Macau Closes Casinos for Two Weeks

[hubofhockey]

As of yesterday, Macau closed its casinos.  Hopefully, nobody had plans to spend time there in Feb 3-17.  Who know?  It could be longer.  Timing is everything.  Hopefully, those with cruises or vacations planned in China, Hong Kong, or Macau, have insurance and can change them.  

 

As an aside, all of the wet markets in that part of the world are breeding grounds for all kinds of diseases.  We spent three weeks in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia and I am done with wet markets forever.  Enough is enough.

[kathy49]

the standard trip cancellation insurance is not covering people for this epidemic.   But so many tour companies and airlines are offering refunds and/or change options. Cruise lines are too but some are being pretty difficult. And wet or dry some of those Asian markets are off our radar too. Don't need that type of experience.

[hubofhockey]

After the two week quarantine on the Diamond Princess, I guess it's pretty safe to say that cruise ships will be offering refunds.  Airlines won't be flying planes, so I guess most people are covered.  

 

"Poorly regulated, live-animal markets mixed with illegal wildlife trade offer a unique opportunity for viruses to spillover from wildlife hosts into the human population," the Wildlife Conservation Society said in a statement. 

 

I do think witnessing these markets one time is interesting, but after our first in Hong Kong, I didn't need the one in the Mekong Delta or those ones in Bangkok.  I don't know if tour guides try to take you to them in Japan, but I'm done with them.   It doesn't surprise me that this virus began at a wet market.  If you want to see a great market, go into any Wegmans in the US.