United States -- The hugely contagious delta version is experiencing a fourth outbreak of COVID-19 in the United States, with cases returning to levels not seen since February 2020. COVID-19 cases are also on the rise in other countries.
As a result, many passengers who made travel plans several months ago when the number of cases was low are unsure whether they should follow them.
“The delta version is a new beast,” said Richard Webby, who helps lead the infectious disease department at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, to USA TODAY.
How does the COVID-19 delta shift affect travel?
Travel risks vary from person to person, health experts say, but it may be time for some passengers - especially those who are not vaccinated or vulnerable to serious illnesses caused by the virus - to postpone their visits.
"If you have been properly immunized and vaccinated against this virus, you are at little risk," added Webby. “This virus will make more copies; it will spread more easily and quickly among the unvaccinated population, ”he says. Now is not the time to go if you haven't been vaccinated. "
The United States reported 131,917 new cases on Wednesday, exceeding levels not seen since February, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Due to the high number of COVID-19 cases in more than 70 countries, the CDC recommends that vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers avoid traveling to certain countries.
According to John Schwarzberg, professor at the University of California at the Berkeley School of Public Health, "The delta variant is transmitted about twice as much as the variant that spawned such a terrible time in our history in December and January." The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday reported 131,917 new cases, exceeding levels not seen since February. Due to the high number of COVID-19 cases in more than 70 countries, the CDC recommends that vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers avoid traveling to certain countries.
According to John Schwarzberg, professor at the University of California at the Berkeley School of Public Health, "the delta variant is transmitted about twice as much as the variant that spawned such a terrible time in our history in December and January."
Dr Purvi Parikh, an immunologist who has participated as a researcher in some COVID-19 vaccination trials, recommends vaccination of travelers, as unvaccinated people account for the majority of recent deaths and hospitalizations from COVID-19. Before planning a flight, she recommends that you check local advice and infection rates.
If there is a rise or rise in an area, she advises postponing the trip. "Be flexible (because) things change and change."
Is it safe to travel during the COVID-19 delta surge?
According to Rachel Pilch-Loeb, a researcher at the Harvard School of Public Health, there is no one-size-fits-all advice for travelers deciding whether or not to postpone their trip. The level of danger a traveler faces is determined by their vaccination status, increased risk of serious illness and infection rates at destination.
She went on to say that even though rashes are rare, vaccinated travelers should consider them.
According to the CDC, a tiny minority of fully vaccinated people will still contract COVID-19 from exposure to the virus that causes it, although the chances of them getting sick or dying are much lower.
“I would think about my personal risk tolerance, that is, am I okay if I am feeling a little sick? According to Piltch-Loeb. "If you are concerned about the possibility of infection, your solution may be slightly different."
Since some hospitals do not have enough free beds in intensive care units, the capacity of the health system in the destination country should also be explored.
“If I had to travel (to these areas),” Piltch-Loeb added, “it would be a problem”. “I want to make sure that if something bad happened to me, whether it's COVID or not, I could be cured there by the medical system. "
Piltch-Loeb says whether pre-trip screening, destination or immunization status, and safer modes of travel, such as driving a car, are advised. She also recommends people revert to "essential virus fighting techniques," such as cover-ups, social distancing and avoiding time spent indoors with people of unknown vaccine status.
"If I go to a cabin in the woods and spend most of my time outside, it's a little different than flying somewhere and intending to see someone else's sites. country, ”Piltch-Loeb explained.
What are the current travel restrictions?
Travel restrictions vary by country.
Others are starting to set new safety standards or reimpose restrictions that were lifted ahead of the peak summer tourist season, such as Canada and the UK, which have eased travel restrictions for U.S. passengers in recent weeks. .
As of Monday, all hotel and short-term rental guests in Puerto Rico will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or take a negative weekly test for COVID-19, and proof of vaccination is required in France and in Italy to visit restaurants and other locations. to come.
“It's a virus that I wouldn't tolerate in my community if I lived in a country where there wasn't a lot of this activity (delta version),” Webby said. “I would definitely impose travel restrictions from areas where the disease is prevalent. Unfortunately, this now includes a number of regions around the world. "
The version, according to Parikh, "will undoubtedly affect travel abroad."
"Depending on the spread of the virus, isolation can be reintroduced in many parts of the world and vaccination and testing may be required," she said via email. "In his horror, (some countries) may need to increase isolation, travel restrictions, cover-ups and quarantine."
She then warned that lifting the restrictions would depend on countries' vaccination efforts, which she called "far behind."
In addition, 19 restrictions are reintroduced at well-known travel destinations in the United States.
Mask bans are renewed in cities across the United States, including Las Vegas and Los Angeles, and Hawaii has cut restaurants and bars in half. Indoor events in some cities, such as San Francisco and New Orleans, now require proof of vaccination. In the United States, especially in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, while in Hawaii, the number of restaurants and bars has been halved. Some areas, including San Francisco and New Orleans, now require proof of vaccination for indoor events.
The CDC recommends that all travelers, regardless of their vaccination status, wear masks and watch for symptoms of COVID-19. Get tested one to three days before and three to five days after travel and quarantine seven days after your return. She then warned that lifting the restrictions would depend on countries' vaccination efforts, which she called "far behind."
In addition, 19 restrictions are reintroduced at well-known travel destinations in the United States.
Mask bans are renewed in cities across the United States, including Las Vegas and Los Angeles, and Hawaii has cut restaurants and bars in half. Indoor events in some cities, such as San Francisco and New Orleans, now require proof of vaccination. In the United States, especially in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, while in Hawaii, the number of restaurants and bars has been halved. Some areas, including San Francisco and New Orleans, now require proof of vaccination for indoor events.
The CDC recommends that all travelers, regardless of their vaccination status, wear masks and watch for symptoms of COVID-19. Get tested one to three days before and three to five days after travel and quarantine seven days after your return.
As a result, many passengers who made travel plans several months ago when the number of cases was low are unsure whether they should follow them.
“The delta version is a new beast,” said Richard Webby, who helps lead the infectious disease department at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, to USA TODAY.
How does the COVID-19 delta shift affect travel?
Travel risks vary from person to person, health experts say, but it may be time for some passengers - especially those who are not vaccinated or vulnerable to serious illnesses caused by the virus - to postpone their visits.
"If you have been properly immunized and vaccinated against this virus, you are at little risk," added Webby. “This virus will make more copies; it will spread more easily and quickly among the unvaccinated population, ”he says. Now is not the time to go if you haven't been vaccinated. "
The United States reported 131,917 new cases on Wednesday, exceeding levels not seen since February, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Due to the high number of COVID-19 cases in more than 70 countries, the CDC recommends that vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers avoid traveling to certain countries.
According to John Schwarzberg, professor at the University of California at the Berkeley School of Public Health, "The delta variant is transmitted about twice as much as the variant that spawned such a terrible time in our history in December and January." The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday reported 131,917 new cases, exceeding levels not seen since February. Due to the high number of COVID-19 cases in more than 70 countries, the CDC recommends that vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers avoid traveling to certain countries.
According to John Schwarzberg, professor at the University of California at the Berkeley School of Public Health, "the delta variant is transmitted about twice as much as the variant that spawned such a terrible time in our history in December and January."
Dr Purvi Parikh, an immunologist who has participated as a researcher in some COVID-19 vaccination trials, recommends vaccination of travelers, as unvaccinated people account for the majority of recent deaths and hospitalizations from COVID-19. Before planning a flight, she recommends that you check local advice and infection rates.
If there is a rise or rise in an area, she advises postponing the trip. "Be flexible (because) things change and change."
Is it safe to travel during the COVID-19 delta surge?
According to Rachel Pilch-Loeb, a researcher at the Harvard School of Public Health, there is no one-size-fits-all advice for travelers deciding whether or not to postpone their trip. The level of danger a traveler faces is determined by their vaccination status, increased risk of serious illness and infection rates at destination.
She went on to say that even though rashes are rare, vaccinated travelers should consider them.
According to the CDC, a tiny minority of fully vaccinated people will still contract COVID-19 from exposure to the virus that causes it, although the chances of them getting sick or dying are much lower.
“I would think about my personal risk tolerance, that is, am I okay if I am feeling a little sick? According to Piltch-Loeb. "If you are concerned about the possibility of infection, your solution may be slightly different."
Since some hospitals do not have enough free beds in intensive care units, the capacity of the health system in the destination country should also be explored.
“If I had to travel (to these areas),” Piltch-Loeb added, “it would be a problem”. “I want to make sure that if something bad happened to me, whether it's COVID or not, I could be cured there by the medical system. "
Piltch-Loeb says whether pre-trip screening, destination or immunization status, and safer modes of travel, such as driving a car, are advised. She also recommends people revert to "essential virus fighting techniques," such as cover-ups, social distancing and avoiding time spent indoors with people of unknown vaccine status.
"If I go to a cabin in the woods and spend most of my time outside, it's a little different than flying somewhere and intending to see someone else's sites. country, ”Piltch-Loeb explained.
What are the current travel restrictions?
Travel restrictions vary by country.
Others are starting to set new safety standards or reimpose restrictions that were lifted ahead of the peak summer tourist season, such as Canada and the UK, which have eased travel restrictions for U.S. passengers in recent weeks. .
As of Monday, all hotel and short-term rental guests in Puerto Rico will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or take a negative weekly test for COVID-19, and proof of vaccination is required in France and in Italy to visit restaurants and other locations. to come.
“It's a virus that I wouldn't tolerate in my community if I lived in a country where there wasn't a lot of this activity (delta version),” Webby said. “I would definitely impose travel restrictions from areas where the disease is prevalent. Unfortunately, this now includes a number of regions around the world. "
The version, according to Parikh, "will undoubtedly affect travel abroad."
"Depending on the spread of the virus, isolation can be reintroduced in many parts of the world and vaccination and testing may be required," she said via email. "In his horror, (some countries) may need to increase isolation, travel restrictions, cover-ups and quarantine."
She then warned that lifting the restrictions would depend on countries' vaccination efforts, which she called "far behind."
In addition, 19 restrictions are reintroduced at well-known travel destinations in the United States.
Mask bans are renewed in cities across the United States, including Las Vegas and Los Angeles, and Hawaii has cut restaurants and bars in half. Indoor events in some cities, such as San Francisco and New Orleans, now require proof of vaccination. In the United States, especially in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, while in Hawaii, the number of restaurants and bars has been halved. Some areas, including San Francisco and New Orleans, now require proof of vaccination for indoor events.
The CDC recommends that all travelers, regardless of their vaccination status, wear masks and watch for symptoms of COVID-19. Get tested one to three days before and three to five days after travel and quarantine seven days after your return. She then warned that lifting the restrictions would depend on countries' vaccination efforts, which she called "far behind."
In addition, 19 restrictions are reintroduced at well-known travel destinations in the United States.
Mask bans are renewed in cities across the United States, including Las Vegas and Los Angeles, and Hawaii has cut restaurants and bars in half. Indoor events in some cities, such as San Francisco and New Orleans, now require proof of vaccination. In the United States, especially in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, while in Hawaii, the number of restaurants and bars has been halved. Some areas, including San Francisco and New Orleans, now require proof of vaccination for indoor events.
The CDC recommends that all travelers, regardless of their vaccination status, wear masks and watch for symptoms of COVID-19. Get tested one to three days before and three to five days after travel and quarantine seven days after your return.
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