So, What Can We Conclude About Holiday Travel?
Following the Thanksgiving holiday, we almost certainly will see an increase in Covid-19 cases. The same is true for influenza and RSV. That’s the bad news. The good news is that basic mitigation strategies continue to be effective. Early evidence suggests that the latest Covid-19 vaccine provides some protection against current SARS-CoV-2 variants, including BA.2.86. Similarly, the influenza and RSV vaccines, while not perfect, do provide protection against these viruses. Masks work. And washing your hands always is a good idea. For people who are visiting at-risk friends and relatives, like the elderly, basic mitigation strategies like these can have a major impact.
In some respects, we are beginning to enter a post-pandemic era. But Covid-19 has not gone away. It probably won’t go away. Instead, we need to live smartly with it.