The CDC has spoken— if you’re planning on traveling for Thanksgiving you should reconsider.
This comes as Maryland saw its highest single day surge in cases to date.
“The virus is not changing, our behavior is changing,” Dr. David Marcozzi. “The more we can put the right behavioral modifications in place, washing our hands, wearing a mask, staying physically distanced, only staying with your immediate household family members, the better we will be.”
Dr. Marcozzi is the COVID-19 Incident Commander for the University of Maryland Medical System and a member of Governor Hogan’s Coronavirus task force.
“Not only are people traveling from high risk areas to low risk areas or Vice versa, also the act of traveling is a risk,” Marcozzi said. “It’s both of those factors which is why I think the CDC came out with the guidance that although impactful because it’s Thanksgiving and we want to see our family. There’s just a general recognition that would have a risk for transmitting this virus more easily.”
There’s a lot of concern over college students heading home for the holidays and coming back to campus after.
“You don’t realize being younger you may be carrying it and have no symptoms. That’s one of the risks,” said Marcozzi.
A study done by AAA found that nearly 90% of Marylanders don’t plan on traveling for Thanksgiving this year.
74% of the people who say they are traveling plan on driving.
“It’s incumbent upon anyone who is planning to travel to make sure they are aware not only of what the travel restrictions are, quarantine requirements regarding the states they may be traveling to,” said Ragina Ali with AAA Md. “But what those requirements are as it relates their home state, the state of their residence when they return from their holiday travel.”
Even getting tested a few days before a trip doesn’t necessarily ensure you are keeping your loved ones safe once you arrive.
“If I infect you today you may not be positive for up to 7 to 10 days later,” Marcozzi said. “If you get tested on Day 5 and think that you have a negative test snd you’ll be fine. Two days later you could be spreading this virus to other people.”
It’s not all bad news with two vaccines being fast tracked to get to first line workers and eventually the general public.
“When the vaccine is distributed through probably the end of 20 in the beginning of 21,” said Marcozzi. “We all need to know that although it was expedited it will be safe and effective.”
