Is It Safe to Travel? Can I Still See My Family on Christmas?

Is Omicron actually going to wreck Christmas?

Ever since Covid-19 instances started rising sharply, long-awaited plans to see mates and kinfolk have abruptly been known as into query. We need to see each other — however ought to we?

So far it seems as if Omicron received’t make a dent in vacation journey. AAA estimates that greater than 109 million Americans will journey throughout the Christmas and New Year’s vacation season, a 34 p.c enhance from 2020.

But Omicron seems to be the most contagious variant yet. Should we fear about visiting older kinfolk? Is flying thought of protected? What about Christmas dinner?

We requested three epidemiologists and a psychologist to assist untangle these and different sophisticated questions, and provide ideas on staying protected. Here is their steering.

Is airplane journey OK?

On Friday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s high infectious illness professional, said on CNBC that regardless of Omicron, those that are vaccinated “and hopefully also boosted” ought to really feel “reasonably comfortable” having fun with the vacations at a member of the family’s house, and that he “would not hesitate” to get on a airplane if he had to.

But “the risk is never zero, that’s for sure,” he added.

In the tip, the reply relies upon on your private tolerance for threat and the way essential the journey is to you.

Experts say it’s essential to rely on a layered strategy to decreasing threat, particularly: getting vaccinated, getting a booster shot if eligible, carrying a masks, having correct air flow and utilizing speedy house testing.

Katelyn Okay. Jetelina, an assistant professor of epidemiology on the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, is touring to California on Sunday along with her two younger ladies, 2 and 14 months. She is ready to cancel their flight at a second’s discover if she and her husband begin to really feel uneasy. So far, nonetheless, she isn’t overly involved about air journey.

“I would consider it a low risk because of filtration systems and ventilation, as well as masks are required — not only that, they’re enforced,” she mentioned.

If folks on the airplane are taking off their masks for prolonged intervals of time for snacks or meals, that will increase the chance of an infection for everybody on that airplane, she added. So she suggested leaving your mask on. “Masks protect the wearer, too,” she mentioned. “Not just the people around them.”

Dr. Jetelina recommends upgrading to an N95 masks, should you haven’t already. For youngsters, she suggests KN95s as a result of N95s don’t come of their sizes.

Many public well being consultants suggest the KF94 masks, which is made in South Korea, due to its high quality, excessive filtration charge and cushty match.

When requested about masks on Friday, Dr. Fauci mentioned that whereas the N95 was one of the best masks at blocking aerosol and droplet particles, they are often comparatively uncomfortable to put on. “A regular surgical mask as well as a cloth mask is fine,” he added.

Getting to and from the flight creates extra threat as a result of the journey provides extra alternatives for publicity. So as an alternative of taking a automobile service, Dr. Jetelina has requested her vaccinated kinfolk to come to the airport and decide her and her household up.

Her household can be aiming to reduce publicity to indoor crowds, particularly in locations which will have poor air flow. Either she or her husband will take the kids exterior whereas the others wait at baggage declare, for instance.

Dr. Michael Mina, a former Harvard epidemiologist who’s now the chief science officer for eMed, an organization that verifies at-home check outcomes, mentioned he plans to fly to Colorado this month along with his spouse and 2-month-old daughter.

“This isn’t going to be the last variant, and I think that we have the ability to gather safely if we do it right,” he mentioned.

How can speedy exams assist us?

Rapid antigen exams, which may point out inside minutes whether or not somebody is contagious with Covid-19, are among the finest methods to assist guarantee everybody’s security this vacation season, the consultants mentioned.

The exams stay costly — a typical two-pack prices $14 to $24 — and generally they are often laborious to observe down in shops. But should you’re lucky sufficient to have some on hand, Dr. Mina suggests that everybody check 15 minutes earlier than gathering. It’s essential to do the check in a room-temperature setting like a automobile, he added, as a result of the exams lose a few of their efficacy if they’re performed in temperatures under 55 levels.

Dr. Jetelina and her household shall be utilizing the exams proper earlier than heading to the airport, as soon as they land after which each different day earlier than their members of the family collect for Christmas.

If your check is adverse, you may really feel reassured that you’re not infectious at that second. Because the exams operate as a snapshot in time, taking one on the day earlier than a gathering isn’t helpful.

If you get a optimistic speedy check, you shouldn’t spend time with different folks, mentioned Eleanor Murray, an epidemiologist on the Boston University School of Public Health. But get affirmation with a P.C.R. check as a result of false positives can occur.

What else can we do to keep protected?

Eat open air should you can. And if you’re attending an indoor gathering, open the home windows and think about shopping for a HEPA air purifier to cut back the quantity of airborne virus, Dr. Mina mentioned.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that every one eligible folks get vaccinated and boosted and keep away from crowded indoor areas earlier than journey, notably if they are going to be gathering with folks from a number of households.

Those with weakened immune programs might not be totally protected even when they’re totally vaccinated and have obtained an additional dose, the company mentioned, so they need to proceed to take all precautions recommended for unvaccinated people.

“The challenge is that everyone has their own risk tolerance level,” Dr. Jetelina mentioned. “Someone that doesn’t want to get infected at all? Then no, they shouldn’t hop on a plane.” But by taking the appropriate precautions, she added, you may cut back your threat.

Dr. Murray is taking a extra conservative strategy this vacation season.

“Omicron really drives home for me the importance of deciding not to travel this winter,” she mentioned. “So I am staying home.”

For her, the dangers of both contracting or spreading Covid proper now are too excessive. Although the vaccines are very efficient at stopping extreme sickness, they don’t seem to be excellent, she mentioned, and the members of the family she could be visiting this Christmas have younger youngsters who usually are not but eligible for vaccination.

She beneficial taking inventory of your particular state of affairs. For instance, do you reside in an space with a excessive proportion of Covid instances? Are you touring to an space that has a excessive proportion of instances? Will you be gathering with a big group or a small group? Are you consuming inside or exterior? It’s additionally essential to think about whether or not the folks you’ll be seeing are vaccinated and boosted; should you’re planning to go to a couple of house; and the supply of speedy exams for your self and your family members.

How do you weigh loneliness?

Families ought to take into consideration the psychological well being ramifications of staying aside, an essential consideration that usually will get misplaced when inspecting the dangers of contracting the virus.

“I think you have to make up a pro and con list, not only about physical safety, but also emotional needs,” mentioned Barbara Greenberg, a scientific psychologist in Fairfield County, Conn. “Will it be harder for you to see your family? Or will the anxiety of not seeing them weigh more heavily?”

In her observe, she added, “person after person are talking about how sad they are about spending the holiday without family again,” she mentioned. “Loneliness and isolation are setting in.”