A third year of pandemic holiday travel is upon us, but this year, instead of just thinking about how to protect themselves from coronavirus, people are also worrying about how to avoid the flu and respiratory syncytial virus. , or RSV, the so-called tripledemic .
What’s also different this year is that there is no federal mandate to wear masks on public transportation. And even though coronavirus cases have increased, there is no indication that the warrants will be reinstated.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Transportation Security Administration suggest it’s a good idea to mask up, but don’t require travelers to do so.
Sign up for The Morning of the New York Times newsletter
“The CDC recommends wearing a high-quality mask or respirator properly over your nose and mouth in indoor areas of public transportation (such as planes, trains, buses, ferries) and transportation hubs (such as airports, train stations, and seaports),” the CDC says on its website.
With the number of people flying near 2019 levels — the TSA screened more than 4.5 million people over the past weekend — here are some steps you can take to stay safe when traveling over the holidays .
Do I have to wear a mask on the plane, even if it’s not mandatory?
You should “absolutely” wear masks when traveling, public health researchers, infectious disease doctors and air filtration experts have said. Even though planes have excellent filtration systems, you’ll likely be on crowded planes with other travelers for long periods of time, increasing your risk of exposure, said disease public health researcher Saskia Popescu. Diseases and Assistant Professor at the Schar School of Policy. and government at George Mason University.
“Now it’s getting worse with the rapid increase in numbers of COVID, influenza, RSV and seasonal respiratory viruses,” she said. “I would highly recommend if you are traveling by plane, train, bus or boat, to wear a mask.”
Should I keep a mask somewhere else?
Dr. Linsey Marr, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech and an expert in airborne virus transmission, said: “If you have a vacation coming up and it’s really important to you that you want to be well and that you wanted to be able to spend time with loved ones or do an activity you’ve been looking forward to all year, and you don’t want to be lying in bed sick or potentially making other people sick, so definitely wear a mask when you’re I travel. She added: “Not just on the plane, but in airports, buses, public transport and everywhere in between.”
Even if you’re not traveling, experts say that even if it’s no longer necessary, it’s a good idea to mask up wherever you are with lots of people in a confined space.
Popescu said she had recently started developing non-specific symptoms, including a sore throat. It turned out she had COVID and caught it on her way home from a work trip.
“I can personally say that it’s those times that you perceive as low risk or letting your guard down that can lead to exposure,” she said.
I know that masking avoids spreading the coronavirus, but what about the flu and RSV?
Masking prevents the spread of all kinds of germs and is “the best tool we have to prevent the spread of these burgeoning respiratory viruses, from COVID to influenza to RSV,” Popescu said.
Marr said influenza and RSV are transmitted “at least in part” in the same way as COVID-19.
Traveling during the holidays is a good time to remember the “three Cs” we started hearing about in 2020 – closed spaces with poor ventilation, crowded places and close contact situations – and to wear a mask in each of these situations.
Do I have to wear a specific type of mask when I travel?
Even though wearing a mask is more effective in stopping the spread of a virus when the infected person is wearing it, wearing a mask to protect against illness is still beneficial, especially if you use a high-grade mask. quality.
“If you bother wearing a mask at this point, I think you should buy a high-quality one,” Marr said. That usually means an N95, KN95 or KF94, she added. “These are going to be much more effective than a cloth mask or a surgical mask.”
These are widely available, affordable, and you can wear the same until you notice it gets dirty, the straps come loose, or they get damaged.
Should I take a COVID test before and after my trip?
If you are traveling to the United States or to the United States from abroad, you are not required to take a test, but the CDC and medical authorities say it is a good idea. “Consider getting tested with a virus test as close to departure time as possible (no more than three days) before travel,” the CDC says. If you test positive, they say, you should delay your trip.
“If you’re traveling and plan to interact with people without a mask, even more reason to test before your flight and for a few days after you land,” Popescu said. “The amount of tests you test really depends on your risk profile and your preferences.”
You should consider things like how much you interact with others, if you will be around vulnerable people, and if you will be outed.
“Overall, I recommend testing before you go and a few times during your trip,” Popescu said.
What if we got vaccinated?
US citizens and immigrants do not need to be vaccinated to fly to the United States or to the United States from abroad. Non-US citizens and non-US immigrants traveling to the United States by air must present proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Only limited exceptions apply. If you are not fully immunized and are permitted to travel to the United States by air under an exception, you will be required to sign an attestation before boarding your flight stating that you meet the exception. Depending on the type of exception, you may also need to declare that you have made arrangements to take certain protective measures.
In addition, all travelers should give their contact details to the airlines to help with contact tracing, if needed.
Is it too late to get a call back?
Bernard Camins, medical director of infection prevention at Mount Sinai Health System, and Aaron Milstone, pediatric infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, both said it’s ‘never too late’ to get a booster Updated COVID.
“Most data suggests that a full immune response to a vaccine dose can take 14 days, but some of our early data has shown that people can generate an antibody response within days,” Milstone said. “You may be more protected in a few weeks, but there can be benefits already days after, so give yourself an early holiday gift by getting the boost.”
Camins said that because there isn’t good data on this aspect of the recalls, it’s possible the recall will reach effectiveness before the 14-day mark. And, he said, with vaccines in abundance, it’s easy to get bitten quickly. “If you make an appointment today, it will work,” he said.
Can I do anything else to prepare my trip safely?
Experts suggest thinking about why you’re traveling and perhaps taking extra precautions. We’re at the point where, for most people, these illnesses aren’t a personal threat if you’re healthy. At the same time, during the holidays, we often get together with the family and visit the most vulnerable people and the elderly family members in particular,” Marr said.
Marr’s nuclear family will be spending the holidays with her elderly parents, so in an effort to minimize the chances of passing a disease to them, her family unit will take extra precautions, such as not visiting crowded indoor spaces before their trip.
“We probably won’t be going to any restaurants for the week leading up, just to make sure we minimize our chances of getting a virus and bring it to them,” she said.
Influenza and seasonal respiratory viruses like RSV also spread more easily through contaminated objects and hands, “so hand hygiene and cleaning/disinfecting high-touch surfaces is an important strategy,” Popescu said. Also, a good reminder to avoid touching your face.
© 2022 The New York Times Company
Comments
Post a Comment