This is one of the riskiest things to do with the Delta variant advancement

COVID-19 regulations have changed over the year to say the least. At the start of the pandemic, we all learned what we can and can’t do, and now, while some are following the guidelines more closely than others, we know the basics: face masks protect against disease, especially when people put them in places that are crowded or poor are ventilated.

While there are many preventive measures you can take, some situations are just a recipe for the spread of the COVID-19 delta variant, at least according to one expert.

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Luis Ortofsky, MD told CNBC that traveling aboard cruise lines is one of the riskiest situations you can find yourself in right now. “It’s just a prescription for transfer,” he said. While all types of travel without vaccinations are currently discouraged, cruising is much riskier than flying where people are wearing their masks for the entire duration and there is likely to be good airflow.

Ortofsky makes it clear that while vaccination is a good thing, the Delta variant that is in circulation “no longer guarantees that you will not be able to get the infection or spread it,” he said. We can try to make cruises as safe as possible, but we will have breakthrough cases. “

Another complication thrown into the mix is ​​state laws like Texas, which forbid state and local mandates that require COVID-19 vaccinations, making it harder for cruises to keep their passengers and employees safe.

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Cruises are especially difficult places to avoid a virus. They eat and drink there, usually indoors, where others do the same. Most of your time is spent in public areas, interacting with people and touching different surfaces, which makes it very easy to transmit germs from person to person. It’s not just COVID-19 that is easy to spread; Cruises are notorious for the spread of respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses from passenger to passenger.

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It can take a while before you can safely board a cruise. The safest way to get on board, however, is to make sure that the cruise line you are traveling with requires proof of vaccination and has reduced capacity. While you can dine outdoors, cruises take place most of their entertainment indoors, so some risk is implied.