Coronavirus in Fuerteventura - Discussion

[Ducks]

Flights from Italy have been coming for weeks when the threat there was just as bad as Spain. 

Anyone showing symptoms absolutely should have been spotted on landing and forced to isolate, but a failure there is on the part of the authorities, not the individual.

[milestone 11]

My view now, as I'm sure is yours, is quite different from what it was two weeks ago. It would have been simple to blame the authorities then, this is very different. I take grave exception to anyone who, with wanton malevolence, is prepared to play russian roulette with either my, or anyone else's, wellbeing.
Just look at the time-line. There is no doubt that these students were infectious at the time of leaving Madrid and were aware of being unwell. Their behaviour is inexcuseable.

[Ducks]

My view now, as I'm sure is yours, is quite different from what it was two weeks ago. It would have been simple to blame the authorities then, this is very different. I take grave exception to anyone who, with wanton malevolence, is prepared to play russian roulette with either my, or anyone else's, wellbeing.
Just look at the time-line. There is no doubt that these students were infectious at the time of leaving Madrid and were aware of being unwell. Their behaviour is inexcuseable.

They absolutely ought to have notified the authorities if they were aware they were ill, yes. I do blame them for that.

However, I do not blame them for wanting to be at home near their families and in a place where the healthcare system is not dealing with hundreds of thousands of people, especially when in many cases students were turned out of their university-provided accommodation with nowhere to go. 

Now, as before, I also very much blame the authorities for not setting up port screening. Airports are among the most surveilled real estate in the world. You cannot sneeze in an airport without being on camera. Fuerteventura airport has a limited number of flights coming in daily and security personnel who are not over-taxed the way they are in places like Heathrow, Dublin, or the American hubs. When you get off the plane here, you queue with only the people from your flight to get through passport control. I've never had that experience at any airport in the world but here. It would have been so easy to observe the people coming in from high-risk departure ports and screen them more carefully, without even causing further risk to the people on that flight (already exposed for 2+ hours) or the airport personnel if it had been done correctly.

This island had an incredible opportunity to screen incoming travellers, and squandered it, in much the way governments around the world have fumbled the ball on this massive international crisis. That is not on any one individual, especially not a couple of kids whose schools had been closed and who were wanting to be home with their families.

[milestone 11]

My view now, as I'm sure is yours, is quite different from what it was two weeks ago. It would have been simple to blame the authorities then, this is very different. I take grave exception to anyone who, with wanton malevolence, is prepared to play russian roulette with either my, or anyone else's, wellbeing.
Just look at the time-line. There is no doubt that these students were infectious at the time of leaving Madrid and were aware of being unwell. Their behaviour is inexcuseable.

They absolutely ought to have notified the authorities if they were aware they were ill, yes. I do blame them for that.

...especially not a couple of kids whose schools had been closed and who were wanting to be home with their families.

I thought that we had reached an accord until reading your final sentence.
I'm sorry Ducks, it was incumbent upon them to make any authorities aware that there was a possibility that they were infectious. There is no mitigation to that.

[milestone 11]

I' m being completely honest and quantified my reasoning up thread.

[Archer]

Repatriate, but isolate or quarantine. That measure is generally followed elsewhere, although belatedly.

Heathrow Holiday Inn has been requisitioned for returning Brits, now.

[milestone 11]

I' m being completely honest and quantified my reasoning up thread.

Soooo, you would let your child in Madrid?

Also, just read about young people usually not having any symptoms at all - not sure if I would blame them or any officials for not spotting the virus.

Yes!
Right, cards on table time.
I'm not prepared to argue hypotheses. I have been here 24 hours, and have no wish to upset others that have been here for any time, neither have I any intention to upset the moderating team and/or the site's owners. I'm the new kid on the block and don't know the debate norms in here.
I have a view, others, may or may not share that view. We are each and all entitled to the views that we hold.
It is my opinion that the action of the students is/was indefensible. On that, I shall bow out of the discussion.

[milestone 11]

Britain's youngest coronavirus victim came back to the UK from Fuerteventura.

Nick Matthews, 59, was rushed to hospital having suffered breathing difficulties on Thursday (March 12). The former police officer, who retired from the force 10 years ago after suffering a heart attack, had recently returned from a holiday in Fuerteventura with his wife Mary. After being dashed to Bristol Royal Infirmary, Nick was diagnosed with pneumonia and his other symptoms "ticked all the boxes" for the virus...

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/...m-17928719

That's bloody disconcerting. They were in Fuerte 22nd-29th Feb according to the article in the Guardian.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Updated news and it won't stop. Far from continental Europe but will follow the same scheme.

https://translate.google.com/translate?s...hIJcUkO5TE

Thorgal - I'm not sure what you meant to link to but that is a very old link, 26th Feb. Please can you amend your post or remove it, as the virus, unfortunately, has moved on since then. Thanks.

[milestone 11]

There are now 3 more cases on Fuerteventura - a total of 6. 
https://radiosintonia.com/contabilizados...lakwqyL1Gk

Inevitable as long as the airport remains open. Quite ridiculous.