Dr. Lucky Tran Dec 17, 2022

Apart from getting vaccinated, the government is not giving easy-to-follow advice about the holidays, and we are in a COVID surge, so please:

1️⃣ Isolate for several days before you travel

2️⃣ Wear an N95 mask when traveling

3️⃣ Test before you see relatives

#COVID #COVID19 #PublicHealth #Travel

Show threadDr. Lucky Tran Dec 17, 2022

Yes, keeping up to date on your vaccines is one of the most important things you can do. Go get boosted! It’ll reduce your chances of getting seriously ill. But you can still get COVID and transmit it if you’re vaccinated, so please take extra precautions when you see family.

#COVID #COVID19

Show threadDr. Lucky Tran Dec 17, 2022
1️⃣ Isolating for several days before you travel is a good idea because it lowers the chances of contracting COVID and bringing it with you to vulnerable family members.
#COVID #COVID19 #Travel
Show threadDr. Lucky Tran Dec 17, 2022

2️⃣ Please wear a mask when you travel, and ideally a high quality mask like an N95. Travel involves spending long hours in high risk environments for COVID like airports, stations, buses, trains, and planes, which are crowded and can have poor ventilation.

#COVID #COVID19 #Travel

Show threadDr. Lucky Tran Dec 17, 2022

To identify high risk environments for COVID, remember the 3 Cs: Closed spaces, Crowded places, and Close contact.

A 4th risk is spending a long time in these places. When you need to do this, wear a N95 mask to protect yourself.

#COVID #COVID19 #Travel

Show threadDr. Lucky Tran 

3️⃣ Test! The trick with COVID tests is that they are time limited, so ideally you need to do them frequently, and especially if you have been exposed to high risk environments in between. So test before you leave home, when you reach your destination, and during your stay.

#COVID #COVID19 #Travel

Dec 17, 2022 at 3:53amWeb
Show threadDr. Lucky Tran Dec 17, 2022

TIP: You can get 4 free COVID tests from covidtests.gov, but these likely won’t be enough, and won’t arrive on time.

If you have insurance, you can pick up 8 free COVID tests per person from the drug store any time.

#COVID #COVID19

Show threadDr. Lucky Tran Dec 17, 2022

While you’re at your family holiday gathering you can also mitigate COVID risk by:

1️⃣ Increasing ventilation by opening windows (if warm enough)

2️⃣ Having HEPA filters or CR boxes

3️⃣ Organizing outdoor activities

4️⃣ Wearing an N95 mask when going out to crowded public spaces

#COVID #COVID19

Show threadDr. Lucky Tran Dec 17, 2022

One more thing: please include family members who can't travel in your plans by having a remote option!

Because public health protections have been prematurely dropped, many people, especially those at higher risk, are more isolated than ever before. Please include them.

#COVID #COVID19

Show threadTransitBikerDec 17, 2022
@luckytran Any event without a remote option should be boycotted.
Show threadTaelaa ☮️Dec 17, 2022
@luckytran thank you Dr Tran!
Show threadCallistoDec 17, 2022
@luckytran Gather.town is the most natural online gathering space I've used so far, and a free account is plenty to host a family holiday party.
Show threadMidwestMonsterDec 17, 2022
@luckytran This is my life. My extended family has been awful in this aspect, even going so far as to once auggest that if it's so imperative for me to mask and distance that I should stay in a tent outside instead of in the house because they wouldn't mask around me.
Show threadMorganDec 20, 2022
@luckytran yk, my immunocompromised family members are already here and planning on being there in person, but we totally could stream my wedding for out of state family members anyway... More accessible in general, even though their reasons not to travel would be more likely financially motivated. Curb cut effect etc etc
Show threadFreedomDec 17, 2022

@luckytran

If a bunch of people drop in unannounced, they're getting a frozen house, because I won't tolerate germs in the air.

"Leave, and I will close the windows."

Winter Holidays 2022 are postponed until May or June.

Show threadEmoluMentalDec 17, 2022
@luckytran Fire in the fireplace? Does that help?
Show threadLipkDec 17, 2022
@luckytran Ah filters, tnx! Somehow I hadn't yet thought of bringing mine to Christmas dinner. But I've got one and maybe my brother can move his to the dining space as well.
Show threadCassandrichDec 17, 2022
@luckytran Also: carry portable CO2 monitor as a proxy for how necessary mitigations are in a particular setting, measure effects of increasing ventilation, and convince others of importance & efficacy of mitigations.
Show threadSky "Bunny" Stanton 🌈♾️🧠Dec 17, 2022

@luckytran

Thank you for this! Do you just need to show an insurance card at the pharmacy, or?

Show threadDr. Lucky Tran Dec 17, 2022
@autisticompulsive yes just your insurance card should work! You may want to look up the COVID page on your insurers website first and print out the place it says you get free tests just in case.
Show threadSky "Bunny" Stanton 🌈♾️🧠Dec 17, 2022

@luckytran

Thank you!!

Show threadDoug A 🖖🇨🇦✅Dec 17, 2022
@luckytran In Canada, they just give them away at drug stores!
Show threadFreedomDec 17, 2022

@DAshford @luckytran

🎶 O Canada! Our home and native land! True patriot love in all of us command. With glowing hearts we see thee rise, The True North strong and free! 🎶

🇨🇦🍁🦆

*sigh* Anyway. Just let me know when you accept disabled, unskilled refugees.

Show threadJust StaciDec 17, 2022
@luckytran some clinics hand them out too. I went in for something entirely unrelated, and they handed me a stack to take home. :)
Show threadDr. Lucky Tran Dec 17, 2022
@splott amazing!
Show threadKeith AmmannDec 17, 2022
@luckytran If your insurer cooperates. Cigna rejects them. 😠
Show threadUseYourIndoorVoiceDec 17, 2022
@luckytran I ordered my tests yesterday & got notification tonight that they should be in my mailbox by Monday. Woot!
Show threadlolonurseDec 17, 2022
@luckytran
Apparently some insurances are trying to make it a headache to get free tests. They try to insist on copays, then have you submit your payment for reimbursement. Or they want the pharmacy or physician to call to authorize them. Which is nuts! (I'm in downstate NY)
Show threadJessica CravenDec 17, 2022
@luckytran not everyone. We have Anthem Blue Cross and were told at a CVS we had to pay for ours. They did say we could submit for reimbursement but that’s a pain, and lots of people can’t lay out that kind of cash.
Show threadTheNurseIsInDec 17, 2022
@luckytran yes we do this, too. Our insurance limits us to 8 tests per month however.
Show threadLinda Bailey-McWeeneyDec 17, 2022
@luckytran In NYC, there are stacks of them available to pick up at the public library. No limits on amount.