How the travel variant changes this festive season

(CNN) - Vacation trips will increase again soon, and it is likely that it is another very busy era for US travelers despite the coronavirus omicron variant.

Air trips during the holidays are now at a level higher than the levels prior to the pandemic.

The transportation administration (TSA) announced Thursday that 2.08 million travelers went through security reviews this Wednesday, more than the same day of the week in 2019.

The TSA hopes that this Thursday will be one of the busiest Christmas season at the airports throughout the United States and anticipates that 20 million people will fly between December 23 and January 3, rivaling with the prepaid figures of 2019.

According to dr.Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, if you are vaccinated, it is not necessary to change your vacation plans, even with the omicron variant circulating in the United States.

"If you are vaccinated, your family is vaccinated, enjoy the parties at home with your family," Fauci said in a Global CNN forum on December 1.

Travel increases the risk of infected, he said, but using a mask and vaccinating and putting the reinforcement vaccine helps protect travelers who travel through busy spaces.

Now that the Christmas travel season starts up again, here there are more advice from experts so that trips are safer and calm:

Protect your health

Two new preimpresses are added to the growing evidence that the coronavirus omicron variant can be less likely to cause serious diseases and hospitalizations compared to the delta variant.

Both studies include preliminary data and were not yet published in a magazine reviewed by experts.

Vaccinating is essential for two reasons, says the dr.William Schaffner, Professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Vanderbilt Medical Center.

The first is the Delta variant.

"That is the virus that is here, right now, in each and every one of the communities, spreading," said Schaffner."But number 2, and this has to do with an omicron, our vaccines are likely to provide at least partial protection.And partial protection is always better than any ".

Several vaccine manufacturers already evaluate the effectiveness of their reinforcement against omicron.Modern assures that his third dose is effective against the variant, and Astrazeneca said that his reinforcement dose shows good immune response against omicron.

Dra.Leana Wen, a medical analyst at CNN, agrees that the best defense is to protect as much as possible through vaccination and reinforcements.

Travel or not a personal calculation, Wen said.

"There are many unknowns, so I think it depends on people's individual risk tolerance.There will be some people who do not have problems with the unknowns and who, in general, are healthy, completely vaccinated and are not so worried.But there are other people who, due to their own medical situation or by risk factors, could feel otherwise ".

CDC continues to recommend delaying trips until they are completely vaccinated.

For those who travel with unvaccinated people, the agency suggests safer options, such as road trips with few stops and direct flights.

Logistic considerations for international trips in full wave of the omicron variant

Travelers with international plans have more things to consider.Always changing restrictions in countries around the world and the new American requirement to get the test within a day before the departure from the flight back to the United States could suppose some unexpected obstacles.

"It is a very dynamic situation, and travelers must take into account how important the trip for them is and have a plan B and a plan C," said Wen, an emergency doctor and a health policy teacher in thePublic Health School of the Milken Institute of George Washington University.

"They must think of all the scenarios of what could happen.Let's say they end in a country that will apply a mandatory quarantine upon arrival.How will they face it?Is it worth going? ".

The EE embassies.UU.They provide specific information from each country to US citizens, including whether tests at a specific destination are available reliably within a day required for their return.

On December 8, the evidence in Egypt appeared as available within one day "with an additional cost".In Chile, on December 8, it was a "no": the evidence is not available reliably within that period.

Reach safe.And what happens after

Wen and Schaffner underline that what travelers intend to do in their destinations probably supposes a greater risk than the trip itself, provided that travelers carry masks in transit and maintain their distance as far as possible.

People should use a high quality mask, N95, KN95 or KF94, provided they are in closed and busy places with unknown vaccination state, said Wen said.

"If you plan to see relatives who are vaccinated and be outdoors or near other people who know they are vaccinated, the risk is much less than if it is planned to be in closed spaces with people whose vaccination status is unknown,"said.

A trip that includes many purchases and going to the theater, eating in grocery restaurants of people and going to your favorite bar in New York is definitely at greater risk, said Schaffner.

"If you want to do all that, yes, you are assuming more risk, but that really has nothing to do with the omicron variant.That has to do with Delta at this time, "he said shortly after the discovery of the omicron variant was announced.

When all those who can vaccinate and receive reinforcements do so, it also helps protect children under 5 years of age who still cannot be vaccinated.

If in a meeting there are members of the immunosuppressed family or unaccoured children, or both, Wen suggested that they were all in quarantine for at least three days before gathering and that a quick test was done just before seeing.

"Thus the risk for all would be reduced," he said.CDCs have recently updated their orientations on self -diagnosis as a risk reduction strategy.

Schaffner said that his whole family was tested before meeting for Thanksgiving.

"And so, we are not only vaccinated and reinforced, but we have given negative in the tests.If you start controlling this way, you can travel, gather and participate in social events with a very low risk, "he said.

Facilitating the way, with regard to trips

The TSA is encouraging travelers to register in TSA Precheck, the accelerated control program that does not require the members to remove their shoes, belts, liquids, laptops or jackets.

Other TSA tips:

The AAA travel organization recommends travel insurance.

"Hire travel insurance and the airline if you can.That little box that often jumps, select it this year because we do not know how the staff of the airlines and the TSA will be, "said the AAA spokesman Andrew Gross, before the hustleThank you.

And make sure your vehicle is prepared.The AAA suggests that you review key components such as battery, fuel system, tires, brakes and fluid levels before a road trip.

Although the year 2021 is not going to offer Covid's free Christmas season that we wanted, it is possible to meet more safely with family and friends this year.

- Jen Christensen, Naomi Thomas and Petean of CNN contributed to this report.