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1. Get a booster shot
The evidence is convincing that a booster cuts the chance of both infection and serious illness. Whether people are coming to see you or you are traveling, this may be critical to your health.

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2. Get a flu shot
Though COVID-19 is the dominant news story, it is not the only communicable disease to be wary of. Between 12,000 and 52,000 Americans have died annually from the flu in recent years.

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3. Delay holiday air travel until next year
While it may be hard to skip seeing people over the holidays, the CDC warns that travel over Thanksgiving was risky, and that large numbers of people have gotten sick since then. A similar surge can be expected after Christmas travel.

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4. Keep an eye on the CDC’s recommendations
For people who do travel by air, those leaving the United States should keep a careful eye on the CDC’s “COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination.” It rates nations by risk, including dozens where the risk is “Very High.”

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5. Avoid travel hotspots in the United States
Many places in the Midwest and Northeast have ranked among the areas with the largest increases in COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people in recent weeks. They are best avoided if possible.