Omicron variant puts some holiday plans on hold

The current wave of omicron COVID-19 cases is preventing some Minnesotans from gathering this holiday season.

Amy Unger, St. Paul resident, caught COVID in December of last year, but the symptoms still linger.

“I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. It changed my life,” Unger said. “I don’t have a lot of energy and it’s cognitive energy too, it’s not just physical.

She’s also immunocompromised so staying protected is her main priority.

Unger got the COVID vaccine and a booster.

With the omicron cases climbing, she’s doing her best to avoid catching a breakthrough case.

“I’m home alone with my cat,” she said.

Unger came to the conclusion seeing family this holiday season was out of the question because isolation guarantees safety.

“I’m being cautious and I have to put value in not getting sick again rather than socializing,” she said.

COVID-19 threw a wrench in holiday plans across the country.

Some travelers never made it to their Christmas day destination.

United, Delta and Jet Blue put flights on hold citing staffing shortages because of the omicron variant.

The U.S. is averaging 176,000 daily infections, which is well over the peak from the summer.

The Centers for Disease Control estimates this new variant is accounting for more than 70% of new cases.

Unger’s hoping the next holiday season is safer, but in the meantime, she’s limiting her time out of the house.

“It’s much better to have the inconvenience of keeping yourself safe than to get COVID,” Unger said.