Flights are booked. Bags are packed.

To cancel Christmas travel plans appears unfathomable at this level.

But for a lot of, so does the velocity at which the omicron variant is spreading. The extremely transmissible Covid-19 variant — which was first detected in late November however has since been detected in almost 90 international locations — is causing travel uncertainty around the globe.

Still, some within the medical and analysis fields are hanging a distinct tone this yr than 2020’s “stay home, stay safe” mantra — not less than for now.

“At this point in the pandemic, we’ve learned so much about this virus and how to keep ourselves from spreading infection to others — and from acquiring infection,” stated Stephen Kissler, analysis fellow at Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, in an online discussion on Dec. 9 with “The World” public radio program.

If sure precautions are taken, it is potential to “travel relatively safely,” he stated.

“If you’re vaccinated and boosted, and you take care when you go into congregate settings like airports to make sure you continually wear your mask, you should be okay,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the highest U.S. infectious illness professional, stated on Dec. 19 on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

He stated there is a “major difference with regard to the risk of severity” between “a vaccinated and boosted person who has an infection and someone who has an infection who’s never been vaccinated.”

Moderna introduced this week that lab trials confirmed its vaccine boosters yield a significant increase in antibody levels against omicron. Pfizer introduced comparable outcomes earlier within the month.

Dr. Eric Topol told CNBC on Monday that these with three pictures are 95% protected in opposition to the delta variant, which continues to be circulating.

The omicron variant is producing 5 instances as many “breakthrough cases” amongst vaccinated folks, he instructed Jim Cramer on “Mad Money.” However, “most of them have been reported to be pretty mild so far.”

“We’re going to see a fairly large number of new infections,” stated Topol. “A fraction of those are not going to be mild … we just don’t know what that fraction is yet.”

2.     Use speedy exams earlier than (small) gatherings

“Rapid tests provide the best protection we have against the spread of disease,” stated Kissler. “I’m beginning to think more and more of [vaccinations] as a preventive against disease and severe illness — and testing as a preventive against spread.”  

He really useful utilizing speedy exams immediately prior to an event, ideally an hour or two earlier than it begins. He additionally suggests retaining Christmas gatherings small and ventilating the room.

“No matter how cold it is outside, I’m going to have my windows cracked by four to six inches,” he stated.

Since rapid tests aren’t as accurate as PCR tests, Topol really useful utilizing them incessantly to extend confidence within the outcomes.

Similarly, Fauci stated, “If you do them sequentially — one or two or more — you’re going to get a result that would be an accurate result.”

For additional safety, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing two masks: a disposable masks beneath and a material masks on high. Wearers of three-ply disposable masks also can implement the “knot and tuck” technique, which entails knotting the ear loops near the masks and tucking within the extra materials for a safer match.

Lastly, keep the course throughout the journey.

“Vaccination, high-quality testing, and high-quality face masks … each form a layer of protection,” stated Jacobson. “Any weakness in one or more of the layers weakens a person’s and a community’s safety, and effectively empowers the virus.”

The CDC recommends that people do not travel in the event that they:

• Have been uncovered to Covid-19, except they have been absolutely vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19 prior to now 90 days
• Are sick
• Test optimistic for Covid-19 and have not ended isolation, even when absolutely vaccinated
• Are ready for Covid-19 check outcomes

Speaking at a press convention on Monday, the World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged holidaymakers to reconsider some events: “It is better to cancel now and celebrate later than to celebrate now and grieve later.”