As of February 16, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 64.5 percent of the U.S. population have received full Covid-19 vaccinations. Among them, 43 percent have already received booster shots. Fortune highlights that even if Omicron spread widely and swiftly, the risk of hospitalization and death among those fully vaccinated and boosted were reduced by over 90 percent.
The Vaccine Tracker of Bloomberg shows that the number of deaths in the U.S. vis-à-vis the number of Covid-19 cases has fallen drastically since last year. On January 14, 2021, there were 224,000 cases and 3,360 deaths. That is a ratio of 1.5 percent deaths. On January 14 this year, there were 707,000 cases and 1,960 deaths—a ratio of less than 0.3 percent deaths.
With Covid-19 increasingly under control for treatment and recovery, many states have eased up on their masking requirements and other restrictions this February. Just in time for spring, fully vaccinated people with booster shots can travel to more destinations within the U.S. for a much-needed vacation. Note that masking is still required in public transportation such as planes, trains, and buses.
Extreme Adventures
One of the things many people missed during the pandemic was traveling to have outdoor adventures and do extreme sports. You can now check what states are safe and open and book your trip.
Outdoor sports are relatively safe concerning Covid-19 as long as you are not in close contact with people who do not belong to your household. There is, however, always a risk of physical injury. Ensure that you check if your current insurance coverage includes injuries from the type of physical activities you intend to do. Most insurance policies do not cover this. If you were not clearly briefed about it and your claim is disapproved when you get injured, you can sue your insurance agent for errors and omissions. Their own insurance policy surely covers them for this. It is still best to be prepared, though, for your peace of mind. You may have to get an additional hazardous sports rider.
Canyoneering
There are many canyons throughout the U.S. Pick one, and you may eventually want to go through all the other canyons across the country. You will discover many hidden wonders of nature.
Canyoneering is a combination of hiking, rock climbing, chimneying, rappelling, and a lot of scrambling and sliding through and across canyons. It can even include cliff diving if the canyon has a natural pool that is deep enough for this.
You do not need to be a trained athlete to do this. Some guides choose the best route based on a group’s physical capabilities. You will be provided with a helmet, a harness, and the necessary rope systems to keep you safe.
However, before going on this adventure, it would be best to prepare your body. Start with long walks and progress to long runs. Walk or run uphill regularly, if possible. Practicing wall climbing will also benefit you. The more you have prepared your body, the less sore you will be afterward.
Water Sports
If you love the sea, there are many sports you can try that most seaside resorts offer. You will experience an entirely different view of the world if you go scuba diving. You will need to take lessons, though, to be allowed to do this. If you do not have the time to take lessons, you can opt for helmet diving. You do not even need to know how to swim to do this. You will be provided with a helmet with an air supply, and a guide will lead you up to a depth of three meters where you can walk on the seafloor.
Up above the depths, you can surf on wild waves. This requires training, too. As an alternative, you can do water skiing, wakeboarding, kneeboarding, or barefoot skiing. In all four activities, you will be pulled by a boat.
Sky Adventures
The nearest experience to flying is skydiving. Solo skydiving requires training and a license, but anyone can skydive with a tandem skydiving instructor. You will be given instructions on the body postures you must assume at each point of the dive, and the instructor will do the rest. Likewise, you can do paragliding with an instructor. The instructor will pilot the flight, and you only sit back and enjoy the experience.
For parasailing, you do not need training or a trained companion. This is because you will be towed by a boat over water or a vehicle overland while safely strapped in. Other ways you can sail through the air without training are bungee jumping and ziplining.
The Ultimate Release
Doing extreme sports provides a kind of release with the rush of adrenaline. Facing and surmounting various physical and mental challenges gives deep satisfaction. This is an excellent way of confronting and letting go of the high levels of stress brought about by the pandemic. It benefits both physical and mental well-being.
