The countdown has reached single digits until Christmas arrives and Kwanzaa commences, and there's only so much you can get done.
You can go last-minute shopping, prepare feasts and plan gatherings for families and friends, get the kids to see Santa, and hit up that office party. You can, with luck anyway. But with omicron around and the delta variant still in the air, the question may be, should you?
The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, infectious disease specialists say, and it's important to stay protected.
So we went to some of our well-known experts in the Cincinnati region and asked about their plans for the holiday season. We wanted to know, 'What would you do, doc?'
Here's who replied:
Dr. Jennifer Forrester, associate professor of infectious diseases at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and associate chief medical officer at UC Health.
Dr. Robert Frenck, professor of pediatrics for the division of infectious diseases and director of the Gamble Center for Vaccine Research at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
Dr. Dheeraj Goyal, infectious disease specialist, Mercy Health-Infectious Disease, Fairfield.
Here's what we asked, and what they said.
Would you take a child to see Santa?
Forrester: Given the increase in cases we are seeing right now (especially in kids), unfortunately not. Waiting in line with others whom we don't know if they are vaccinated or not, and who are likely not masked just doesn't make sense right now. We are thankful for the mail carriers getting our letters to the North Pole since we know the postal service is so busy!
