Jeremy Conklin was in Miami for business.
The plan was for his wife, Bobbie Conklin, to meet him there.
Two days before Bobbie was scheduled to head south, she was unsure of her travel plans.
The Conklins, who live in Morgantown, were scheduled to leave Miami on Friday on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship for a cruise around the Bahamas to celebrate Jeremy’s birthday.
“We were also planning on going skydiving in Florida,” she said Tuesday. “We’re willing to take that risk, but not so sure about the cruise.”
A day later, Bobbie sent a text. The Conklins opted not to go on the cruise, but decided to enjoy time in Florida.
“My husband and I did end up canceling our cruise, which was to leave on Friday,” she said in a Wednesday text. “We pivoted once we got to Florida and are spending time in Miami, Islamorada and Key West. The resort helped us with a $99 a night rate.”
The Conklins are not the only Morgantown family to adjust travel plans because of concerns about COVID-19. The respiratory virus has killed thousands of people worldwide and caused cancellations of major sporting and social events, as well as leading to major universities, such as West Virginia University, the University of Pittsburgh and Marshall University in the southern part of the state to suspend classroom instruction in favor of online learning until virus fears have eased.
The city of Pittsburgh has even canceled its annual St. Patrick’s Day parade because of fears the virus would spread.
Nationally, the National Hockey League and the National Basketball Association announced suspension of their playing seasons indefinitely. Plus, the MLB season is delayed.
But not everyone is going to let fears of the virus interrupt plans. Roy and Tricia Denjen of Morgantown are going to Myrtle Beach in June. They said they are not worried about the novel coronavirus.
“You have to live your life,” they said in an email to The Dominion Post. “But I would not go on a cruise or to China right now.”
Judy K. Ball of Morgantown said she is going through with her plans to attend a college graduation in June in Oregon.
“I got an email from United last week telling me that they are allowing reservations made this month to be rescheduled without penalty for the remainder of the year,” Ball said. “That’s a relief. My plan is to go ahead and make the reservations. And keep my fingers crossed.”
To date, there have been no confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in West Virginia. State officials, however, have said it is inevitable COVID-19 will make an appearance.
As of Sunday, the West Virginia Department of Health & Human Resources reported 38 negative tests and zero confirmed cases. One test remains under review.
“While we are fortunate to still have no confirmed cases in West Virginia, it is absolutely critical that we stay in front of this emerging health threat and work to keep the public informed about the ways we are preparing as a state and continuing to use every precaution at our disposal to keep the public as safe as possible,” said Gov. Jim Justice in a statement Wednesday.
But one thing the virus has done from outside state borders is to throw a monkey wrench into the travel plans of area north-central West Virginia residents such as the Conklins.
Morgantown travel agent Susan Daniels and her husband, Jeff, chair of the Department of Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling and Counseling Psychology at WVU’s College of Education and Human Services, also cancelled a cruise to the Caribbean.
“Obviously this is a fluid situation,” said Daniels, the mother of two daughters, one 24 and the other 13. “Several cases of (COVID-19) have been reported at Port Everglades, the cruise port we would have been sailing from.”
The national cruise industry is a $45-billion-a-year business.
“U.S. citizens, particularly travelers with underlying health conditions, should not travel by cruise ship,” the State Department said on its website.
“Americans should not rely on being evacuated if other countries subject them to quarantine,” the government added.
The State Department advisory was the main reason Daniels said she and her husband postponed their cruise. They were scheduled to go on their trip Saturday.
“And now with WVU issuing a travel ban for official travel and a vague comment linking (to) the CDC recommendations, there is a possibility that we would have been quarantined upon our return since my husband and our other travel companion are WVU employees,” Daniels said in an email.
Many cruise lines are allowing people to reschedule their cruises at no additional charge with the exception of taxes and fees. Viking Cruises and Princess Cruises have temporarily suspended operations.
“It’s just crazy right now,” Daniels said.
TWEET @41Suzanne
