Thanksgiving, Christmas, holiday travel: things to prevent COVID

2021-11-26 09:05:09 By : Ms. Nancy Qin

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This year’s holiday will be more joyful than last year, because visiting friends and family across the country becomes safer and more reasonable for vaccinated travelers. According to the CDC, with the advent of the COVID-19 vaccine and booster shots, Americans can safely travel within the United States when fully vaccinated. 

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As foreign tourists are allowed to enter the United States after the 600-day ban, and as flights to the United States begin to sell out, many airports across the United States are expected to be busier than ever. During the busy travel time in history, it is important to protect yourself and the people around you.

Thankfully, since COVID-19 is still an epidemic, we recommend keeping a large number of products. From disinfecting wipes to the best masks we have tested, these eight items are must-haves for any traveler during the holidays.

Hand sanitizer in travel size has become a must-have item on hand. When purchasing a disinfectant, please make sure that the alcohol content in the formula is at least 60%, in line with CDC recommendations.

TSA allows one liquid hand sanitizer container to be placed in carry-on luggage-up to 12 ounces per passenger until further notice. Remember, the agency warns that this may slow down your checkpoint screening process.

In order to guarantee the supply of hand sanitizer throughout your journey, we recommend that you bring 12 ounces, as it may not be easy to buy during the journey. In addition, for convenience, you also need a travel-size disinfectant, just put it in your pocket or purse.

The federal government still requires masks to be worn on all public transportation networks, such as airplanes, trains, subways, and buses. Now, TSA has extended this mask requirement to January 18, 2022, so you need to wear a mask during holidays and New Year travel.

Reviewed a large number of masks tested and found that Athleta non-medical masks are the best overall choice. They are comfortable and protective design, with adjustable earrings to relieve ear discomfort and nose line, which can best fit your face. For children's masks, our first choice is Happy Masks. These masks are designed by a retired chief scientist with a doctorate in filtration, and they are a protection option that children will not complain about wearing.

Although we now know that the risk of infection by touching surfaces contaminated with the virus is usually low, there is no harm in carrying disinfectant wipes with you on the road. Especially when the flu season is in full swing, it is not a bad idea to disinfect the seats, armrests and small tables.

Disinfecting wipes registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and approved to kill the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be easily obtained online and in stores again. For example, Lysol disinfecting wipes are on this list. This pack of 4 bottles can be stored at home or carried in a plastic bag.

Buy Lysol disinfecting wipes (4 packs) on Amazon for $12.47

In order to get a little extra protection in the airport terminal or during the flight, you can wear the mask at the same time.

Shira Doron, an epidemiologist at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, told Reviewed that “many viruses infect through mucous membranes,” including the eyes. "Therefore, it is best to use a mask and goggles in combination to avoid infection [coronavirus]."

Although many protective covers are worn on the head through an expandable headband, other models are equipped with built-in glasses, which may be more comfortable to wear for long periods of time. You may also need to spray an anti-fog spray on the protective cover to prevent any vapor from accumulating inside. 

Buy the Ceestyle mask (a pack of 6 glasses and 12 protective shields) from Amazon for $13.79

One of the pain points that may be caused by wearing a mask for a long time is uncomfortable pulling on the ears. However, this is not necessarily the case-in fact, your mask should be comfortable to wear and easy to breathe during the journey. 

One smart product that can help relieve ear pain is an earring extender, especially when you use a disposable mask or a mask without adjustable earrings.

Dr. Gabriela Andujar Vazquez is an infectious disease doctor at Tufts Medical Center and an associate professor of epidemiology at the hospital. He recommends using an extension strap attached to the back of the head to keep the mask close to the face.

You can buy a mask extension strap hook (pack of 4) on Amazon for only $12.99

The bad news: your phone may be dirtier than the toilet seat. To be precise, it was about 10 times dirty. As a high-contact item that you use frequently, you may want to disinfect your phone after you take it with you. In order to prevent bacteria such as E. coli, mobile phone disinfectant can quickly and easily clean your mobile phone.

We tested three mobile phone disinfectants and found that the popular PhoneSoap smartphone disinfectant successfully killed the most bacteria on the phone. However, we think that a simple DIY sanitizing solution can also kill bacteria-so if you want to skip fancy gadgets, 70% isopropyl and water solution can do the job.

Thermometers are a good way to monitor symptoms before, during, and after travel, because fever may be a symptom of COVID-19 infection. If you visit family or friends this holiday, you may need to pay close attention to any underlying symptoms, such as fever, to ensure the safety of your loved ones.

Make sure to use isopropyl alcohol to disinfect it between uses, especially if you are sharing it with other family members. You can also use a non-contact thermometer at any time to quickly read the temperature.

The CDC stated that the COVID-19 vaccine is an important measure to prevent COVID-19, stop the spread, and prevent serious illness, hospitalization and death, especially because of the highly contagious delta variant. 

For people who have been vaccinated, protecting your precious vaccine card should be a top priority, especially when traveling. One way to ensure it remains intact is to invest in vaccine card carriers. You can carry the vaccine in style because you can get many protective options from retailers such as Etsy and Amazon. This top dual vaccine and passport holder from Etsy is especially convenient to keep all your important items in one place.

Get passport and vaccination card holders from Etsy for $10

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Prices are accurate at the time of publication of this article, but may change over time.