Most Americans still plan to take COVID-19 precautions while on vacation

The survey found that about half of Americans will require guests to wear masks, compared with nearly 70% who said they would a year ago.

“The coronavirus is specifically transmitted by aerosols”, Nathalie Gutierrez, MD, a family physician at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Plano, Texas, told Healthline.

According to Gutierrez, this means that COVID-19 infection can easily be passed from person to person when we speak, because SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is carried by our breathing.

Gutierrez also pointed out that there is no one approach that works for all situations.

“I think it’s still a very individual approach and it depends a lot on the transmission, the transmission local and in your community,” she said.

Unsurprisingly, about half of those polled said they would ask guests about their vaccination status, with 46% saying they would at least require unvaccinated guests to show a negative COVID-19 test result before they go. allow them to enter.

Eric Cioe-Peña, MD, director of global health at Northwell Health in New Hyde Park, New York, insisted he would only invite people who have been vaccinated or tested negative to his home for the holidays.

He also confirmed that gathering at home is safer because we can control our exposure to infected people.

“You can also ask everyone to do an antigen test on arrival to reduce the risk,” he said. “It’s more difficult when there are indoor public spaces involved. “

However, he added that this was not a “hard and fast rule”.

Cioe-Peña said “the details really matter,” stressing that taking precautions, including rapid tests and masks, helps lower your risk even if people are inside.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), multi-family dwellings such as apartment buildings and condominiums are potential hot spots for infection.

Does that mean the house might not be the perfect place to vacation?

Nikhil bhayani, MD, infectious disease expert at Texas Health Resources said “not necessarily.”

“At least at home there are fewer people, unless you invite more people,” he said. “Crowded gatherings in small spaces with poor ventilation can allow the virus to spread easily. “

When asked how to make holiday home gatherings safer and what precautions should be taken when planning gatherings, Bhayani stressed the importance of protecting the very young.

“Protect people who are not yet eligible for vaccination, such as young children, by getting vaccinated and other eligible people around them,” he said.

He advises unvaccinated people to wear tight-fitting masks over their nose and mouth when in indoor public places.

“Even fully vaccinated people should wear a mask in indoor public places in communities with substantial to high transmission,” he said.

Robert glatter, MD, an emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, confirmed that holding rallies outside, when possible, “dramatically” increases the safety of everyone present.

He also noted that it’s not just about immunization status this year, but that we should ask who has had their boosters.

Glatter said all eligible people should have a booster shot at least 2 weeks before attending indoor gatherings, to add an extra layer of protection when celebrating outdoors is not an option .

“Adequate ventilation and filtration are essential for indoor gatherings to further mitigate the risk of transmission,” he said.

According to experts from Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, by following these tips, you and your family will be safe this holiday season.

• Wear masks.
• Find out about a guest’s immunization status before inviting them.
• Keep gatherings and celebrations small.
• Consider celebrating with just your household or immediate family.
• If you have high health risks, consider not entertaining guests or at least confirm their immunization status.

“It’s best to keep the gathering small,” Glatter said. “Limit it to one outbreak if possible and demand that everyone be fully immunized. “

He added that the immunocompromised elderly should have received a booster shot at least 2 weeks before and make sure they mask themselves inside. Glatter warned that this group should also observe physical distance.

“Keeping at least 6 feet apart is important,” Glatter said. “Without close contact [like] kiss or hug.

A new survey from Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center reveals that many people plan to celebrate with caution this holiday season.

Experts say keeping the celebrations small, and following pandemic precautions like masking and physical distancing, will significantly reduce the risk of infection.

They also point out that immunization status is a very important factor to consider when deciding who to invite to your home.