GREEN BAY (NBC 26) — Health experts are warning against winter traveling, but aren't saying "no", altogether.
"In northeastern Wisconsin right now, only maybe 3 to 5% of staff beds are actually immediately available for admission of patients, regardless if they have COVID, or they don't have COVID," said Bellin Emergency Physician Dr. Bradley Burmeister.
In the past week, Burmeister said COVID-19 hospitalizations have increased by 15%. Statistics like these worry health officials, especially heading into the winter months, and adding holiday travel to the mix.
"As people modify their behavior a bit that, you know, your risk of acquiring COVID just inherently by being closer to people, when you're indoors, as we move into winter is going to be a bit higher," Burmeister said.
On the other hand, health officials aren't telling those vaccinated to cancel their travel plans.
"That's a personal decision that everyone makes at this point," Burmeister said. "The formal recommendation is that if you are unvaccinated, travel should be deferred unless it's necessary for some very important reason."
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More recommendations include taking a test one to three days pre-travel, and then again once you return home. Without a test, doctors are recommending quarantining for 10 days post-travel. Burmeister also mentioned many caveats when it comes to travel right now, such as federal and local restrictions and case count. Travel agents are doing the work to advise their clients to make the best decision.
“You might want to look at something like that and say, 'Hey, you know, do you have to go by October? Is it is there something really pressing?' said Midwest Travel Club owner Pete Monfre. "Today's warning could become tomorrow's restriction.”
For example, the Governor of Hawaii is advising people to not travel to the state due to COVID concerns. When asked about it, Monfre said Hawaii would still be a possibility for travel.
"One of the messages that we've gotten is that one of the things Hawaii is really looking to avoid are the large conferences, the large meetings, the big big groups," said Monfre. "However, Hawaii still is open, they're just kind of asking they don't want to become overcrowded.”
Many travel agents are working to be transparent with their clients. Like doctors, not telling any traveler "no", but instead working to find a destination that would best suit their needs and concerns, but also keep them safe. Monfre said safety is of the utmost concern for his clients. However, he doesn't believe travel is going to slow down in the winter months.
"People are definitely booking for the winter and even into next spring," Monfre said. "You know you hear a lot of stories and we've kind of gotten used to it as a society now for for a year and a half... And most cancellations are more just due to personal reasons. Things are going on with the family, maybe, maybe it's not a good time to go. As far as the fear of the surges, it's been very few."
Doctors continue to relay vaccine education and ask more people to get vaccinated.
"We talked about vaccines, vaccines, vaccines, and that's really our key strategy as a community to mitigate the impacts that COVID-19 is going to have on our education system on our business, our tourism, Packer games, and of course, the health and wellness of our community," said Burmeister.
