Healthy Highlights:

Staying Healthy While You Travel
There’s one thing that you definitely should not bring home for the holidays – and that’s a fever. Doctors across the country have warned people to protect themselves from the “tripledemic,” which refers to the combined threat of respiratory syncytial virus or RSV, the flu and COVID-19. Getting your flu shot and bivalent COVID-19 booster is the best way to keep your family and yourself from getting sick and ruining your holiday, but there are other things you can do to protect yourself while you travel.
First thing to do if you are traveling is to pack your mask – not because you have to wear it with most mandates lifted, but to keep yourself and others safe from pesky viruses.What type of face mask should you use in public places? A KN95 mask is a type of respirator that meets certain international standards. It offers more protection than a medical mask does because it filters out both large and small particles when the wearer inhales.
Next, frequently wash your hands using the same method that doctors use to prevent the spread of disease. The Center for Disease & Prevention gives the following tips about how sickness and traveling:
Regular handwashing is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others. Wash your hands and take other precautions to prevent getting and spreading diseases while traveling:
Wash your hands with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze.
Avoid contact with people who are sick.
If you get sick during travel, stay in your accommodations, unless you need medical care.
Another safety trick is to use hand sanitizer when you are not in the place to wash your hands.Not only can it guard you against common colds, but it can also protect you from stomach bugs, like norovirus.
And last but not least, it can’t hurt to fill your plate with immune-boosting foods, like broccoli, sweet potatoes, spinach, almonds and grapefruit.