Host Amber Smith: Here's some expert advice from Dr. Steven Thomas from Upstate Medical University. What would you say to someone who wants to plan a trip for spring break?
Stephen Thomas, MD: I would get refundable tickets, is what I would do. I mean, you know, if you look at the map, like, let's say you're planning a trip in the United States. If you look at the heat map of where the hotspots are in the US right now for omicron, the whole map is lighting up, right? The entire country, except for some very few areas, is basically illuminated. With omicron, it's just absolutely everywhere. And and it is, you know, it is what it is.
Stephen Thomas, MD: So what can you do to reduce your risk or reduce your family's risk? Again, it's methods of transportation where they are monitoring and enforcing vaccination or test negative, mask wearing. Those are the types of transportation that I would utilize. If you can drive yourself, well, that's great, right? Because it's just going to be you and your family or your pod in the vehicle.
Stephen Thomas, MD: And if you're going someplace where the weather is nice and you're going to be outside -- and by nice weather, it could still be snow, it could be a ski vacation, but something that allows you to be outside. I mean, obviously that's a much lower risk, being outside, but just kind of monitoring what's going on. And just be prepared for needing to pivot or needing to change your plans at the last minute.
Host Amber Smith: You've been listening to Dr. Steven Thomas from Upstate Medical University.
