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Will Omicron really ruin Christmas?

Since Covid-19 cases started rise sharply, his long-awaited plans to see friends and relatives were suddenly questioned. We want to see each other – but should we?

So far, it looks like the Omicron won’t be a hindrance to holiday travel. AAA estimates More than 109 million Americans will travel during the Christmas and New Year holiday season, a 34 percent increase from 2020.

But it looks like Omicron most contagious variant ever. Should we be worried about visiting elderly relatives? Is it safe to fly? How about Christmas dinner?

We asked three epidemiologists and a psychologist to help solve these and other complex questions and provide tips on staying safe. Here is their guidance.

Is air travel suitable?

On Friday, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said on CNBC Despite Omicron, those vaccinated “and hopefully get stronger,” said they should feel “reasonably comfortable” enjoying the vacation at a family member’s home, and would “not hesitate” to get on a plane if needed.

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

In the end, the answer depends on your personal risk tolerance and how important the journey is to you.

Experts say it’s crucial to rely on a layered approach to reduce risk: getting vaccinated, getting booster shots if appropriate, wearing a mask, having proper ventilation, and using rapid testing at home.

Katelyn K. Jetelina, The assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Houston is traveling to California on Sunday with her two teenage daughters, 2 and 14 months old. If she and her husband start to get nervous, she is ready to cancel their flight as soon as possible. But so far, he hasn’t been overly worried about air travel.

“I see it as a low risk, as masks are necessary as well as filtering systems and ventilation – not only that, they’re mandatory,” he said.

If people on the plane take off their masks for snacks or meals for extended periods of time, this increases the risk of infection for everyone on board, he added. so he recommended leave your mask on. It also protects the person wearing the mask,” he said. “Not just those around you.”

Dr. Jetelina recommends upgrade To an N95 mask if you haven’t already. She recommends KN95s for kids because N95s don’t come in their own size.

Many public health experts recommend the KF94 mask made in South Korea for its quality, high filtration rate and comfortable fit.

When asked about masks on Friday, Dr. Fauci said that while the N95 is the best mask at blocking aerosol and droplet particles, it can be relatively uncomfortable to wear. “A cloth mask is fine as well as a regular surgical mask,” he added.

Traveling to and from the flight creates additional risk because the journey offers more opportunities for exposure. That’s why Dr. Instead of getting a car service, Jetelina asked her vaccinated relatives to come to the airport and pick her up and her family.

The family also aims to minimize exposure to indoor crowds, especially in areas with poor ventilation. Either she or her husband will take the children out, for example, others will wait at the baggage claim.

D., a former Harvard epidemiologist and chief science officer at eMed, a company that currently validates test results at home. Michael Mina said he plans to fly to Colorado this month with his wife and 2-month-old daughter.

“This won’t be the final variant, and I think we have the ability to assemble safely if we get it right,” he said.

How can rapid tests help us?

Rapid antigen tests, which can show within minutes if someone is contagious with Covid-19, are one of the best ways to help keep everyone safe this holiday season, experts said.

Testing remains expensive—a typical two-pack costs $14 to $24—and can sometimes be hard to track down in stores. But if you’re lucky enough to have some on hand, Dr. Mina recommends that everyone take a test 15 minutes prior to gathering. It is important to do the test in a room temperature environment, such as a car, because it loses some of its effectiveness if the tests are done at temperatures below 55 degrees.

Dr. Jetelina and her family will use the tests just before they leave for the airport, when they land, and every other day before family members gather for Christmas.

If your test is negative, you can be sure that you are not contagious at the time. Because the tests act as a snapshot over time, it’s not helpful to take one the day before a meeting.

If you get a rapid positive test, you shouldn’t be spending time with other people, said Eleanor Murray, an epidemiologist at Boston University’s School of Public Health. But get confirmation with a PCR test as false positives can happen.

What else can we do to stay safe?

Eat outdoors if possible. And if you are attending a closed meeting, open the windows and consider buying. HEPA air cleaner Dr. To reduce the amount of virus in the air, Mina said.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccinate and supplement all eligible persons and avoid crowded confined spaces prior to travel, especially if they will be meeting with people from more than one household.

Those with weakened immune systems may not be fully protected even if they are fully vaccinated and have been vaccinated. additional dose, the agency said, so they should keep getting it all recommended precautions for unvaccinated persons.

Dr. “The challenge is that everyone has their own level of risk tolerance,” Jetelina said. “Someone who doesn’t want to be infected? Then no, they shouldn’t be jumping on a plane.” But he added that you can reduce your risk by taking the right precautions.

Dr. Murray is taking a more conservative approach this holiday season.

“Omicron really takes home for me the importance of deciding not to travel this winter,” he said. “So I’m staying at home.”

That’s why the risks of catching or spreading Covid are very high right now. He said that although vaccines are very effective at preventing serious illness, they are not perfect and that family members he will visit this Christmas have young children who are not yet eligible for the vaccine.

He recommended that you consider your particular situation. For example, do you live in an area with a high rate of Covid cases? Traveling to an area with a high incidence rate? Will you be meeting with a large group or a small group? Do you eat inside or out? It is also important to consider whether your contacts have been vaccinated and supplemented; if you plan to visit more than one house; and the availability of quick tests for yourself and your loved ones.

How do you measure loneliness?

Families should consider the mental health consequences of being separated, an important aspect that is often overlooked when examining their risk of contracting the virus.

“I think you need to make a pros and cons list, not only about physical safety, but also about emotional needs,” said Barbara Greenberg, a clinical psychologist in Fairfield County, Conn. “Is it going to be harder for you to see your family? Will his anxiety outweigh?”

“People repeatedly talk about how sorry they are to spend the holidays without family again,” she said in her practice. “Loneliness and isolation are looming.”