Chuck Borris wrote: ↑Mon Aug 23, 2021 1:28 pm How safe is flying during the COVID pandemic?
https://www.dw.com/en/how-safe-is-flyin ... a-57284835

^^^ Good feature story.

There has been no direct evidence the more than 23,000 foreigners/Thais arriving for the island Sandbox scheme in Thailand became infected on the international arrival flights. In fact, the infection numbers are pretty low, as reported in Richard Barrow's daily Thai News Reports on the Sandbox program:

#Phuket Sandbox Update: On 22nd August, 436 international travellers arrived on 7 flights bringing the total to 23,734. Since 1st July, 67 Sandboxers (+1) have tested positive. 32 on 1st test, 20 on 2nd test, 2 on 3rd test, and 13 from close contact tests

Prone to easy conjecture, yet there doesn't appear to be a strong correlation between the flights and infection. But even the experts in the DW story aren't all the sure about prevention safety on the plane. They just issue the standard everyday good practices: (double) masking, hand-washing and social distancing. Oh, and full vaccination.

ExPenhMan wrote: ↑Mon Aug 23, 2021 5:29 pm

Chuck Borris wrote: ↑Mon Aug 23, 2021 1:28 pm How safe is flying during the COVID pandemic?
https://www.dw.com/en/how-safe-is-flyin ... a-57284835

^^^ Good feature story.

There has been no direct evidence the more than 23,000 foreigners/Thais arriving for the island Sandbox scheme in Thailand became infected on the international arrival flights. In fact, the infection numbers are pretty low, as reported in Richard Barrow's daily Thai News Reports on the Sandbox program:

#Phuket Sandbox Update: On 22nd August, 436 international travellers arrived on 7 flights bringing the total to 23,734. Since 1st July, 67 Sandboxers (+1) have tested positive. 32 on 1st test, 20 on 2nd test, 2 on 3rd test, and 13 from close contact tests

Prone to easy conjecture, yet there doesn't appear to be a strong correlation between the flights and infection. But even the experts in the DW story aren't all the sure about prevention safety on the plane. They just issue the standard everyday good practices: (double) masking, hand-washing and social distancing. Oh, and full vaccination.

They did make this pertinent point too..

Avoid eating and drinking during flight

Experts encourage passengers to refrain from eating or drinking while on board. But if necessary, be brief. "If a passenger briefly removes his or her mask to eat or drink, other passengers in the vicinity should keep their masks on," said a Harvard University report on COVID risk mitigation on planes.

Each moment a face mask is removed on the plane — including eating and drinking during a flight — the risk of infection increases. The longer a passenger eats, the greater the risk of infecting someone, said epidemiologist Ulrichs.

Bongmab69 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 23, 2021 6:58 pm i was on a flight from amsterdam-dubai-phuket 2 weeks ago:
First leg the airplane was exactly at 50% loaded, i was in a row of 2, nobody close to me:
Second leg was 25% loaded, had a row of 4 completely for me alone,
nicest flight i had in years, hope it stays like that !! ??

Planes only half-full sounds the best reason to actually travel right now

I flew international 4 times this year (R/T Russia to US, R/T RU to Europe). The planes were pretty much full for all my flights. People wore their masks, but everyone took them off to eat. No waiting or distancing. And this was not just on Aeroflot but also on a European carrier.

If you are really concerned maybe skip the meal and bring your own food (airplane food always sucks anyway - especially Aeroflot)

Pull a Hannibal Lecther. LOL

Growing reopening urgency among Cambodian tourism players as national vaccination rate improves
By Marissa Carruthers
/ Posted on 26 August, 2021 10:37

Cambodia’s rapid vaccination rollout has sparked hopes that international tourists will be welcomed in 4Q2021. However, industry players warn without the hasty announcement of official plans another high season will be lost.

Cambodia’s impressive vaccination campaign has seen more than 75 per cent of the population fully vaccinated. Frontline workers are already receiving their third booster injection, with children above 12 years old being given their first jab.
Private tourism stakeholders will jointly send a formal letter to the relevant ministries urging them to announce plans to fully open to vaccinated visitors in 4Q2021

Additionally, a recent report from Executive One Consulting forecasts 80 per cent of Cambodia’s adult population will be fully vaccinated by August 31. This compares with July 22, 2022 for Thailand and September 22, 2022 for Vietnam.

Ronni Dalhoff, managing director of Diethelm Travel Cambodia, said: “As one of the world leaders in the vaccine process, Cambodia should also be one of the world leaders in the re-opening process. Cambodia has given itself a golden opportunity that simply must be used to the maximum.”

He added the Kingdom needs to act fast to “reshape the travel dynamics in South-east Asia” and plant Cambodia on the map as a standalone destination ahead of its neighbours.

While the government has publicly mooted the idea of opening to vaccinated tourists in 4Q2021, nothing has officially been announced. Agents fear they are now in danger of losing out on another year of business as the high season looms and preparation time runs out.

Steve Lidgey, general manager of Travel Asia a la Carte, said: “We need a proper plan in place so the industry can prepare. It’s not just so tour operators can sell overseas but hotels and other hospitality businesses need time to plan.”

The general manager of an independent travel agent, who wanted to remain anonymous, has already ploughed his personal savings into the business. He said: “The situation is desperate. It’s worrying because if we lose this high season, it will be another year of no business and we simply can’t survive.”
https://www.ttgasia.com/2021/08/26/grow ... -improves/

CEOCambodiaNews wrote: ↑Thu Aug 26, 2021 2:30 pm
Additionally, a recent report from Executive One Consulting forecasts 80 per cent of Cambodia’s adult population will be fully vaccinated by August 31.

If this is indeed true I don't see any reason to not allow tourism. Maybe just periodically and selectively restrict entry from countries that have high infection rates.