How to reduce (but not eliminate) Covid risk at holiday gatherings

Strict quarantine is a better approach than simply undergoing the Covid-19 test, as experts say the effectiveness of some of the frequently used tests remains questionable.

According to Benjamin, PCR tests that can tell you if you are currently ill are more reliable than new rapid reaction tests that may show false negatives or false positives. Still, he warns, “The test is as good as the day you took it.” Wolfe agrees, “You can’t test yourself and you can’t expect to get out of the problem.”

The public health expert we spoke to said the test was not a jailbreak card for a vacation trip. Instead, it should be considered as a complement to quarantine, physical distance, wearing a mask, and monitoring of symptoms. Benjamin adds that allergies and some symptoms of Covid-19 may appear similar. He says he doesn’t feel good when he wakes up on the morning of the scheduled trip, rethink the trip.

When it comes to traveling itself, driving is the best bet. Still, Benjamin says the risks are not negligible, especially when making a pit stop. Burns-Wright plans to rent a car one way to Philadelphia with minimal stops along the way.

According to experts, flight is not a failure, but people need to be aware of and pay attention to the risks.

A Recent research According to the Pentagon and United Airlines, the risk of infection is low if everyone on the plane wears a mask, but the study assumed optimal airflow on the plane and everyone on the plane was in flight. I assumed that I was actually wearing a mask. In the real world, the CDC warned in September that about 10,900 people could be exposed to the coronavirus on flights from January to August. CNN report.

Watson points out that there are many opportunities for exposure at the airport, from security to sitting in the parking lot. According to experts, masks are encouraged, and Wolf is encouraged to bring additional masks in case the ear loop breaks while traveling.

For other modes of transportation, Watson warns that public transport may also be at risk. Buses have less stringent safety and cleanliness rules than airlines and are definitely less ventilated.

When you arrive at your destination, public health professionals recommend creating a bubble with the people you are with and quarantining with them.

“Think about NBA bubble Don’t be an NFL, “says Sehgal. For Burns-Wright, that means seeing only her mother living alone during her visit, and sometimes between her mother’s neighbors, but only in an outdoor setting like their front porch. .. They are not going to take anyone for Thanksgiving.

But all experts warn that even small group gatherings pose a risk. CDC Director Robert Redfield Warning on the phone Earlier this month, he and the governor said a small group of people was causing the infection.

“We see many infections among small groups of family and friends,” says Seghal. He adds that the social interactions that people admire during the holidays put people at particular risk because they cook together in the immediate vicinity of multi-generational gatherings. “All of this increases the risk of getting an aerial infection,” he says.

That’s why public health experts say it’s safer to host an outdoor gathering than an indoor gathering. Segal also said he advised his friends to get an outdoor heater.And experts say there is little evidence of sharing food Touch the shared side It is important to be careful and practice basic hygiene, such as washing your hands, as it can spread the virus. It’s not food sharing that’s of concern, but the behavior of doing so should be avoided as refilling each other’s glasses or reaching out on the table for food will bring them closer to each other. I point out that.