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“Any time we’ve seen a new variant, it’s already spread around the world. So the fact that Omicron is in multiple countries in Europe, in the US, is not necessarily an ominous sign. And I think that’s a key point to keep in mind,” Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine, told CNN’s Jim Acosta Saturday. “And also remember we’ve not seen any evidence that Omicron produces more severe disease than any of the other variants.”
The Omicron variant, which was first identified in South Africa, was deemed a variant of concern by the World Health Organization Friday — sounding a heightened alarm globally over the state of the coronavirus pandemic, which has spanned nearly two years.
But Dr. Anthony Fauci told NBC Saturday that he would “not be surprised” if the Omicron variant is already in the US.
“We have not detected it yet, but when you have a virus that is showing this degree of transmissibility and you’re having travel-related cases they’ve noted in other places already, when you have a virus like this, it almost invariably is going to go all over,” Fauci said.
Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, noted that travel restrictions allow health experts to have additional time to study the variant and understand it in a more significant capacity — including whether the current vaccines are effective against Omicron.
“The vaccines we use may very well be able to contain this. And then it won’t be as serious as some people are surmising it might be. A lot of unknowns,” Fauci told NBC. “You don’t want people to panic, but you want to know we’re doing everything we can to stay ahead of this.”
US federal health officials are working around the clock to learn more about Omicron, one official told CNN Saturday, but it could be several weeks before they know whether the fears of the highly mutated variant are justified.
The concern over the new variant comes as Thanksgiving weekend kicks off the holiday travel season in the US and passengers pack airports at near pre-pandemic levels. The Transportation Security Administration said it screened about 2.3 million people at airports across the country on Wednesday, making it the busiest day at security checkpoints since March 2020. The number is 88{e9f0aada585b9d73d0d08d3c277fd760092386ec23cac37d50f4b8cd792b062a} of the traffic seen on the equivalent Wednesday in 2019, prior to the pandemic. And it is more than twice the number of people TSA screened on the same day last year.
The Omicron strain of coronavirus is concerning to scientists because the variant’s significant number of mutations could make it more contagious than the original novel coronavirus strain.
But with so much still unknown, Dr. Saju Mathew, a public health specialist, told CNN Saturday that the priority is on learning more about the variant and vaccination.
“I take the whole position that we shouldn’t panic just yet. The most important thing is to study the virus. Just because this virus is more contagious, doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s more dangerous,” Mathew said, noting vaccinations are still vitally important. “This is the time to show up at your local pharmacy and get the vaccinations.”
Vaccine maker Moderna said Friday that it’s moving quickly to test the ability of its vaccine to neutralize Omicron, and data is expected in the coming weeks.
The strain includes mutations “seen in the Delta variant that are believed to increase transmissibility and mutations seen in the Beta and Delta variants that are believed to promote immune escape,” Moderna said in a news release.
“The combination of mutations represents a significant potential risk to accelerate the waning of natural and vaccine-induced immunity.”
If its current vaccine and booster are insufficient against the variant, Moderna explained one possible solution is boosting people with a larger dose, which the company is testing. It also testing an Omicron-specific booster.
Scientists at BioNTech, the German company that partnered with Pfizer to make its Covid-19 vaccine, are also investigating the impact of the variant on their shot, with data expected within the upcoming weeks.
A Johnson & Johnson spokesperson told CNN in a statement the company was also testing the effectiveness of its vaccine against Omicron.
Dr. William Schaffner, a professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, echoed that the variant could be in the US, noting he anticipates stricter Covid-19 mitigation efforts to return.
“It’s going to make its way around the world. It looks like that way,” Schaffner told CNN Saturday. “I think we may, indeed, be in for a phase of many more masks, much more social distancing, and more restrictions and obligations for vaccination going forward.”
He added that even if the Omicron variant isn’t in the US, it’s bound to be “soon.”
“I think we need to just get our mind set that the virus is still in control. I don’t care about your covid fatigue,” Schaffner said. “We’re going to have to deal with this in an ongoing way very, very seriously. … Tighten your seat belts.”
CNN’s Jacqueline Howard, Virginia Langmaid, Michael Nedelman, Frederik Pleitgen and Kaitlan Collins.
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/https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/619c3b544a77ce372f5f6e71/0x0.jpg?ssl=1 "Tips On Travel Insurance, Airlines And More")
Experts have been saying that this Thanksgiving is going to kick off one of the busiest holiday travel periods in recent history—and the crowds are already proving it. The Transportation Security Administration reported that more than 2.2 million travelers passed through airports in the United States on Friday—a record. It was the most people the TSA has screened in a single day since the start of the pandemic. Travel sites are also seeing the same kind of traffic: Tripit is experiencing nearly triple the volume of last year, with flight bookings up 298{e9f0aada585b9d73d0d08d3c277fd760092386ec23cac37d50f4b8cd792b062a}, hotels up 258{e9f0aada585b9d73d0d08d3c277fd760092386ec23cac37d50f4b8cd792b062a}, vacation rentals up 175{e9f0aada585b9d73d0d08d3c277fd760092386ec23cac37d50f4b8cd792b062a} and car rentals up 390{e9f0aada585b9d73d0d08d3c277fd760092386ec23cac37d50f4b8cd792b062a}.
From travel insurance to advice on the airlines to the best travel deals, here’s what you need to know, whether you’re traveling over the coming week or anytime during the holiday travel season:
Arrive at the airport early. A third of all Thanksgiving travelers will be taking to the skies on Tuesday and Wednesday, so expect lines at airports. “Arriving at the airport two hours early is usually the gold standard, but this year I would recommend two and a half hours if possible,” says Jen Moyse, senior director of Product at TripIt. According to Tripit, some of the busiest airports will be San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Denver International Airport (DEN), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
Related: Best Pandemic Travel Insurance Plans
The holiday travel season has begun—and it’s not going to be pretty.
Be aware of COVID-19 protocols. It is the law that people must wear a mask in airports and on planes or any other type of public transportation in the U.S.—but that’s not the only place you’ll need it. “Be sure to keep a mask on hand when visiting hotel common spaces like the front lobby or dining area, and bring your vaccine card or negative COVID test results with you when out and about (tucked away safely) in case somewhere you hope to visit requires one,” says Moyse.
Pack light. If possible, carry your bags on the plane, since checking luggage can add time (and expense). Another advantage: You won’t have to wait for luggage when you land, so your vacation can start right away.
Think about travel insurance. Is it too late to get travel insurance to cover delays or trip interruptions? “The simple answer is you can technically get travel insurance the day before (even the day of) your trip, however, your coverage options will be very limited,” says Meghan Kayata, a spokesperson for InsureMyTrip. “You can put in your trip info on InsureMyTrip.com and see what options there are available. Our customer care call center is also available for those who would like to be walked through the options.” A note: For future trips, it’s a good idea to get a travel insurance policy as soon as you put any kind of money down to get the most options, like Cancel for Any Reason insurance.
Covid insurance: Speaking of travel insurance, if you’re traveling internationally, you’ll need to get a Covid test to return to the United States. It’s a good idea to get Covid insurance, even if the destination doesn’t require it. You’d hate to get stuck somewhere and have to pay a ton of money out of pocket for hotels and more.
Confirm your rental car. There’s been a massive rental car shortage that has already impacted many plans this year—and it’s only going to get worse. “With reservations up 390{e9f0aada585b9d73d0d08d3c277fd760092386ec23cac37d50f4b8cd792b062a} from 2020, it’s worth calling ahead and triple confirming your reservation,” says Moyse. Another tip: Check with your provider to learn the quickest and easiest way to get your car when you arrive. “And don’t forget to keep them in the loop if your flight plans change,” says Moyse.
Plan your drive wisely: Expect traffic delays. According to transportation analytics company INRIX, road travel will be about 40{e9f0aada585b9d73d0d08d3c277fd760092386ec23cac37d50f4b8cd792b062a} higher than normal over the holiday. Drivers should plan for traffic if they’re leaving on Wednesday—which will be the busiest day of the Thanksgiving travel season. Leave after 9 p.m., if you can. Or a better bet: drive on Thanksgiving Day before 11 a.m. If you’re returning on Saturday or Sunday, leave before noon.
Get Your Car Ready: According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 24{e9f0aada585b9d73d0d08d3c277fd760092386ec23cac37d50f4b8cd792b062a} of all accidents are weather-related, so as you head into the holiday travel season, it’s a good idea to make sure your car is weather-proofed. Check your windshield wipers to ensure optimum visibility in the event of inclement conditions and consider getting a portable jump starter like the Michelin High-Capacity Jump Starter and Power Bank.
Book your next trip now. If you’re a procrastinator, there’s good news and bad news. The good news? “We’re currently seeing more last-minute deals on cheap flights than ever before,” says Willis Orlando of Scott’s Cheap Flights. “The bad news? This golden opportunity for last-minute deals probably won’t last much longer.” So where to go? “Demand to hot leisure destinations like Miami and Las Vegas is back with a vengeance, whereas business-heavy destinations like San Francisco have been slower to bounce back,” says Orlando. If you’re traveling abroad or to one of these business-heavy domestic destinations, Orlando predicts that you can expect to see a couple more months of last-minute deals, as demand creeps back to normal.
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