The holidays are here! With the Omicron variant in our midst, questions about holiday plans are popping up. During a Global Town Hall with CNN, Dr. Anthony Fauci said “I would not do anything different than we had been recommending all along, despite the fact that…likely we’ll see more cases of omicron as the weeks and the days go by. If you have a vaccinated situation, your family’s vaccinated, enjoy the holidays indoors with your family in a family setting.”
If you or your loved ones haven’t gotten vaccinated yet, it’s clear that the vaccines are the key to a safe holiday season, so we’d recommend scheduling yours. The CDC recommends delaying travel until you are fully vaccinated. If you are not fully vaccinated there are additional recommendations to follow before, during, and after travel. Other than that, we have some tips to follow below.
Travel Tips
Whether you are travelling near or far, you’ll want to be sure to plan ahead.
- First things first, check the domestic or international restrictions for your destination so you know what the requirements are.
- Then be sure to check if your airline requires any testing or documents before you take off.
- While you are travelling, be sure to wear a mask when on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation.
- Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer often (with at least 60% alcohol).
- After you travel, self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
- Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements after travel.
- And most importantly, stay flexible. Policies could likely change while you are travelling.
Gathering Tips
- Consider self-testing before joining indoor gatherings.
- Stay 6 feet apart from others who don’t live with you.
- Avoid poorly ventilated indoor spaces and crowds where you are unsure of everyone’s vaccination status.
- Even those who are fully vaccinated should wear a mask in public indoor settings in communities with substantial to high transmission.
- Outdoors is safer than indoors.
Overall, the CDC recommends getting vaccinated and staying home for the holidays if you don’t feel well. If you’d like more guidance, check out the CDC’s website.
