According to the National Travel and Tourism Office, Americans will spend $409 billion on their holiday travels this year. With that amount of money at stake, it’s essential for travelers to know how they can ensure their safety while abroad.
The “cdc guidelines for gatherings 2021” is a great resource for health experts and travelers. The CDC has released recommendations on how to stay safe during the holiday season.
As we approach our second Christmas season in the midst of COVID-19 in the United States, things seem a bit different than they did at this time last year.
To help halt the spread of the virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) pleaded with Americans not to travel over the holidays and instead limit their festivities to family and friends until the end of 2020. Not everyone followed the CDC’s recommendation, as indicated by the post-holiday spike in illnesses we saw.
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At least this time, over 57 percent of the US population has been properly vaccinated, and case numbers are once again dropping, despite some disheartening setbacks due to the Delta variety.
The Washington Post consulted five public health experts for tips on how to travel safely this Christmas season to meet relatives and friends you may have missed last year.
Unvaccinated People’s Advice
Those who aren’t completely vaccinated against COVID-19 and are eligible should receive the shot before going anyplace for the holidays, according to public health specialists.
“If you are unvaccinated, your recommendations are the same as last year,” said Iahn Gonsenhauser, Ohio State University’s chief quality and patient safety officer. “If I wasn’t vaccinated right now, I wouldn’t be going.” You put yourself in a dangerous situation.”
Of course, one large segment of the population is not eligible for the vaccine: children under the age of 12. Keri Althoff, an epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, noted that her own family’s Christmas travel plans are still in the works because she doesn’t want to put her unvaccinated children’s health at danger.
Prior to vacation travel, a lady is vaccinated against COVID-19. (iStock/Getty Images Plus/Pyrosky picture)
Regarding her Christmas travel plans, she added, “It depends on whether or not my children can be properly inoculated.” “So, obviously, it won’t happen before Thanksgiving, but maybe for the holidays in December?”
“I believe both the combination of boosters and younger children being able to obtain a vaccine before December definitely helps make [Christmas travel] safer,” said Joseph Khabbaza, a critical care medicine expert at Cleveland Clinic.
When the holidays arrive, people who are still unvaccinated should continue to take the customary precautions, such as wearing masks, social separation, and avoiding crowded indoor settings. The same is true if you’ve been vaccinated but are immunocompromised, since your risk of infection is still greater than persons who have a healthy immune system.
Americans who are eligible for a vaccination booster should get one before traveling for the holidays, according to Khabbaza.
Inquire about the vaccination status of others.
While it may seem strange to ask, Brian C. Castrucci, president and CEO of the public health organization de Beaumont Foundation, advises visitors to find out whether the folks they’ll be enjoying the holidays with are completely vaccinated.
Some people may opt to avoid visiting unvaccinated friends or relatives, while others may find methods to celebrate the holidays with them in a somewhat safe manner. If at all feasible, Althoff recommended shifting the celebrations outside or limiting them to small groups.
“Some of us may have to go back to the adaptations that we all had to think about last year if you’re going to be working with a population that has a high number of unvaccinated persons,” she added.
Obviously, not everyone will be able to make such changes. “For example, going outdoors in freezing weather for an extended length of time is quite difficult for a loved one who is more weak,” Althoff added.
Woman reviewing the COVID-19 fast antigen home testing kit instructions. (picture courtesy of iStock/Getty Images Plus/Daisy-Daisy/Daisy-Daisy)
COVID-19 Rapid Tests Pack
Even if you’ve been vaccinated, Althoff advises having your own quick test with you on your trip, just in case you develop symptoms while you’re gone. If you have a cough, scratchy throat, or other illness while traveling, a fast test might help you figure out what to do.
“Having a test with you may give you that piece of mind if, God forbid, you wake up the morning of the celebration and someone isn’t feeling well,” she said.
Rapid tests aren’t always reliable, and if done too early in a person’s sickness, they may miss the infection entirely. Despite this, Jessica Malaty Rivera, an epidemiologist with the COVID Tracking Project, thinks they’re a useful tool for travelers.
“When you’re ill or symptomatic, rapid antigen tests are very, extremely excellent at identifying current infection,” she added.
Under the Christmas tree, there’s luggage. (Image courtesy of Goldenberg/iStock/Getty Images Plus) )
Make a backup plan.
If you test positive just before the holidays, the proper thing to do is remain at home and isolate yourself until you’ve healed. We’d all want to believe it won’t happen to us, but life has a habit of throwing us curveballs.
As a result, Althoff recommends that everyone strive to plan for COVID-related challenges, whether it’s a change in travel regulations at your destination or catching the virus personally right before or during your trip.
While having your vacation plans altered might be frustrating, Althoff advised vacationers to be adaptable and optimistic. If your arrangements fall through, consider if you can meet up with friends or family at a later date between now and New Year’s.
“It’s always vital to reconnect with friends and stay close to your loved ones,” Althoff remarked. “However, thinking through how to do it safely so that your mental and emotional health is also emphasized with these times of reconnection is crucial, especially after the long path we’ve all been on together is important.”
The “unvaccinated travel to usa” is a topic that has been trending this holiday season. Health experts have released their advice on how to stay safe when traveling.
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