Omicron is a risk to travelers this year, the latest, more virulent variant of COVID-19. Here are a few tips, if you’ve decided you simply have to travel.
1. Be Boosted
“I actually think you’d be crazy and immoral to fly if you are not vaccinated,” said Paula Cannon, a virology professor at the USC Keck School of Medicine. “Ideally boosted but certainly vaccinated.” Even if you can only get your booster a few days before your flight, “anything’s better than nothing,” according to Cannon.
2. Take a Test
If you can get tested, you should. Omicron is more likely than previous variants to dodge your vaccine, and also likely to have mild, dismissable symptoms. So no, you don’t always know when you’re sick. If people always knew, we wouldn’t be in this mess. Some airports offer rapid tests for premium prices – better to take one in the drive-through of your local drug store.
Important addendum: If you test positive, do not travel. It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since you’ve seen Grandpa, or how much those Broadway tickets cost. It doesn’t matter if you feel fine, or if you’ve been looking forward to this trip since last March. If you test positive, isolate yourself. If you test on your way home, isolate in place and change your plans!
3. Mask, Mask, Mask!
In the airport, on the plane, in the taxi, wear your mask and keep all the distance you can. Do not leave it off to eat your meal or drink your coffee – lower it for a sip or nibble, put it back up immediately.
4. Or Maybe Rethink.
Do you need to travel this year? Do you need to travel now? Could you and your close ones have a fun Christmas in March when travel is cheaper, hopefully safer, and the weather’s nicer? Of course you could. Think about it.
Photo: Marius Dobilas / Shutterstock