Local doctor worried as people prepare to travel to and from Phoenix for Thanksgiving



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As Thanksgiving approaches in 2019, officials at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport said they have around 140,000 to 150,000 passengers a day.

For 2020, with the effects of ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as well as recommendations from CDC officials for Americans not travel to visit relatives and friends during the Thanksgiving and holiday period, the airport expects passenger volumes to be 50% of what they were in 2019.

On November 22, some of the travelers have already arrived in Phoenix at Sky Harbor.

“We come to Phoenix to visit my son,” said Lynn Husen.

“We come from San Antonio, Texas to visit family for Thanksgiving,” said Jessica Finch.

Airline cabins and crowded airport terminals are not ideal for social distancing. Family doctor Dr Andrew Caroll is concerned that vacation travel could lead to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.

“People are wearing masks, thank goodness, but they are tight against each other, rubbing against each other, all inside, and it becomes a concern, because the air is circulating,” said Dr. Caroll.

Moreover, this time spent waiting in security queues and at terminals makes matters even worse.

“People line up for long periods of time that far exceed the 15 minutes you need to be at high risk of transmitting COVID,” said Dr Caroll.

Dr Caroll says that ideally he would ask that people not travel at all, at least until the number of cases drops.

“You never know what you are encountering, people who might have COVID who don’t know it yet,” Dr Caroll said. “We’re very concerned about this first half of mid-December. After all, this trip because we think we’re going to be hit very hard in hospitals.”

Dr Caroll gave some advice for people who absolutely need to travel during the holiday season.

“Wear a mask. Wear two if you have to. Try to keep your airways as safe as possible, wash your hands and disinfect often, ”said Dr Caroll.

Dr Caroll says another thing people can do to make sure they stay socially distant is to just reach out and turn around. If they don’t affect anyone, they should be OK when it comes to social distancing. Otherwise, move to a safer area, if possible.

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RELATED: Is It The Flu, A Cold, Or COVID-19? Different viruses have similar symptoms

COVID-19 Resources

CDC website for COVID-19

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus

https://espanol.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html (in Spanish / in Spanish)

AZDHS website for COVID-19

https://www.azdhs.gov/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/infectious-disease-epidemiology/index.php#novel-coronavirus-home

https://www.azdhs.gov/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/infectious-disease-epidemiology/es/covid-19/index.php#novel-coronavirus-home (In Spanish / In Spanish)

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