Should you quarantine after Thanksgiving amid rising COVID cases? Yes, says the expert

Thanksgiving is over. Many people have celebrated with just their home unit, but many others have not. In fact, up to 50 million Americans travel over Thanksgiving weekend, according to the American Automobile Association, or AAA.

The comings and goings of American travelers belies the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to increase. The United States reported 2,046 deaths on Wednesday – the highest number of coronavirus deaths in one day the country has reported since early May, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The country also hit a new daily hospitalization record, with 89,954 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19, according to the COVID Tracking Project. This is the 16th day in a row that this figure sets a record for the pandemic, as previously reported by CNN.

We spoke to CNN medical analyst Dr. Leana Wen about her recommendations on how to stay safe after people return from the holidays.

First, anyone who has traveled to visit family and friends or who has hosted guests outside of their immediate home unit should be quarantined, Wen advised.

Taking steps to protect others around you will help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, especially with Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Years just around the corner.

CNN: A lot of people took a risk and got together with loved ones for Thanksgiving. Why do you recommend that these people go into quarantine after their return?

Dr. Leana Wen: Coronavirus is increasing across the country and there are hot spots in many areas. Anyone who travels to another part of the country and meets with other people could be at risk of contracting COVID-19. When they return to their home communities, they can spread it – to members of their household and to their friends, colleagues and anyone else around them.

We are facing impending calamity. Many hospitals are already on the brink. The ICUs are full. We all need to do our part and flatten the curve again. And that means knowing when we are at risk for others around us. If you’ve traveled and seen other people, you could pose a risk to your community.

CNN: How should you go about assessing your risk?

Magnifying glass: There are three things to consider when assessing your own risk exposure. First of all, think about who you saw while on vacation. How many guests were there and what were their risks? If you have visited elderly relatives who have quarantined themselves, this is a very low risk for you. On the other hand, if you were with three households, some with teenagers who are in school, and they work themselves, and those households were not quarantined, the risk is a lot. higher.

Second, what activities did you do with others? If you only see people outside, spaced at least 6 feet apart, the risk is very low. Time spent indoors is a high risk, especially if you are in poorly ventilated spaces for long periods of time and where people eat and drink (and therefore do not have a mask). If you stay with someone, the risk could be even higher because the exposure time was longer.

Third, what kind of exposure did you have on the trip? If you drive, the risk will be lower than if you were to fly. I’m actually less concerned about your exposure to risk during the flight than anything else, like waiting at the airport and boarding at the pier, where people may congregate in less well. ventilated. If you wear a three-layer surgical mask all the time, it further reduces the risk. Overall, I’m more concerned about the risks of getting together with people.

CNN: What does quarantine look like?

Magnifying glass: Good question. By quarantine I mean you should act like you’ve been exposed to someone with coronavirus because you could have. This means that you shouldn’t be around people as much as possible. Don’t go to work. Keep children out of school. Have your groceries delivered. Definitely do not get together with others during this time.

The safest thing to do is quarantine for 14 days. If you have tests readily available, you can quarantine yourself for at least seven days after the return date and then get tested.

I recognize that it takes a lot. For some people, this full protocol may not be necessary, if your risk during the trip was really very low (i.e. if you only saw elderly relatives who were already in quarantine and you were driving yourself – even). But if you get together with others who are at risk of their own, know that you are in danger as well.

Please keep in mind how contagious COVID-19 is and that almost 60% of the spread is from people who are not showing symptoms. I’m sure none of us want to inadvertently infect others and increase the level of community spread where we live.

CNN: The community I am returning to is a hotspot in itself. Do I still have to quarantine?

Magnifying glass: Yes. Just because the area you return to also contains a lot of COVID-19 doesn’t mean you don’t have the responsibility of trying to keep the level from rising. Having hospitals overwhelmed affects us all – not just coronavirus patients, but also cancer and heart disease patients who may not be able to get the care they need.

CNN: What if you have roommates who don’t travel with you?

Magnifying glass: If you normally live at home with other people who have not accompanied you on your travels, you should stay away from them during your quarantine period. Don’t spend time in shared spaces. If this cannot be avoided – for example, if you have a shared toilet or kitchen – wear a mask, open windows, and do not use either space at the same time as the others. Keep in mind that they might be at risk if they also travel, so please urge them to follow the same quarantine protocol as well.

CNN: What should you do if you stay put, for example, if you are a student and the school let out?

Magnifying glass: For some students, they were able to quarantine themselves and then be tested before returning home. In this case, they can see their family members – although they must continue to be vigilant and not engage in risky behaviors like seeing their friends inside. For those who couldn’t, they should self-quarantine once they return home, following the same procedures as above: ideally 14 days and if not, at least seven days, then take a test.

CNN: Do I also have to follow all these procedures for Christmas and New Year?

Magnifying glass: Yes. There will almost certainly be an even higher level of coronavirus infection by then, and hospitals will be in an even more dire position. I strongly encourage everyone to postpone non-essential travel. We are so close to getting a vaccine that will allow us to see each other safely. Please let’s move on this winter. Keep the guarantees that we know work: wear a mask. Practice physical distance. Don’t congregate inside. I know it is very difficult, but we can survive this winter!

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