Some might say that the throes of a global health crisis caused by a contagious disease are a less than ideal time to pack up and go visit friends and family. In many cases, those that would make such a point would have high-level education in things like epidemiology, microbiology, and other courses of study that would, indeed, make them experts in their fields. And, while we might not like what they’re telling us about the impact of the pandemic on our traditional holiday plans, we modify those plans because it’s necessary for our safety and the safety of those around us.
Some might indeed say this. Millions, however, said “no thank you” and took to the nation’s roadways and skies to cross state borders and bring countless new COVID-19 infections to health care systems already under stress from a spike in new cases that has made the first part of this outbreak seem like a practice run.
Thanksgiving may be behind us, but the Christmas holiday season brings another round of travel just as the impact of Thanksgiving infections begins to take shape. And, once again, experts are practically begging the general public to restrict travel or, at the very least, get tested for COVID-19 before and after any trips.
According to an article posted to Medpage Today (the same site that published a very helpful plan for college students planning on going home for Thanksgiving), “people who insist on traveling should be tested for [coronavirus] with a “viral test” 1-3 days before travel, and 3-5 days after travel. After traveling, people should avoid “non-essential activities” for 7 days.” For those who do not get tested before traveling, the advice is simple: “just don’t go anywhere.”
The question; as over 3,000 Americans die each day from COVID-19 complications, is whether anyone is listening.
