RE: Life inside China during the CoViD-19 Virus Outbreak

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RE: Life inside China during the CoViD-19 Virus Outbreak

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blocktrades in #news • 5 years ago

I have a friend visiting here (in the US) from China. He came here several months before the outbreak and was planning to go back in the middle of March. At this point, I guess he will have to stay here until the end of his 6 month VISA, but I'm wondering about what happens when that runs out (because of the lack of flights from US to China).

It seems like there will need to be some way for such people to extend their VISAs, if they can't go back to China. I mean, maybe he can go to some other country in the meantime, but that makes little-to-no-sense, and would be incredibly expensive as well (here he's staying with family).

5 years ago in #news by blocktrades

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mobbs 5 years ago

The extreme circumstances may warrant emergency visa situations as has been the case for a few, but yeah for the most part it's a tricky situation. I'd have thought from the UK I could take any indirect flight, but with airlines around the world cutting China off, pretty much Russia was the only dependable one, and even that was only a single airline remaining (though they seemed comfortable that they weren't going to change these policies - Aeroflot).

It's rough. If I can somehow help from this side feel free to ask on their behalf =)

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blocktrades 5 years ago

At this point, I don't think he wants to go back home yet. He lives about 1000 km from Hubei, but, even in his city, his friends have told him that most everything is closed, only 1 family member leaves the house for supplies, etc, so he'd just be incredibly bored there right now.

I'm just hoping that the US does something to extend VISAs for people in his situation. But given the current political climate here, I'm not sure I can expect a rational plan for such people.

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mobbs 5 years ago

Well, I congratulate every extra second they get to stay away for now! The news just came out that they 'revised' the definition of infected people and the numbers just skyrocketed... oopsey. Fingers crossed the US speaks sense on the matter then

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yahialababidi 5 years ago

Definitely very interesting to read @mobbs and a well-written, engaging account. Stay safe/sane & thanks for reporting to us of your experience from the ground.

Was speaking to a Chinese neighbor in our building in Florida @blocktrades & she gave me the impression that it was a total non-issue in China & her friends/family are flying back & forth, no problem.

Upon further reflection, I think much was lost in translation (her English was so-so).

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mobbs 5 years ago

Thanks a lot - Sanity is easier for me than it is some of my friends, it seems! Some haven't left their apartments in weeks... Eesh.

There is an argument for it being a non-issue, in that, as I say in my video, 300 infected in a city of 30 million, statistically it's not so dangerous; even if you catch it, chances are you'll just get a mild cough.

But this fails to understand the potential dangers. What if it breaks out in poor regions of Africa, India? What about those who you inadvertently pass on to with your mild cough that ends up killing them? What if this, unlike SARS, is here to stay (as some scientists are suggesting) and it becomes a new addition to seasonal flus popping up around the world for years to come?

So I guess it depends on how healthy you feel and how good your insurance is!

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yahialababidi 5 years ago

Thank you @mobbs for your considerate & thoughtful reply.

I pray it is contained & that the less fortunate of the world are spared more suffering...

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nathanpieters 5 years ago

@blocktrades did the buyout mess up transfers? I transferred BTC into blocktrades a while ago and nothing has happened. Not even pending....

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