Mass. doctor on COVID-19 precautions to take during vacations
Mass. doctor on COVID-19 precautions to take during vacations
Updated: 6:14 PM EDT Jul 15, 2022
JESSICA: SOME OF THE MOST POPULAR TRAVEL DESTINATIONS FOR AMERICAN TOURISTS REMAIN AT HIGH RISK FOR COVID-19. HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IS DR. ALI RAJA, DEPUTY CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE AT MASS GENERAL HOSPITAL. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. >> LET’S LOOK AT THE CURRENT LIST FROM THE CDC. THERE ARE ZERO COUNTRIES AT LEVEL 4, WHICH IS DO NOT TRAVEL, BUT AT LEVEL 3, WE’VE GOT ALL-STAR ROSTER OF COUNTRIES WHERE AMERICANS LOVE TO GO, ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMER. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CANADA, MEXICO, FRANCE, ITALY, THE U.K., GERMANY, GREECE. IN YOUR OPINION, IS THE INFECTION RISK IN THOSE COUNTRIES ANY HIGHER THAN IT IS RIGHT HERE AT HOME? >> IT’S NOT THAT THE INFECTION RISK IS ALL THAT HIGHER, BUT THERE ARE DIFFERENCES, AND IT IS THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. IF YOU TRAVEL TO CANADA AND GET COVID, YOU CAN COUNT THAT — YOU ARE GOING TO GET THE SAME CARE THAT YOU WOULD GET IN THE U.S.. REGARDLESS OF WHICH COUNTRY YOU GO TO, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE TRAVELING BE VACCINATED AND BOOSTED AS WELL. JESSICA: IN THE U.S., WE’RE SEEING A SURGE FROM OMICRON SUBVARIANTS, B.A.-4 AND B.A.-5. ARE OTHER COUNTRIES DEALING WITH DIFFERENT STRAINS? >> NO AND YES, JESSICA. MOST CASES ARE EITHER BA.4 OR FIVE, AS YOU HAVE JUST SAID. INTERESTINGLY, THERE IS ALREADY OTHER VARIANTS. THERE IS BA.2 .75, IT WAS FIRST IN INDIA, THE U.K., AND NOW IT IS IN OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING THE U.S.. WE DON’T KNOW HOW MEN — HOW INFECTIOUS IT WILL BE. BUT THAT’S THE NEXT ONE TO LOOK OUT FOR. BEN: YOU KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO PACK FOR A BIG FAMILY TRIP. WHAT, IF ANYTHING, ARE YOU BRINGING FOR COVID? WOULD YOU BRING A MASK, WHAT DO YOU BRING WITH YOU >> YOU WANT THE USUAL STUFF, HAND SANITIZER, MOTRIN, TISSUES. BUT THERE ARE SPECIFIC THINGS FOR COVID, YOU WANT TO PACK YOUR VACCINATION CARD, OR A COPY. YOU WANT TO PACK MASKS. A THERMOMETER. THE TEST IS INTERESTING, IF YOU GO IN THE U.S., YOU WON’T HAVE A PROBLEM FINDING A TEST, IF YOU’RE GOING TO CANADA, NOT A PROBLEM POP — PROBLEM. BUT IF YOU HAVE — IF YOU ARE TRAVELING OFF THE BEAN PATH BRING A TEST. JESSICA: WE’VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE ANTI-VIRAL PILL, PAXLOVID. I KNOW YOU THINK IT’S VERY EFFECTIVE AT KEEPING HIGH-RISK PATIENTS OUT OF THE HOSPITAL. IS IT AVAILABLE IN OTHER COUNTRIES? OR CAN YOU GET A PRESCRIPTION FROM YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE YOU LEAVE? >> YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. YOU SHOULDN’T TAKE IT PROPHYLACTICALLY, BUT IT IS AVAILABLE IN MOST DESTINATIONS THAT AMERICANS TRAVEL TO. NOT JUST NOR
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Mass. doctor on COVID-19 precautions to take during vacations
Updated: 6:14 PM EDT Jul 15, 2022
Mass General’s Dr. Ali Raja is asked what type of COVID-19 supplies families should pack for a trip away from home.
Mass General’s Dr. Ali Raja is asked what type of COVID-19 supplies families should pack for a trip away from home.
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