-have-similar-covid-19-case-rates-the-answer-is-complicated[/URL]#Confounders-abound.

[URL]https://khn.org/news/article/californias-covid-enforcement-strategy-education-over-citations/[/URL]

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2552395]Because those 2 states handled it complete opposite (Florida out partying with the Covid; California hiding in the house from the Covid), but still pretty much have the same results.[/QUOTE]Yup. Texas and Florida (fairly open) vs CA, NJ, MI, et al (strict lockdown). There is virtually no correlation to infection rates.

FWIW I think there's still a lot we don't know. Governments all over the world are frequently throwing shit against the wall, hoping something will work.

[QUOTE=JjBee62;2552350]As soon as availability for my age group was announced I set up my appointment. I'm now 3 weeks past my second shot (and still wear a mask wherever I go). Lost an aunt to this crap a year ago. One of my cousin's lost her husband about 7 months ago. He was in the ICU room next to me when I spent a night there. Just found out yesterday that 3 other cousins (all of them "nobody is going to vaccinate me" types) are sick, 1 just went to the hospital.

I'll keep postponing my next trip until things are looking better in Medellin. Maybe by the end of May.[/QUOTE]This is sad to hear of so many people within your family becoming ill, and you would think that especially those who partake in our "sport" (not you or I) would take getting vaccinated seriously, but there are members who won't which defies logic to me. Our sport exposes us to so many unknown people so I kind of view the Vaccine somewhat similar to a condom.

What I can tell you as to what I experienced being in Medellin in November 2020 prior to being vaccinated, versus in late February to early April of this year after being vaccinated was a whole different mindset for me.

In November I stayed off the Metro and away from people as much as possible and basically was a bit paranoid, especially when in El Centro about getting infected.

Upon returning in February after being vaccinated, I basically put COVID in the rear view mirror, not meaning that I wouldn't wear a mask or abide the rules, but more in the sense that I'm supposedly at least 90% protected with no underlying health conditions so the odds of getting sick and dying were very low. Hence I operated while in town exactly as before the Pandemic, riding the METRO, and banging away in El Centro besides other places.

[QUOTE=Andres901;2552330]Well I just got the news that the toque de queda or curfew will extend for the the following weekend. If you are caught you may get fined 900 mil peso. Well what can we do? I'll be there that weekend but will follow their strict rules.[/QUOTE]Man, that is a steep fine. That's about as much as you can pull out of the ATM there at one time.

Also will be a huge deterrent for chicas to try to risk such a heavy fine to try to come and visit you during curfew.

I enjoy all of my chicas, but I can't think of one that I would want to have stay with me Thursday through Monday. You might as well say you are married at that point, LOL!

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2552395]Because those 2 states handled it complete opposite (Florida out partying with the Covid; California hiding in the house from the Covid), but still pretty much have the same results.[/QUOTE]We can also add Oregon and Washington, both states with heavy restrictions, with large urban centers as well as plenty of rural that have done way better than FL or CA.

[URL]https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/public-health/us-coronavirus-deaths-by-state-july-1.html[/URL]