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I made the conscious decision to see out the current crisis outside of the US and away from my home in Los Angeles and, as a result, I’m getting a close look at how another country is handling the pandemic and how other countries are viewing the US response to Covid-19. The news on the latter isn’t good.
If you’re reading this is in the US right now allow me to make one thing very clear from the outset – what you or anyone else in the country thinks of the government’s response to the current crisis is irrelevant. Whether you believe the states have acted badly or well or whether you think the current occupant of the Oval Office is a stable genius or a monumental idiot, doesn’t matter. The world doesn’t care what I, you, or anyone else in the US thinks right now.
All the world cares about is how *it* thinks the US is handling the pandemic and the reports that I’ve been watching, hearing, and reading don’t paint a picture of confidence in how our nation is reacting. People on this side of the pond (and in various other parts of the world) aren’t enjoying watching armed protestors demanding “civil liberties” when they believe that people should be respecting stay-at-home orders, and they’re not enjoying watching or reading about people flouting social distancing rules or other government directives because they *think* it breaks their constitutional rights.
Rightly or wrongly, there’s an increasing feeling around the world that a section of the US public cares more about themselves and the right-now rather than about the bigger picture and the long-term.
No doubt some of you are now desperate to scroll down to the comments section to voice your vehement objection to the idea that the US is being seen in a bad light, and no doubt some of you will be equally desperate to point out that other countries have a far worse [insert metric of your choice] than the US…but don’t bother. There’s no point.
Allow me to reiterate – what *you* think doesn’t matter. Not even a little bit.
Other people’s perception is key here, and the perception right now is that there’s a growing number of people in the US who want everything to open up as soon as possible regardless of the consequences. To people outside of the US (a lot of whom have been living under far tighter lockdown conditions than most people in the US have been asked to endure) that’s both selfish and stupid, and they’re rapidly losing trust in the US government’s ability to control the situation and in the US population’s ability to do what they believe is the right thing to do under current circumstances.
This lack of trust may well turn out to be a big issue for US citizens hoping to travel internationally any time soon.
A lot of the countries around the world have successfully “flattened the curve” and, for now, are seeing the number of daily deaths falling. The biggest fear that most of these countries now have is that they’ll see a “second spike” in infections so most are prepared to do whatever it takes to prevent this from happening.
If the perceptions that the US is opening up too soon and that the US public cannot be trusted to work for the greater good persist, there will be a lot of countries around the world that will close their borders to US citizens. They’re not going to admit citizens from a country that they believe hasn’t worked hard enough to contain the virus because they’ll be concerned that these citizens will lead to a second spike. They’re also not going to trust that these citizens will behave according to the rules that they have laid down for their own populations. Why would they?
The argument will be a simple one:
“If they won’t adhere to social distancing rules and government directives in their own country why should we believe that they’ll obey the rules that we’ve laid down?”
Governments around the world will have various measures in place to prevent the spread or reemergence of the virus for months to come (a lot of the rules we’re seeing now aren’t going away this year), and if these countries think that another country’s population is either unable to stick to those rules or, worse still, is likely to re-import the virus, that country’s citizens will not be allowed to visit. Period.
No doubt some will attempt to argue that the money US travelers spend will be a key factor in ensuring that countries don’t close their borders to them regardless of perceptions…but don’t be so sure.
Europeans are in no hurry to see US visitors return right now (they’ll do without the mighty dollar if it means less chance of a second spike), many countries in Asia (where discipline is seen as a virtue) aren’t overly impressed by what they view as Americans throwing a tantrum (they know better than anyone how devastating these viruses can be and have little interest in making the mistake that Singapore appears to have made), and countries like New Zealand that have all but erradicated the virus aren’t keen for anyone to visit right now.
Even the Caribbean Islands (a lot of whom rely heavily on US visitors) may be reluctant to throw open their doors to Americans if our country is perceived to have failed to act responsibly and if the prevailing belief is that we’re opening ourselves up for a second spike. They may well choose to make do with what income they can get from countries that, in their minds, have performed better and worked harder to combat Covid-19 rather than risk their own population being ravaged for a second time.
Sure, a lot of this would be very unfair. The media isn’t really reporting on the millions and millions of Americans who are doing their level best to be model citizens and who are prepared to make serious and significant sacrifices as the world combats a situation no living person has encountered before…but fairness won’t come into play here. The few often screw things up for the many and that will be as true in this case as it has been in any other.
As things stand, none of this may come to pass. It may be that, given time, the US is perceived to have got its act together and that our nation emerges from this crisis with an incredible amount of credit (let’s hope that’s exactly what happens), but things can just as easily go the other way.
Right now, the behavior of some of our citizens and the behavior of some of our politicians is not being viewed in a particularly favorable light by large parts of the world so, if things continue as they are and if perceptions don’t begin to change, US citizens shouldn’t assume that they’ll see their international travel privileges restored any time soon. The sad fact is that when you’re ready and willing to travel you may not be as welcome in as many countries as you may have hoped.
UPDATE 10 May 2020: Here’s an article giving just one example of what I have tried to say in this post.
And let’s not forget that the US won’t permit European citizens into the USA. I cannot see why the Europeans should allow US citizens in when there’s no reciprocity.
Hopefully we don’t get into a tit-for-tat situation as that wouldn’t be helpful to anyone.
If I were a EU country I would not want my citizens visiting the US either,
Hi, so where can we fly international nowadays?
Nowhere — quite literally. Here is the IATA’s regularly updated travel restrictions list. https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/international-travel-document-news/1580226297.htm
Isn’t it great, then, that the U.S. is so vast that we can travel for years and not properly see it all? But let’s travel responsibly even at home. I for one, will wait a while yet.
Nice (not even veiled) political screed.
Money talks and BS walks. Always has, always will. Countries and borders will open sooner than later, they have no choice. Open or (economically die). As you say “period”.
Perhaps you don’t understand “flattening the curve” is not the same as “full eradication”. The virus will burn it’s way across all countries, *sooner or later* and there is nothing you or anyone else is going to do about it unless a vaccine, miraculously, is discovered. As long as CCP virus wards are one patient under capacity, NOTHING else matters. You and people that think like you want to inflict as much damage as possible ON TOP of the 0.01% of virus deaths, how is *that* showing any kind of morals or ethics?
And here we have the perfect example of a major issue some American’s have – when you don’t like an opinion or when an opinion differs to yours (even an opinion that’s being reported rather than stated) the attacks come flying.
It’s sad, but amusing.
But that is exactly what you’ve done with the tone of this article. I agree with the premise of your article but you are accusing GlobalTraveler of the exact thing that you have done with the tone of your article.
How am I attacking anyone by reporting on perception? Am I responsible how people in other countries view the US? Should I not mention how other countries are beginning to perceive the US in case it offends someone’s views?
Having lived in Europe I know that attitudes like “Money talks…..” and some of our fellow citizens constant boasting about some real or imagined “superiority” or another aren’t making us more popular around the world. Images of people protesting because the beach is closed will be viewed by land locked countries as childish at best. The beach will still be there next month. I’m sure people around the world just think we’re spoiled, foreign governments of course will balance trade and their own national interests.
So very much agree with you, our arrogance here is beyond belief!
Oyyy. Well, money can come from lots of places, and the US is only a small part of the European tourist economy. In Italy, one of the most popular places for tourists from the US, it is only 10% of the tourist economy, and if US citizens are not allowed in there are plenty of slots open for travelers from other parts of Europe, the Middle East, Asia, etc. Other countries the impact of excluding US passport holders is even less; Switzerland it is only about 5% of the international tourist economy, and slipping every year.
Someone said in here that statistics are all over the place and that 9 of the top 10 countries for the infection are in Europe. Both of those are false. Real statistics are a reflection of data, the truth, and truth is truth. And at no time has there been 9 of the top 10 slots taken by European countries; at one point in late February there may have been 8, but at this time the most for any metric (active cases not normalized for population size) is 7. But for this discussion there is one, and only one, metric that matters: the slope of the curve of new cases/day. That needs to be negative until the number of cases/day is in single digits/1M folks. Almost all Europeans country have trend lines with negative slopes; the US trend line is flat at the moment, meaning things are not getting worse but also not getting better as far as transmission of the infection. The scenario mentioned in this article will come to play *if* the US trend pops back up to a positive growth line because things open up too fast and too much.
I live in Europe, have had 3 trips in Europe canceled so far this year due to closed borders, anticipate a couple more in the next month or two. But things over here are being taken much more slowly and more cautiously than in the US and the governments are watching the trendlines of new cases very closely, making it clear that a reversion to the virus getting spread around will cause things to re-close.
The US stats are even a bit worse than you indicated. The flattening of the curve is basically due to NY cases finally dropping. If you remove NY the US numbers are all climbing.
Global Traveler actually knows how the world works.. the author of this article is disconnected from reality.
Thxs for that, appearently a lot of idiot citizens and government continue to be selfish and I do understand a lot of ppl out of work etc, but if this is not corrected they won’t have jobs life or customers for their businesses, yes the 20-25 percent are selfish morons who call themselves patriots when in essence they are selfish privileged Village idiots
Money certainly talks, but currently, Vietnam’s economy is open to internal residents because they have stopped COVID in its tracks and aren’t allowing outside travelers in. Tourism is a big industry here, but it isn’t the biggest and definitely isn’t the entire economy. Countries will have to make tough choices about what industries will need to be opened, but American tourism dollars aren’t everything everywhere.
Vaccines don’t “miraculously” appear. Scientists devote their lives’ work to creating them. And other countries don’t want to let the virus “burn across.” They actually devote resources to trying to save the lives of their people. Who do you want the virus to “burn” in order to get the economy going? Your mother? Your friends?
When you apply generalizations like in this article, it just sounds soooooo incredibly ignorant.
I am US citizen, currently in the USA. I’ve been to 9 or 10 countries so far in 2020 alone.
I have trips booked for international travel in June, July, August, September, October, November and December.
All booked.
All of those places, hotels, camper rental places – want my money.
All of them.
Apartment rental prices are down, so I’ll book an apartment in Lisbon for 3 months.
Camper prices in Iceland are down massively, so I’ll book one for 8 days.
Resorts in Fiji? Same. Desperate for the business.
—
If you want to apply some ‘macro’ generalization here, I guess, go for it, but, it’s awful silly, and directly the opposite of every interaction I am having with hotels, housing, transportation services on 3 continents and 20+ countries.
Sure, foreign governments will posture.
Sure, they’ll squeal.
But, as their people are pushed further into poverty by draconian measures… they will welcome all tourists back. Because they have to.
Just like Italy will be subsidizing tourists to come in.
They will all want tourists as soon as possible.
Your generalizations or otherwise, money rules the world. No policy that starves its own citizens of food, jobs and hope – will last.
Just like fears of this virus will blow over as soon as they came. The world will want $$$.
Every place I am talking to, from Fiji, to Lisbon to Iceland, Greenland, to Africa… They ALL want the business.
You don’t appear to be distinguishing between what hotels and the leisure industry want and what governments will decide they want. The two don’t necessarily go hand in hand.
ETA: Speaking of ignorance (as you are), the fact that you appear to believe that because you have trips booked that means that these are trips you’ll definitely be able to take is both naive and ignorant of the world we’re currently living in.
Last time I checked Schengen is closed to non citizens, even Portugal is closed even if you have a property there, I have a place in Spain and 2 passports, yet, I can’t enter Spain, only Spanish not EU citizens are allowed, , tourism now is mostly national, international is not even considered for another 2 to 4 months. Wonder how are you entering Portugal?
Try getting into New Zealand or Japan or China or Australia or many other countries you fool.
Your country is toast, the world doesn’t need you or your currency of various slaveowners.
We are tired of our arrogance-from top to bottom.
Simo , you are [Redacted by TFM] up in the head! ….the USA is toast you say? And nobody needs our money? Then you call us slaveowners?
What an angry, poor, delusional soul you are!!!
I so desperately want to go to Europe. Was supposed to be in Italy right now. I’m also looking at places to book, and having no problem finding Airbnb accommodations. Are you booking flights as well?
If anyone has any insight or frankly educated guesses as to what may open by August or September, please let me know. At this point I don’t care where.
Dreaming of the time we can travel again but alas it may be awhile
Contact a good travel agent who keeps up to date on all travel policies. Going it alone in these confusing times makes no sense.
Thank you Claire for the shout out to Travel Advisors!!
George & Karen – I hope that when you are unable to get refunds of the dollars you’re so proudly waving now – that you’ll do so with humility and respect toward the businesses in the countries who are so dependent on your “almighty dollars.”
Although you may not make national news when mom & pop businesses who can’t afford to give you a refund – your fussing, whining, and the negative reviews you’ll inevitably give will have the same effect – only further proving the point of this article and messing things up for the rest of us.
I am American, live overseas and travel extensively.
The tone of this article is spot on. People are horrified by American behavior.
If you think you’re going to Lisbon or Reykjavik this summer, I have some bad news for you: you ain’t going. Zero chance.
Same here… I’m from America and I’ve been a full-time traveler, living overseas for 12+ years. Currently in Vietnam and plan to stay still for the year until things “blow over” but then what? Where can we go? It’ll be curious to see how this all plays out. Americans are seen as “defiant” and it’s heart breaking… I’ve been self-isolating, wearing my mask, social distancing, following the rules, etc. but when anyone asks where I’m from, that all gets overshadowed. 🙁
You can always say you’re Canadian
I’m here in America, and I am horrified by our behavior. Our society has gone off the deep end and common sense it out of the window. I love to travel internationally, but I don’t have any hopes that we will be back to traveling before 2021. Because we are itching to get back to normal, there will be a longer and harsher 2nd wave. As states are opening up, and people are looking forward to going out, I am staying at home because we have no control over this virus at all and it’s going to get worse before it gets better here in the US.
With all due respect the countries in the EU block with decide what is acceptable for them.
Of course they want business, most of the places you are talking about will be small, independently run.
I’m a British citizen living in Australia, I can tell you that in the UK, small businesses run by the small man would tear your arm off, with absolute disregard for public health, same goes with anywhere in Europe, they’re not swimming in money in good time’s, let alone pandemic times. And a tour operator, it’s literally their JOB to advise you that’s things are A-OK.
But the truth is, most people outside the US are watching what is happening inside the US and are dumbfounded. Full grown men acting like spoilt brats with guns with ‘ima man, can’t nobody tell me what to do’ because they are unable to see precious and countless other lives beyond the ends of their noses.
The WHOLE WORLD is suffering, not just America. And for the record, America is NOT doing great! They are NOT doing ‘great things with things better than anybody ever’ as toddler in chief spouts daily.
The true world view is? There’s a large percentage of Americans who ARE following rules, want this to be over, understand the long game, these are the Americans the world would love to tour their country. Then there’s the trumpets, out in force giving zero f*cks about anyone’s safety. These are the people the rest of the world wants to close their borders too. The arrogance is astonishing.
Couldn’t agree more. And sadly, the trumpster aren’t the Americans traveling abroad. Most of them don’t make it out of their home town. I’m appalled by the behavior of these people.
How are you planning to enter these countries if their borders are closed? And what is the rush if there will be strict rules to follow hindering your movements in these countries?
Given the Europe is actively considering banning travel from the US for the very reasons outlined in the article, it’s kinda hard to see your comment as objective.
I also admire your tenacity in traveling 20 plus times and booking future international travel in the face of the United States own characterization of the safety of travel in the Level 4 travel advisory that is in place. You must know something no one else knows!
Have you managed to start traveling?
Warren Buffet made the following statement yesterday ” Don’t Bet Against the US” while we may not act exactly as many in the world may want us to remember this we did not cause this virus to get to where it is today, reaction to the virus and all that it has brought to us ( world) has differed between countries around the world. I too watch BBC/Sky News/France 24/NK wes on a daily basics and frankly other than BBC which is the British version of CNN I don’t “see” what you’re seeing maybe I look through a different set of lenses, possibly.
As for US visitors to countries around the world time will tell, if one believes what you pro port then maybe we should make a concerted effort here in the US to vacation here keeping our dollars here, not a bad idea. I think many Americans are leery of international travel as well I knew we are having canceled several international trips and not sure when we will cross the pond anytime soon.
At the end of the day if you feel that strongly about the way we Americans have conducted ourselves maybe you should take out a long term lease where you are now.
Nothing wrong with spending money at home in the US – that’s probably the best thing you can do for the economy once things start to open up safely.
As for the comment that starts “if you feel that strongly about the way we Americans have conducted ourselves…” I was very careful to (a) point out that I was reporting what opinions I’ve been seeing and reading (although some have already assumed that they are mine too because shooting the messenger is always easier than dealing with the issue) and I was very careful to point out that it’s obvious that it’s a minority that’s causing what others see as an issue and not the majority.
Ziggy,
As a point of reference (unless I’m totally blind and missed it), in what country are you weathering this storm from?
As an American living in a large Eastern US city, I agree with your sentiments. I can easily imagine a scenario where different state governors decide to restrict travel from/to say NYC, Seattle, etc. Why isn’t that any different from what a foreign government decides to do with travel from the US?
I was hoping to weather this storm up a mountain on a nice warm Mediterranean island – instead, I’m looking out at a grey and overcast sky just outside of London 🙂
I live in Europe. People go as well on the streets like in the US. Maybe it isn’t shown on TV in the US but they do.
Numbers and stats are everywhere. Top 10 countries are 9 from Europe (Covid positiv per Million). The US is only at position 10.
So I disagree with your article, Europe will let US people enter their countries IF the US opens the country for Europeans.
I mean not now, butvin a few months….
It’s curious to me how little animosity is shown by other countries towards China, where all this mess began while China’s leaders did little or nothing to stop its spread. Somehow, as portrayed herein, other countries see the U.S. as at fault, as do the many doomsayers and Trump haters here at home.
There’s plenty of justified animosity for China (and it’s growing) but animosity isn’t an issue here. I don’t think anyone has any justifiable animosity towards the US right now and I don’t think anyone with a modicum of intelligence believes the US is in any way at fault for where we’re at right now.
Not what I gleaned from your lengthy commentary.
In that case you missed my point. There’s isn’t a single sentence in this post that blames anyone (let alone the US) for the worldwide situation right now.
Ziggy, Kudos to you for having the patience and affording the time to respond to so much ignorance and arrogance. These people act like English is not their first language; and in terms of logic, hardly anybody seems to have any. Prime examples of why we have such a poor image. If we plan to leave the US border, unfortunately how the rest of the world views us (& how we’ve handled this pandemic) is very relevant if we plan to clear customs (your only point in this article, which seemed to have gone over many heads). Sigh…
Your “opinion piece” offers the reader absolutely zero references for why you believe what you are stating as fact. Since you are speaking on behalf of The perception of “entire world” it seems like there should be a minimum of 25 to 100,000 references of how you’ve come to conclude this opinion of all the other countries in Europe…and a few others. Is it from watching slanted media broadcasts with political agendas from each and every country? Is it from sitting down with government officials to discuss foreign policy on travel? Your article is weak at best, fuels irritation and perpetuates negativity & fear. Mostly it is completely without merit or purpose. What is the purpose of writing your opinion on European perspectives of the US? Are you warning Americans not to book travel? For all we can tell, you could be picking up lunch at your local cafe chatting 6-feet apart with small business owners and talking on zoom calls with your buddies in the countries you mentioned and that’s where you’re getting this “global perception opinion” that you feel you should report on….
You’re a journalist? Zero sources sited. Really ??
Sorry to take the wind out of your sails but I’ve never claimed to be”speaking” for anyone neither have ever claimed to be a journalist.
If you actually read the post there is no suggestion that any of this has come from discussions with governments (although I have a feeling you already know that and are just trying to be clever) and it’s very clear that I’m basing what I’ve written on perceptions picked up from media outlets across the world (something which I’m also pretty certain you know).
I couldn’t agree more. This article is biased and un-American at best. It doesn’t take into account the numbers of mouths poor mothers can’t feed because department of motor vehicle departments aren’t considered essential businesses and documentation can not be attained to secure new jobs in thst case. There are millions of people that are being destroyed because of this lockdowm but they’re not getting bsiled out, big businesses are. Its disgusting. This is a psy – of and that information has come out but you talk about how bad Americans are for wanting to put food on their table, while politicians grow fat, and you don’t see this is a second Holocaust in the making if we glibly acquiesce. Your writing is a failure.
Do you know what “perception” means? I’m asking because your comment would suggest that you have absolutely no idea…you should look the word up.
Holocaust??? the knowledge that you could compare anything in this article or to events going on in the world to that brutal period in history is beyond incredible. That is as disturbing a comparison as those who claimed the stay-at-home orders were akin to slavery. That is the exact cry baby, entitled attitude that any foreigner would despise in America.
I live in Europe, Sweden, as a matter of fact, where there has been no mandatory lockdown but most folks are using their heads. The “tone” of this article is spot on. Many disagree with how Sweden is handling this but they are slogging along. We, too, have daily updates from the government but they deal with actual numbers and news of any developments. Watching American’s daily responses and actions has been alternately amusing and alarming. Gun-toting folks doing so to demonstrate their right to not abide by isolation, government briefings that have more to do with campaigning and that seem to be at odds with their own medical experts…And, something not mentioned in the article, I am asked by a lot of folks why the US didn’t step up when this thing was first discovered as they had in the past… The rest of my family (1 son & 3 sisters & assorted nephews and nieces, 3 of whom are frontline medical workers) keep me informed about their experiences in No. Cal & Illinois…
I think your opinions are clearly biased by your NOT being in the US. I think the situation here is significantly more nuanced than your caustic verbiage would indicate. Your choice of the word “tantrum” is myopic when many of these protestors are unemployed and possibly in places where cases aren’t rampant. Don’t underestimate the pressure to feed your family, even if there is a “greater good” which many governors don’t seem to be doing a good job of communicating.
Firstly, I believe I started out this post by saying that I’m seeing things from the outside looking in.
Secondly, I’m reporting perception not anything else.
Thirdly, you appear to think that because I’m not in the US that I don’t know or understand what damage the current crisis is causing – you do realise that large parts of the rest of the world are going through exactly what the US is going through…right?
Perfect, all this tells me is that people in other parts of the world are as stupid as Americans.
You may want to look at the numbers in Michigan. The poor unemployed white people are a sad representation internationally. The US i considered a joke in most countries.
That’s interesting since “most countries” come with their hands open constantly for [insert any kind of financial aid or other geopolitical help here]. Maybe we should just stop being so generous to the world since we’re such a “joke” then?
For the countries that can afford to stay closed, they will continue to do so for forseeable future. When I say closed, meaning the Austrian style of paying a fee (for testing and/or medical clearance) to come into their country. I can imagine almost the whole world opening up in that sense, if you jump through their hoops.
For the countries that absolutely depend on tourist dollars, they’ll unfortunately be stuck between a rock and a hard place. You have to feel for them.
I’m in agreement with your basic assertion. I wouldn’t say the world is appalled at us. But a lot of my family and friends on both sides of the pond are asking what the heck is going on, whats NYC like, 500k infected!?, make that 1 million now. That will no doubt shape and influence how fast other countries open their borders ESPECIALLY if they are closed off from us.
A completely ridiculous and provincial comment from an American who sees the entire world through an American prism and revolving around America and the world’s reactions to what it does.
Regardless of what Americans think about the lockdown or whether those lockdowns begin to end, the world is filled with many many places that have not bought into lockdown overreactions, including, notably, Sweden, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, etc. Putting to one side that these countries which have all fared much better than those which foolishly locked people up together indoors such as supposedly virtuous Italy, Spain, UK, NY/NJ/CT, and also putting to one side that non locked down places will have more herd immunity than locked down places (especially places like NZ and Australia where there is no community resistance to the virus), the United States which has had all 50 states locked down for a long period of time (including states with little or no Covid cases where the lockdown was clearly killing more people than it was saving) will hardly standout as a country without a lock down or which poses special dangers.
I’m American writing on an American blog about how something may or may not affect America and Americans so, with that in mind, your criticism that the “comment” (presumably you mean the whole post?) is “from an American who sees the entire world through an American prism and revolving around America and the world’s reactions to what it does” is nonsensical….and that’s putting it politely.
The US has lower numbers than most European countries so by the end of the day that’s what counts. Your article suggests all of Europe is happy following the restrictions and only Americans are revolting. In Germany the supreme court of the smallest state just struck down all movement restrictions so just as here, Europeans are tired of these arbitrary rules. In the US the Feds control foreign access, in Europe every country can create its own requirement so once the first country on the mainland continent opens up, the whole travel gig is up.
No, that’s not what counts. Perception is what counts (and the numbers aren’t final yet either…)
Your perception.. far from
Reality Zigster
Sadly, if you read the comments and some of the links provided, this is far from being my perception. It’s a perception held by a large part of the world.
I live right on the USA/Canada border and I am in NO HURRY to see the border reopen. Canadian officials have determined that 90% of our virus came from visiting Americans, followed by European visitors, not Chinese or Asian countries.
I now fly out of Canada directly to Asia instead of through an USA hub, no more. Sorry guys, get your poop together…we have an idiot leading but at least we stay quiet and solve the problem….
Agree, Geoff!
There’s also no proof that herd immunity exists for this.
It appears that others share the same opinion that your post was revolting and you should stay put! To Geoff that feels it’s safer to have Chinese visitors over Americans go back and see the number of Chinese that fled Wuhan just before the closure and where they flew to. West Coast my friend infecting the west coast.As for your flying hey I am sure there will be a footnote in the airlines SEC filing reflecting the loss of income from your flights.
As Warren Buffet said ” Don’t Bet Against America”
So far, less than 0.3% of people reading this post have commented negatively so I can’t honestly say that I care. I’m sure you think I should but then you and I probably have very differing views on the merits of your opinion.
As for the Warren Buffet comment…
Nobody said that America won’t bounce back from this and nothing in this post suggests otherwise. In fact, there’s nothing in this post that discusses America’s future economic strength at all (which is what Buffet was referring to in that comment) … but you go ahead and take an unrelated comment and use it to flag wave if that makes you feel better.
Spot on, Ziggy. Sort of funny how the negative responses seem to be from folks who completely disregarded your opening statement…Thanks for writing the truth. Many in the US are uncomfortable with that.
In March 2019, aviation authorities worldwide grounded the Boeing 737 MAX passenger airliner after 346 people died in two plane crashes, Lion Air Flight 610 on October 29, 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 on March 10, 2019.
“As President Trump presses for states to reopen their economies, his administration is privately projecting a steady rise in the number of cases and deaths from the coronavirus over the next several weeks, reaching about 3,000 daily deaths on June 1, according to an internal document obtained by The New York Times, nearly double from the current level of about 1,750.”
In all seriousness: WHY keep the 737 Max grounded??? In two accidents, almost six months apart, 346 people died. (And most victims weren’t even “cream of the crop” US Americans.) If a substantial number of US Americans is ok with 3,000 daily deaths due to a viral disease. Who would even notice or mind the 2 additional deaths/day, on average, due to 737 MAX.
Let ’em fly….
I don’t doubt your appraisal of how the US is seen and presented in Europe [and UK]. It is a shame that New York is shaping the general picture of the US. The European media have been quite biased towards the US the last couple of years. We hear from friends and relatives in Denmark [in particular] as well as from London. My wife is Danish and she reads and listens to the Danish news daily. We also hear frequently from our son who lives in London. There is little doubt that media have shaped much of public opinion. That said, you are clear that perception is what matters. That perception has largely been shaped by TV and newspaper reports, which can fairly be typified as slanted. To the best of our knowledge, no one in the Danish government has made a public statement about the US, let alone its handling of the COVID 19 pandemic. There have been several Danish experts [epidemiologists included] who have spoken out against the need for extended lockdown and against the claims that COVID 19 is new and novel. Each and every one of those have been censored and smeared. However, the Danish Prime Minister did say [10 April] that the people must be made afraid and fearful and we must “moralize” to the Danes so that they feel worried and fearful. Otherwise, she added, they won’t obey nor heed government directives. She included that she thought the Danish citizens were too optimistic and they must be made more fearful.
I do think a case can be made that people in the US are, in general, less docile and less “statist” than our European cousins. On that count I agree with you.
As an interesting note, an interesting statistic of hospitalized COVED 19 patients is that almost 2 out of three [62%+] are obese. AND, that a risk group not earlier considered is the obese, since the more obese one is, the more likely [by 50 to 70%] to have a more adverse reaction than a non-obese.
Just as I am closing this, my wife tells me new news from DK. Germany just announced that starting May 15, they will open the border to Denmark step by step. Left unsaid, but foreshadowed, was the expectation that Denmark would reciprocate.
As an Australian watching the antics in America with incredulity, I can assure you all that at the present time no Americans are welcome here. We have almost eliminated the coronavirus (a few states have) and want to keep it that way.
Interestingly, most of the recorded cases here came from Americans on the Ruby Princess cruise ship and a couple of others, and attendees at the Hillsong conference who spread it widely over two South Australian wine-growing regions.
So, to repeat; not welcome!
Medical experts on the WH task force warn of the virus being seasonal.
Maybe Australia and NZ will see an outbreak during your winter.. then you won’t be welcome anywhere else
You do know when Australia and New Zealand experience winter right? They’re heading into it now. By press accounts of inter governmental discussions between OZ and NZ they are months from opening travel just between them. So basically no travel from outside countries is likely until their winter is ending, barring some major change.
Interesting and informative. Unfortunately understandable as well.
Lol. The reactions. Seems you pushed some buttons with some people. Haha.
I am in the Netherlands. Its handled perfectly here. We didnt close borders. Belgium did. Germany is more or less open for us. I expect that European internal travel will start and that 2nd part of summer will get tourism.
Sweden handles all even better. But that only works if the populatation isnt so dense so that ICU can handle.
Lets see what happens. Probably the whole economy will be reformed.
I have spent a lot of time outside the US over the past year and you do gain a certain perspective watching things from the outside. The way people see us is not complimentary. While they only get the information they see on television, when you live in another country you also begin to see things about your home you never noticed while you were over here in the thick of things. And unfortunately, many of our fellow countrymen refuse to believe anything but the best about the US of A.
I hope you’re wrong but fear you may be right. I’ve optimistically purchased an inexpensive plane ticket for September to head back to Europe but have no illusions it may be a gamble I’ll lose.
Thanks for your thoughts – I actually hadn’t considered things from this point of view. I had been of the opinion that “tourist locations will need tourist dollars” but your concerns are quite valid.
I totally agree with you. I am in Panama and the lockdown here would seem “brutal” to those few selfish people in the States but you know what it is working. I cringe at some of the reactions of my fellow US citizens and how they are handling this!
Maybe its just natural selection at its best! LOL
You must be a millennial, Dear Author. So touchy, reactive and prone to generalizations. This article has been a laugh. Thank you sincerely.
No, no. Thank *you* for the laugh. Accusing me of generalizations and then suggesting that this makes me a millennial is beautifully ironic (and more than a little hypocritical) but it brightened up my day. As for being touchy – you’re the one who felt the need to comment on this post which suggests you’re more than a little touchy yourself so I guess we’re two of a kind Bob.
Thank you for speaking the truth. It has been very painful to be watching the bewildering lack of effort to deal with the pandemic spread in the US.
Great essay Ziggy! You carefully distinguish between what the majority of Americans are doing to be good citizens, mask up and protect public health on the one hand, and the astroturf tantrums a few hundred covid deniers are participating in on the other (in a country of 300 million).
The article explains that these ultra-minority dissidents are undertaking actions that are affecting our national reputation and our liberty to travel. The criticisms in the comments are, as expected, keyboard warriors that most likely aren’t paying attention to the bodies piling up in refrigerated trucks outside hospitals and temporary mass graves in NYC.
At least we can take comfort in the fact that the people are with us, approval rates in tough states like Michigan are still above 60% despite really burdensome restrictions, and most of us are being mindful that personal liberty ends where another citizen wants to be free to shed potentially deadly virus particles while being asymptomatic. This is in the context of nearly no on-demand testing and virtually no access to antibody tests for those with no symptoms. Saying ‘you feel fine’ is meaningless in a situation where even majorities of the infected are asymptomatic
Thanks and well done,
Evan
You say our opinion doesn’t matter yet you spew your opinion ” the current occupant of the Oval Office”!
Like it or not, he IS the President. Anything else is self-denial and delusion.
…That’s truth. And politically correctly speaking is our other failure. Truth needs no correcting.
Truth is….Why other countries. Try travelling to Alaska. Oil prices are down, summer is on…But getting to Alaska isn’t easy. Cruise ships are off….Over 80% not going to operate.
Reality is reality.
Keep on reporting as you see. That’s good reporting.
Hi Ziggy,
I live in France. I’ll share with you what I know based on what the French government is sharing with us at this time. The deconfinement begins on May 11 by department, and in stages. “Green” departments (those with low case counts) will be allowed to travel within 100 km of their homes, with no “permission” document.
Masks will be worn on public transportation and public places like supermarkets. Restaurants and bars remain closed, as do beaches.
The Schengen borders remain closed to non-EU countries until May 15, but they anticipate that the closure order will be renewed – so non-EU countries will not be able to enter the Schengen zone (Except UK).
Inter-department travel may be allowed at some future point, possibly between adjoining departments. It is not clear at this time when France will open its borders to fellow Schengen travelers. Similar situations exist for most Schengen members – they don’t know either when they will open their respective borders. Inter-Europe travel is not currently happening.
The French and Europeans are way more concerned about what is happening in Europe. IMO. They will allow travel from outside the Schengen selectively, in the same manner they intend to open their borders to their fellow Schengen members – which they have yet to enact, because the dust has not settled yet.
Any country allowed into the Schengen will need to demonstrate that their Covid-19 situation is under control through publicly available metrics. IMO, for the US, this will have little to do with how the US is perceived, or any other non-Schengen nation for that matter. All nations will need to demonstrate readiness to enter the Schengen, by some yet to be determined metrics. I personally think the opinions of “Europeans” towards the US is merely interesting, and believe that they will publish standard metrics/requirements to allow entry into the Schengen.
All my opinion, of course…
As an American living in France since 2017, I agree with you Ziggy 100%. The French are far more knowledgeable about US politics than the other way around…. something like 10% of the French news is about the US. And the French– with all single-payer medical system that covers ALL residents, whether they can pay OR NOT– have endured a lockdown far more stringent than any lockdown anywhere in the US. We have to carry a legal form on us if we leave the house. No form, or incorrectly filled form incurs a 135 Euro fine. We are allowed out to shop for basic necessities, to visit doctors, to exercise for no more than 1 hr per day. It’s life-changing. It’s financial hardship. But for the most part the French understand it’s necessary until there is viable treatment or vaccine. One thing the French don’t worry about is paying for medical care if they get sick. So the French absolutely cannot comprehend why Americans would risk getting sick considering the cost of healthcare in the US. And if the US govt wants to pretend they have the virus under control despite growing numbers, sorry, but the French aren’t buying it. As things stand now, any person coming in from a non-Schengen state will need to be quarantined for 14 days. That will obviously discourage tourists from outside of Europe, but ultimately save lives and further damage to the economy if it prevents a second wave. Stay healthy.
My parents who live in Austria are asking me whether the sky has fallen in the USA based on reports in their newspapers of millions of sick and dead.
So, the perception of the USA is bad which is a function of the media coverage. And it is sensational to show armed demonstrators as it validates the feeling that the EU has a superior path.
The big difference is that Europe is supporting the out of work population financially. In the USa 30 million are unemployed and many can’t receive assistance.
If everyone in the USA would receive 80% of their previous income, most dissent would evaporate.
Also wait until Europe figures out that someone will have to pay for the rescue packages.
One post stated that government had to scare people to make them follow the directives.. good luck “unscaring” them when the economy has cratered.
Perception is a problem, once people realize that the virus is not going to be eradicated, they will open borders, however. Vienna needs international tourists but Italians and Spanish would be a bigger risk than Americans..
And who will pay for the $5 Trillion the US has thrown at the problem to date, most of which is going to large corporations and wealthy investors? Answer: US middle class taxpayers for the next 20 or more years. Same way the Europeans will fund their rescue packages, most of which are actually going to the working class, not large corporations.
I would venture to guess that most of the countries pointing the finger at America are basically socialist in political philosophy-they have much more robust social safety nets; their healthcare is not directly tied to current employment, for example. Americans have no choice but to go back to work quickly or they lose everything. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, before C-19, 1/20 deaths in America is directly tied to poverty. Being a globe trotting elite is a privilege. Let’s not worry about what the world thinks right now – let’s take care of our own, and offer aid abroad where and whenever we can.
100% accurate. People are too quick to shoot the messenger because they’re also science deniers or they don’t like that the orange buffoon isn’t lauded all over the world. Here in northern Florida I see people gathering on the street corner and almost no one wearing masks. People think it’s a joke and don’t take it seriously. And yet two people close to me have died from the virus and I haven’t been able to smell or taste most things for over six weeks. Once people’s cavalier attitude starts catching up to them they’ll realize this isn’t a mild flu or an excuse for an extended summer vacation and there’s a reason this is called a pandemic.
This has nothing to do with the beach…. Just so you know the real reason the USA has kept free isn’t by sending soldiers to die in deserts around the world… it’s pushing back on abuses of executive power. We are near 3 months since the start of this and mayors, governors, and the Cheeto In chief have shown zero signs they will stop ruling by decree. We have elected representatives to make public policy and they are bypassing that when at this point the initial shock has passed and our governments need to go back to making law by way of passing bills.
PS yes my “civil liberties” as you mockingly call them are more important then whether I get to go to Austria. When you come back and Trump hasn’t declared marshal law and called off the election you can thank our “civil liberties”
Regarding the content of the article, I told my husband this exact same message just last week. Why would anyone want US residents to visit? There is no leadership in this country. We can’t even get a national response to testing. It’s embarrassing for the ‘greatest country in the world’.
Reopening economies is a political decision, not a scientific one. Scientists and doctors are not elected to make decisions weighing medical risks versus economic ones. Their jobs are to provide elected officials with information regarding medical risks. The media obviously want to broadcast the most sensational news to drive ratings. They don’t bother to go into the slightest nuance in the treatment of data about COVID-19 patients. In New York City, obviously the hardest hit location in the country, the fatality rate for those 18 to 44 is 0.016% and for 45 to 65 is 0.147%. Nearly all hospitalizations have comorbidities. Instead of having a rational discussion about how the economy could be reopened with the young and healthy returning to work while protecting the elderly and infirm (why haven’t officials acted to protect those in nursing homes, where a huge percentage of fatal infections occurred?), people like Governor Cuomo make infantile, pandering exhortations about saving “just one life” at any cost. Anyone with a functioning brain knows that no government or individual operates in such a manner. Mayor de Blasio was telling people to go about their lives as normal well into March. He also admitted to lying about the benefit of wearing masks in order to protect supplies for health care workers. The virus was allowed to spread freely in the city for months. This is the government leadership that people are entrusting their lives with? Wanting to have a targeted reopening is not callous capitalism. One can judge for himself what the risks and benefits are and we have ways to mitigate the spread of the virus now. Keep in mind that we are still seeing deaths from March infections as it can take as long as ten weeks for someone to die from COVID-19. While many of the protesters may come across as “deplorables,” those who want to maintain a lockdown do not have science or justice on their side. It’s easy to feel good while doing nothing and not thinking things through. Living requires taking risks and making hard decisions. You aren’t really living if you totally rely on the state to provide for and protect you. People are dying and will die from non-COVID-19 conditions, be it from cancers going untreated or undiagnosed, operations postponed, and soon despair from the loss of one’s livelihood. Everything the US is capable of doing is thanks to the surplus created by businesses. Destroy that wealth and it will be less able to take care of everyone in the years to come. Europeans will have to face that truth. Oh, and only Germany has a lower COVID-19 death rate than the US among major European countries. I don’t really see how most other countries could get on their high horses. You try running a multi-ethnic country of 330 million people. It’s going to get messy unless you are willing to accept totalitarian rule.
Riddle me this: What European country on which metric has larger numbers than the US? Yesterday the US had over 24000 new cases reported, the closest for any European country as the UK with 6116. The US has over 900,000 active cases, the closest European country is the UK with 172,275. Even after normalizing for population size, the US is above all European countries. Active cases in the US is 2929.4/1M, in the UK it is close 2578.1/1M. The only metric where a (one) European country of any size is above the US is in new cases/day normalized for population size: the US had 72.6 new cases/1M yesterday, the UK had 92.1/1M.
And do not think that ‘once the first country on the mainland continent opens up, the whole travel gig is up’ is anywhere near reality. Even if you can get to Europe/are in Europe now you cannot move around. Borders are closed on the continent. For all practical purposes, the Schengen zone does not exist at the moment. I am in Europe, in a Schengen country, and could be at the border of 5 other countries within a couple of hours, but I cannot cross into any of them. In France you cannot even move between Departments (equivalent of states) yet. And even if you could cross from country A to country B, you might not be allowed to move from B back to A, so you had better have things all worked out, end to end, before trying to do something like that.
George, can you offer your self as a travel agent? 9 or 10 countries in 4 months. Please detail your itinerary for the next 6 months
Thanks
Singapore and Japan have now gone into partial lockdown after the second outbreak. Sweden is having to reconsider its approach of herd immunity after cases of reinfection have shown up around the world. Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan are increasing their testing and establishing a more permanent contact tracing program with no ability for residents or visitors to opt out of the programs. New Zealand and Australia represent 1.5 million visits and 1.4 million visits a year to each other’s countries. They will open up to each other and both have committed to having government controlled quarantine facilities for all other visitors for 14 days (no exceptions – take it or leave it).
Frankly we would prefer you leave it. As an American living here I know I will likely not be able to return (nor be willing to risk to return until at least a treatment is available, but preferably a cure) to visit my family stateside for at least two years as the US goes through multiple waves of this disease and does a repeat of 1918-1919.
I very much agree with what this article says and am happy someone is finally saying this in a travel forum. I am originally from Canada and the Premier of Ontario specifically stated that until this pandemic is over Americans are not welcome in the province. Rude…but that’s what he said and that’s coming from a government that depends massively on the US for economic survival. My parents are considered vulnerable people in Canada and I hope the Canadian government will continue to stand strong on that. Love Americans, love all my American friends – but the country must demonstrate that they’ve got their shit together before their people are allowed to travel abroad. I live in Haiti which is an extremely poor country that, by the grace of whatever, has so far had very few cases. According to various postings on social media many Americans are itching to come back here but unfortunately I hope that they are not allowed until their government is stringently screening anyone who wishes to go abroad because if the virus ever takes serious hold here we will be devastated. The US has already exported several cases to Haiti as they are insisting on continuing to deport people (threat of sanctions if countries don’t accept deportees). They are apparently not screening deportees which I think is criminal and the US government should be forced to pay for the medical care and safety of these people.
The media in the United States is 95% of the problem. No matter what is happening here they go negative. Until that stops I am sure the rest of the world will only see the bad. That’s all they are told.
I’m Canadian and I agree. No one wants Americans near them now and really we can do a lot without them if we had to financially. I hope our borders stay closed to Americans. We have very low cases here. I know most people wouldn’t even think of travel to the USA in the near future!
I travel internationally a few times a year. I, in no way, thought I would be able to travel outside the U.S. for at least 4-6 months. This article has no affect on what has already been known by most people. It’s commom sense. I talk frequently with my family in Europe. They are only concerned with how we are doing here. They have not even mentioned what this article is stating. There, they have already begun to open stores and people are able to congregate with other family members and friends. We have a ‘sick’ highly biased media. Thankfully, more and more people are realizing this truth.
I hadn’t considered this perspective before. I’m a US citizen and world traveler who is now living in Spain. So my first reaction was yeah, I get it, but what about me? We’ve tried to do the right thing and I’d hate to find myself unable to enter a nation because of this.
If some kind of restriction is put in place it will most likely be based on where you’ve recently been rather than what passport you’re carrying so I wouldn’t worry too much.
We have a terrible reputation abroad because of the “Main Stream Agenda” and journalists like yourself. SELF HATING AMERICANS!
No, a minority of us have a bad reputation abroad because of people like you who cannot fathom the idea that all we do isn’t amazing, wonderful, and world-leading.
P.S I’m not a journalist.
The US already monetizes security through TSA PRE, Global Entry, et al. I’m sure this will just be an opportunity to add a bio dimension to the checks.
Then, the 1% will easily pop off on a getaway to spent its blood money, while the rest of the population struggles with unemployment and food insecurity.
PS, I also am American.
Agree that money talks, but a second wave of the virus would almost likely be more costly to an economy than the revenue generated from opening up the US. Hoping we can curtail our rates in the US by the fall though.
Agree that money talks, but a second wave of the virus would almost likely be more costly to an economy than the revenue generated from opening up the US. Hoping we can curtail our rates in the US by the fall though (got a big trip planned for Nov)
Below are articles of European Countries Protesting against their government lockdowns. I guess they think like Americans?!?!?
https://www.rferl.org/amp/covid19-wrapup-rferl-april-23/30571871.html
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2237475-covid-19-news-coronavirus-restrictions-to-ease-slightly-in-england/
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-52426378/coronavirus-berlin-march-against-lockdown-measures
There’s a difference between people protesting and governments feeling the need to open up early because of protestors. Most European Countries have chosen not to open up early despite the protests while a significant number of US states are bowing to protestor pressure. This comes despite the fact that most US states are still behind most European countries as far as the progress of the virus goes.
The article simply conveyed a belief that the author has developed through observation and/or experience.
As a US citizen currently living in Argentina, I can tell you that the perception mentioned in the article is real. I’ve personally experienced it and there are various ‘Expat In xxx’ groups that have discussed the topic extensively.
Bang on, Eric, and coming from an outsider, the persistency of arrogance, despite clear truths and facts, just crystallizes how uninterested I am in seeing US visitors in my own country.
I am Indian academic researcher and have my children living in the US and have travelled several times since 3 decades. And have always held the US in high esteem. But now I agree with the sentiments expressed here. I have defended US with people who would criticise usually and now have no defense left. The way the leader and some of the citizens of this great nation are behaving is the not just stupidity but utterly disgusting. Yes, the US has become the laughing stock of the world.
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/03/india-coronavirus-covid19-narendra-modi/608896/
@James Wallace Martin. I’m in a similar situation you’re in except in the reverse. I’m an American living in the U.S. but the my family lives in Australia including my elderly mother. Thank goodness for technology like Skype and FaceTime. I’m able to “see” them daily. But I can’t fathom what to do if I had a family emergency and not being able to travel over there or be subject to a 14-day quarantine. For 99.9% of us not being able to travel for the foreseeable future is merely an inconvenience. For folks like us the stakes are much more personal.
Had the author actually done any research on this?
In fact, countries are ONLY opening to the developed countries like range US and UK because those are the countries that are actually going to bring in money.
Please actually research before writing
Before you write condescending comments you should probably get a basic understanding of what perception means and what an opinion is. More importantly, if you want to discuss “facts”, the United Kingdom (which you choose to cite as an example) looks like it will be one of the last EU countries whose residents will be allowed to visit popular Mediterranean vacation spots (Greece, Cyprus, Balearic Islands etc…) because of the Covid-19 situation in the country…and these are countries and destinations which get a substantial amount of their income from UK visitors.
Here’s a link offering just one such example: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/cyprus-reopening-tourists-july-brits-18160616
And here’s a link showing that the UK supplies more visitors to Cyprus than any other country…by far! – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Cyprus
Based on your comment you don’t appear to realize any of this so perhaps it’s you who needs to do a bit of research?
ETA: You also seem to be forgetting that the UK and the US aren’t the only “developed” nations on the planet. European countries could survive quite easily without US visitors (European countries get most of their tourist income from other European counties) and, looking to Asia and Oceania, most countries are a lot more reliant on their neighbors than they are US tourists (In 2018 visitors to Singapore from China, Indonesia, India, and Malaysia totaled 9.12 million while visitors from the US totaled just 640k). Do you really think that Singapore will care about banning 640k US tourists if it thinks that the US hasn’t got Covid-19 under control?
Another great article to support your post: https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/12/us-global-reputation-rock-bottom-donald-trump-coronavirus
What those other countries fail to understand is that once the news was out that it was mostly black people, that’s when white people started their fuckery.
America makes decisions based on two things……..race and money…….and that’s it. That all you need to know about the US to understand president orange idiot’s response to this pandemic.
We have traveled to 103 countries all over the world. Our current administration has put us in such a bad light. People all over have told us coming to the US was their dream. No longer. They are afraid for their safety and do not trust our government. Greatest country in the world is losing its status.
I see it the same way you do. They think we are a ship of fools they don’t want sailing their way. We can’t even travel in the US outside the lower 48 without being put in a 14 day quarantine. Hawaii is arresting people who don’t stay in their hotels. Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, NONE of them want us right now. 14 day mandatory quarantine, then very restricted and limited activity. They are arresting and fining people who don’t respect their rules. Amenities in resorts are closed, so no spas, pools, etc. The few people I know who are driving for vacations are having to get off the beaten path and are having difficulty with anything but driving by attractions. Many things are shut down and hotel space is not always available. Plan to picnic, as many restaurants along highways are closed. If you want to take some food and a tent and go camp out in a pasture, that might be your best bet. Vacation Covid Style.
[…] coming year as many countries have imposed severe travel restrictions. And some experts warn that Americans may not be welcome in other countries for some time. Even if travel becomes possible, recommended social distancing measures might make […]
I don’t blame them one bit, I have absolutely zero respect for my own country at this point. It’s shameful and selfish and childish and straight-up idiotic. I’m wishing I had moved as soon as Trump got put into office, since that was clearly when we jumped the shark for good.
Wait until Trump wins again in November! You snowflakes will be screaming at the sun again. The self hating american liberals will never be content with anything, always blaming someone else for their misfortune. You are a victim and will always be one. Please move, you all would very well somewhere else. Do you think most Americans give a rats ass what Europeans think of us. The last time we were in Prague, the Brits were drunk and vomiting everywhere. I didn’t even see one American. Nice try..This garbage piece crap article highlights how the liberal media has ruined the minds of weak individuals.
If you don’t care what others think of you why the rant and the vitriol?
Up here in Canada, this is a real concern. We are doing our best to flatten the curve: the worst hit place now is Quebec – Montreal, where most businesses remain closed, schools are likely shut until next fall, and even next fall universities are trying to move most courses online only. But there is a fear that Canada will have trouble keeping the borders closed if Trump decides he wants them open, but that opening the borders will be real dangerous to us – accelerating and intensifying the second cycle of the virus.
Regarding perceptions, here is a well-documented more recent article.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/15/donald-trump-coronavirus-response-world-leaders?fbclid=IwAR1c2ANGilsCkPg7s7TdsBoNa0acp6kU7CZLbx4GPZg-dpJx1VWF_MsZkho
Fact: the US is viewed very badly now across much of the world. You can agree with that perception or think it is wrong, but the general perception very clearly exists. And that will affect travel.
[…] (but expected) countries missing from this list are the United States (I warned that this may happen back in May), China and Portugal but the list includes the likes of Greece and Cyprus which were far from being […]