CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The holiday season is here and so are the health concerns.
"You know, it is it is more problematic, of course, because of this rapid spread of omicron, which is a very contagious variant of COVID," Dr. Charles Bregier, with Novant Health, told WCNC.
Despite the growing spread of the omicron variant, AAA still estimates more than 109 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles from home for the holidays. That's up 34% increase from 2020 and it is nearing pre-pandemic levels.
For air travelers, face coverings are still required.
"So we really want to make sure that people understand that it's really important to do the strategies that have been protective throughout COVID. Right. So that is masking," Bregier said.
And experts say tight-fitting masks with higher filtration rates like N-95 masks are the best choice.
And remember to take extra precautions not only while traveling but also at your holiday destinations.
"And you know, if you're going to be getting together with people who may not be vaccinated, ask them to be tested and make sure anyone who is showing any signs of illness is not showing up and getting tested," Bregier said
Contact Richard DeVayne at rdevayne@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
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