Rafaela Prifti – Page 28 – Dielli

The Rewarding Work of Aleksander Nilaj’s Open Hand Association

September 11, 2021 by s p

Interviewed by Rafaela Prifti

Albanian American Open Hand Association (AAOHA) is a Bronx based not for profit organization that has stepped up its work, during the pandemic, to help meet the increased needs of the community for food, clothing, school supplies and more. Dielli talked to Aleksander Nilaj, Founder and President of AAOHA about its operations and mission at its food pantry in the Pelham Parkway section. It is a converted apartment on the ground floor of a building on Holland Avenue. Before COVID-19, AAOHA helped feed hundreds of people through weekly food-pantry offerings.
Months into the pandemic, Open Hand was providing food at double and sometimes triple those amounts. Nilaj and his team have reached out beyond the borough’s borders to meet the needs of paraplegic and tetraplegic communities in Albania, flood victims, and so on. He believes that “all of us collectively can be more successful rather than each one individually.”

-Food insecurity has been a problem in the Bronx. ICNA Relief USA opened this facility in July 2019. Since then, you say that AAOHA hosted clothing drives and food giveaways in other boroughs. How did you start and how did AAOHA get here?

AAOHA was founded in 2012. My initial idea was supported by a group of founding members. The association received its registration as a not-for-profit organization in 2014.

All along I have been fortunate to have friends who believe in our mission and are willing to give their time and money to support it. In the beginning, the work and the size of our operation were much different. We would prepare 50 food packages as food giveaways per household per week. I contacted several community organizations that operate in different areas in the Bronx. I was an immigrant myself and did not have many contacts. So I approached local organizations that helped out the needy, such as the Bronx Park East, Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association, Morris Park, and the Bronx House. I said that I can provide food for 5 families per week to each organization to distribute to them. Our role was more a facilitator in the community. The limit was 50 to 60 families per week, for over a year. After a year, the families started to come directly to us. At that point the food giveaways reached to 180 up to 220 families per month. At that time AAOHA had no facilities. In order to notify the community of the time and drop off place, we relied on fliers and social media. We also rely on our partnerships with different community organizations and appreciate the help and support of local representatives, elected officials including the Albanian-American City Councilman Mark Gjonaj.

-What was your inspiration to lead this initiative? What prompted you to lead the AAOHA?

I came to the US in 2006. The Nilaj family is known in Vukel of the Kelmend region in Albania. It has been persecuted by the communist system. I am proud of my family and the heroic history of the people of Kelmend. One way to honor the legacy of our brave ancestors is to extend a helping hand to one another. I was involved with a number of humanitarian efforts of organizations that operate here, both Albanian and American. They are very valuable to our communities. I realized that their work did not meet my vision.

-What did you feel was missing?

Their work was oriented to meet or to address one specific area. I saw such efforts as a multi-directional work. I founded the Open Hand organization with that vision in mind. Luckily the Bronx is such a diverse community in terms of ethnicities that it feels like an international family. The families who come to us have appreciated us. As far as volunteers, more than half of them are Albanians. I am so proud of each and every one of them.

– In August, in your conversion with Sokol Paja, the editor of Dielli, you said that the Open Hand is wherever people need it, so they don’t miss anything, and no one feels lonely. How do you define your role?

Many people are in desperate need. During the time of the pandemic the divisions and gaps grew for various reasons. Our mission is to bring help to everyone who needs it, with no distinction. Two years ago we got the facility in Pelham Parkway as well as another larger storage for clothing items and materials. In the year of the pandemic, while a number of community outreach organizations were conducting their operations under lockdown conditions, a newly founded nationwide American organization started placing orders through us directly. We did drop offs to destinations assigned by them such as churches, places of worship, shelters. The families would arrange the pick up. At that point, we came to understand the large size of established associations that were serving the community for years and years. We connected with a quite a number of them and continue to coordinate with a few ones to this day.

– What is the day to day logistics and planning for you? By the way, I saw the AAOHA van parked outside the food pantry.

The van was donated to us by a fellow Albanian from Kosova last year. He has been helping us for years. From February through December of 2020 we got 500,000 meals from a catering in the South Bronx and delivered them to families. It was Representative Nathalia Fernandez who referred them to us since Open Hand was the only place that stayed open in the time of the pandemic to serve those in need.

– The work is done by hundreds of people who give their time, support and funds for the betterment of our communities. As you say, the list of supporters and volunteers is too long to cover. I talked briefly with two of them, who were at the pantry today. Hysni Lika and Viktor Popaj. They said to me they have been involved with humanitarian efforts and organizations in Albania before joining AAOHA. You said that more than half of the volunteers are Albanians but there are other nationalities as well. What do they all have in common?

This is a calling to help people who are in desperate need. During the time of the pandemic the divisions and gaps grew for various reasons. Our mission is to bring help to everyone without distinction. The purpose is to help everyone who is in need that we are able to reach. That’s what brings all of our volunteer together. And they are so many of them who offer their time and services. I never have to look for volunteers. They find us. Other than food we provide equipment supplies for people with physical challenges. One example would be a wheelchair. If someone in need contacts us for a certain item, we try to get to the right place to provide that need for someone.

– Open Hand started as a nonprofit organization almost a decade ago. It has hosted food and school supply giveaways, as well as clothing drives and care packages for the disabled. Since then, its work has well exceeded the local borders and stretched across the ocean. To give one example, “Albanian American Open Hand Association delivered 2,600 aid packages to Bosnia that was impacted by flooding in 2014. In 2015, AAOHA partnered with other associations to organize a clothing drive for Albania’s flood victims. It has raised funds and shipped home care materials to Albania and Kosovo. How do you work internationally? Is this part of your vision?

We have a coordinator in Albania, Luigj Gegaj, who is in charge for all the region. Rexhep Myftari from Dardamedia and Kanto Sokaj have been tireless in their roles to the association. We also coordinate with churches and various centers there. Once the shipment is ready from here, it goes to these points and they do the distribution themselves. Due to the high costs of international transport and customs, we don’t ship out food to Albania. Another restriction with regard to food is the requirement for sanitation certificates, expiration dates etc.

– You take pride in the fact that Open Hand is an Albanian American Association.

I do. To be able to help the fellow countrymen is very rewarding. We are aware of the needs they have. Although AAOHA is limited in its capacities, our mission is to give as much as we can. There are good people who want to help here and there. With our coordinated efforts we can reach out to more families in need. It is also a matter of giving hope to so many who despair and feel hopeless. A package once in six months will not last long but letting someone know that people care makes the whole difference in the world.

– What stands out about the Open Hand Association?

This is an Albanian American organization. Its name is meant to convey the idea of open arms and an open heart. One more point is that just like the founding members, donors and our volunteers are as diverse as the community we serve. In terms of our operations, we distribute in all boroughs of New York. The food pantry is open twice a week. The hours go on from Monday to Saturday. The number of people who come here reaches 200 to 250 on Saturday. Up until May, we distributed to 1,000 people. Our contract is good for two more years. We will keep on going.

-You hosted an event in early September to honor donors and volunteers. You said that you also intended for it to be an annual event.

This Labor Day event coincided with the fifth anniversary of Mother Teresa’s Sainthood and International Day of Charity. The best way for our organization to honor her figure as an Albanian and appreciate her legacy of giving and being the champion of the needy is to start a tradition that marks the day annually.

– I noticed that you make a point to thank sponsors, volunteers and always the media. Local and city papers and online media like Bronx Times, NYCity News Service, News 12 Bronx have covered AAOHA’s help to feed families during holidays, the clothing drive and other events. With respect to Vatra and Dielli, you have been a supporter over the years. As recently as this month, you participated at a book promotion hosted by Vatra’s offices where you donated Back to School giveaways to ‘Children of the Eagle’. How do you see the role of the media?

The physical work in on us. The sponsors are very valuable to us. Our volunteers are priceless. The media brings and connects us to the people who might need us. That is how I see the role of the media. And all of us together and collectively are able to be more successful rather than each one individually.

– Thank you for the interview! Much success in the future!

NËNË TEREZA KA KOMBËSI SHQIPTARE

September 6, 2021 by s p

Naum Prifti

Për redaksinë e gazetës Nju Jork Tajms

Shoqata e Shkrimtarëve Shqiptaro-Amerikanë ka konsideratë të lartë për gazetën prestigjioze New York Times, prandaj i vjen keq kur botohen në faqet e saj artikuj dizinformues ose që shtrëmbërojnë të vërtetën. I tillë qe artikulli i Z. Ian Fisher botuar më datë 6 gusht 2003, faqe 6, ku autori e mohon kombësine shqiptare të Nënë Terezës, me argumente te pabaza historike a shkencore.

Ja argumentet kryesore që paraqet zoti Fisher për të mbrojtur tezën e tij:

1. Nënë Tereza nuk ka si të jetë shqiptare a me kombësi shqiptare, kur dihet se ishte katolike e ritit Latin, ndërsa shqiptarët janë myslimanë.

Çdo njeri që ka sado pak dijeni mbi shqiptarët, e di se ata u përkasin tre besimeve fetare myslimanë, ortodoksë të ritit Bizantin dhe katolikë të ritit Roman, pa llogaritur sektin Bektashi. E njëjta përbërje fetare zotëron edhe në trevat e banuara nga shqiptarët, si në Kosovë, Maqedoni dhe Mal të Zi. Në Maqedoni gjithmonë ka patur ortodoksë dhe katolikë shqiptarë, ashtu sikurse ka edhe sot. Dijetarët dhe etnografët e huaj kanë shfaqur admirim për tolerancën fetare ndërmjet shqiptarëve që vazhdon prej shekujsh. Ndofta në asnjë vend të botës nuk ka aq martesa mikste sa te shqiptarët, në raport me popullsinë.

2. Mbiemri vajzëror i Nënë Terezës, Gonxhe Bojaxhiu hedh dyshime mbi kombësinë e saj, mbasi gjuha shqipe nuk ka mbaresa “u” për mbiemrat.

Ky argument filologjik dëshmon se autori ka mangësi në fushën e onomastikës shqipe. Edhe librin e telefonave sikur të kishte shfletuar, do të kishte gjetur një tok mbiemrash me mbaresën “u.” Shumica e mbiemrave të shqiptarëve me prejardhje nga profesionet mbarojnë me “u.” Shembuj: “Bojaxhiu,” (painter); “Kundraxhiu,” (shoemaker); “Terziu,” (taylor); “Furrxhiu” (bakery); “Djepaxhiu,” (cradlemaker); “Sapunxhiu,” (soapmaker); “Hanxhiu,” (owner of an inn); etj.

3. Nënë Tereza nuk dinte shqip dhe nuk fliste shqip.

Nënë Tereza haste vështirësi për të folur rrjedhshëm shqip, pas një emigrimi prej 7 dekadash, por ajo kurrë nuk e ka mohuar origjinën e saj shqiptare. Kur ishte e re jo vetëm ka folur, por ka shkrojtur edhe poezi në gjuhën shqipe. Në kohën që shkruajti poezinë, të cilën po ua servirim shqip e anglisht, ajo ishte 22 vjeçe. Besojmë se kjo dëshmi e patjetërsueshme mjafton për të bindur edhe më skeptikët për kombësinë e saj shqiptare.

Për Shoqatën e Shkrimtarëve Shqiptaro-Amerikanë

Kryetari

Naum Prifti

A Poem by Mother Teresa

Gonxhe Bojaxhiu

Composed Dec. 9, 1928, en route to India

GOODBYE

I am leaving the glowing hearth,

And my birthplace and kinsfolk;

To go to disease-wracked Bengal,

Far, far away.

I bid goodbye to fretful friends,

From hearth and relatives I turn away,

To obey my heart that tells me

To serve Christ.

Goodbye, dear mother,

Take care friends of mine;

A pure force stirs within me

And drives me toward inflamed India.

The boat sails ever so lightly,

As it awaits stormy scars;

For the last time, my eye surveys

The coastline of wrathful Europe.

On the boat, joy and exultation

Light up the face care-worn

Of a soul betrothed to Christ-

The tender bride of the new world.

An iron cross she clasps in her hand,

A cross that rings with the message of salvation;

And her spirit is ready

To sacrifice all for it.

“Accept, oh, Lord, this sacrifice,

as a testimony of my love;

and on this day help my soul

that wants to exult Your name.

In return, oh, Gracious Lord,

Our kind Father,

I ask only that I be filled with the spirit

Known only to You.”

Pure as a summer drizzle at dawn,

My hot, wistful tears roll softly down,

And uplift my public oath

To make my life a ceaseless prayer to You.

Translated from Albanian by Peter R. Prifti

San Diego 1991

ALBANIAN CATHOLIC BULLETIN, San Francisco, CA., Vol. XII, 1991

Poezi e Nënë Terezës

Gonxhe Bojaxhiu

Hartuar më 9 dhjetor 1928, kur po udhëtonte për në Indi.

LAMTUMIRË

Po lë shtëpinë zemërfanar

Vendlindje e farefis

Po vete n’Bengalin dergje-vrarë

Atje, në të largtin vis.

Lë të njohurit në mejtime

Të afërmit e vatrën shqim,

Më tërheq zemra ime

T’i shërbej Krishtit tim.

Nënë e dashur, lamtumirë

Ju le shënde’n miq të mi

Më djeg, o, një fuqi e dlirë

Drejt të përflakurës Indi…

Dhe anija lehtë lehtë lundron

Pret valët e detit të trazuar,

Për herë të fundit syri vrojton

Brigjet e Evropës së hakërruar.

Qëndron në anije e galduar

Fytyrë e përvuajtur gjithë hare

E Krishtit flijetarja e vluar

Nuse e njomë e botës së re,

Një kryq hekuri n’dorë shtërngon

Shpëtimi lëvarshëm kumbon në të,

E shpirti i gatshëm pranon

Blatën e rëndë fli për të,

“Pranoje, këtë flijim, o Zot,

Dëshmi e përbetimit që të dashuroj,

Ndihmoi gjallesës Tënde sot

Që emrin do të madhëroj!

Si shpërblim, Të lus o i Hirt’,

O Ati ynë plot mirësi

Të më japësh vetëm atë shpirt

Atë shpirt që-veçse Ti e di.”

Dhe t’imtë, të pastër si n’ag vere vesojnë

Të valët lot rjedhin qetë, me mall,

Që betimin për Ty prore e madhërojnë

Për të madhin blatim që tani u shpall.

Unvaccinated U.S. Visitors Could Face New Restrictions on Travel to Europe

September 2, 2021 by s p

By Rafaela Prifti

The daily average for hospitalized Covid-19 patients in the United States is now more than 100,000 over the last week, a figure not seen since the winter peak. Ahead of a new academic year worldwide, the W.H.O. urges actions to keep schools open. The European Union has recommended that its member countries reintroduce travel restrictions for visitors from the United States who are unvaccinated against the coronavirus, a fresh blow to the continent’s ailing tourism sector and a sign that potential measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus might remain in place for months. The European Council, which comprises the leaders of the bloc’s 27 countries, removed the United States from a “safe list” of countries whose residents can travel without requirements such as quarantine and testing.
The change is not mandatory. Each E.U. member state imposes its own travel rules and can decide whether to follow the guidelines or not, so it was not immediately clear which countries, if any, would reintroduce restrictions or when they might begin. If enforced, the new restrictions would only apply to unvaccinated travelers — the European Council already recommends that all visitors who have been fully inoculated with an E.U.-approved vaccine be allowed to travel. That includes the three vaccines available in the United States. Most countries in the bloc do not require Americans to isolate upon arrival, but a few have kept quarantine requirements in place this summer, including, in some cases, for inoculated visitors. Still, most vaccinated American tourists have been able to enjoy the beaches of Greece, Spain or Portugal, the Italian countryside or the streets of Amsterdam or Paris without hurdles, boosting a tourism industry that was closed to them last year. In countries such as France, Greece and Spain, U.S. visitors make up the largest contingent of tourists from non-European countries. In others, such as Portugal, total spending by Americans is among the highest of any nationality. But as the United States returns to a daily average of 100,000 Covid hospitalizations over the last week, the European Council has advised E.U. countries to keep their borders shut to nonessential travel by unvaccinated Americans, in the hope of containing the spread of the Delta variant. The seven-day average of U.S. Covid hospitalizations peaked in mid-January with nearly 140,000 people hospitalized, according to federal data. One of the council’s criteria for lifting restrictions is that a country should have fewer than 75 coronavirus cases per 100,000 inhabitants over the past 14-day period, but the United States has a reported infection rate well above that threshold, according to data provided by the European Center for Disease Control. The United States is also classified as a red zone by the agency, the second-most risky color, after dark red. Other criteria outlined by the European Council include a stable or decreasing trend in Covid cases. While reported coronavirus infections in the United States have surged this month, that figure has remained relatively steady across the European Union.
A European official with knowledge of discussions around the announcement, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the amendment to the list, said that the update had been made based on the latest scientific data available. Other countries removed from the “safe list” include Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro and North Macedonia.
The European Union recommended that its member countries reopen their borders to American travelers in June, but there has been growing frustration and incomprehension about the lack of reciprocity from the United States. Hospitalizations nationwide have increased by nearly 500 percent in the past two months, particularly across Southern states, where I.C.U. beds are filling up, a crisis fueled by some of the country’s lowest vaccination rates and widespread political opposition to public health measures like mask requirements. “We encourage all countries to keep schools open and urge all schools to put in place measures to minimize the risk of Covid-19 and the spread of different variants,” the official, Hans Kluge, said in a statement released jointly with the United Nations children’s agency, UNICEF.

Edited NYT Reporting, WHO Press Release

New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo resigns

August 11, 2021 by s p

By Rafaela Prifti/

Source: News Reporting NYT

One week after the NY Attorney General’s report found credible the sexual allegations of eleven women towards Governor Cuomo, he announced his resignation. In his address he said that his instinct is to fight, and that he had been interested in doing so in recent days. Ultimately, he came to the decision that there is no path forward in his governorship and announced his resignation effective in 14 days. The governor spoke directly to his daughters in his announcement telling them that he would not treat any woman differently than he would want them treated.
One year ago, Cuomo was seen as perhaps former President Trump’s most effective foil. He is resigning in one of the most stunning falls in modern American politics and on a defiant note as the New York State Assembly’s is committed to moving forward with impeachment. Andrew Cuomo was elected governor in 2010 and was handily re-elected twice. He governed with an iron fist for over ten years in Albany and was seen as coasting to a fourth-term just a few months ago.The governor was hailed a national leader just a year ago during the pandemic. In announcing his resignation, the governor sought to take on the posture of public purpose emphasizing that he is driven by serving the people of New York: “the best way I can help now is to step down from office.”
He called for a “seamless” transition as Lt. Gov. Hochul steps into the governorship. She will be sworn in to replace him. Lt Gov. Hocus, a Democrat, will become the first female governor of New York.
The announcement from Mr. Cuomo, a three-term Democrat, came one week after a report from the New York State attorney general concluded that the governor sexually harassed nearly a dozen women, including current and former government workers, by engaging in unwanted touching and making inappropriate comments.
The 165-page report also found that Mr. Cuomo and his aides unlawfully retaliated against at least one of the women for making her complaints public and fostered a toxic work environment.
The report put increased pressure on Mr. Cuomo to resign, leading to new calls to do so from President Biden, a longtime friend of the governor, and other Democratic leaders who had withheld judgment until the report’s findings were made public, and leaving Mr. Cuomo with few, if any, defenders.
Andrew M. Cuomo has seen his governorship thrown into turmoil by several scandals and investigations that have threatened his position and his legacy.
The State Assembly has been conducting a separate and broader impeachment inquiry into Mr. Cuomo that has explored potential abuses of power by the governor and his administration.
Source: News Reporting NYT

How Delta Is Changing Advice for the Vaccinated – Experts Answer 10 Questions

August 6, 2021 by s p

computer illustration of coronavirus delta variant mutation concept

By Rafaela Prifti

The rise of the Delta variant of the coronavirus has raised new questions about how the vaccinated can stay safe and avoid breakthrough infections.
The vaccines remain remarkably protective against Covid-19, especially against serious illness. Headlines about breakthrough infections and new recommendations that vaccinated people should sometimes wear masks have left many people confused and worried. While new research shows vaccinated people can become infected and carry high levels of the coronavirus, it’s important to remember that those cases are rare, and it’s primarily the unvaccinated who get infected and spread the virus.
As long as large numbers of people remain unvaccinated, vaccinated people will be exposed to the highly infectious Delta variant. Parents have the added worry that children under 12 probably won’t be eligible for vaccination until well into the fall. As a result, every vaccinated person should consider a safety checklist to help minimize the risk of becoming infected and spreading the virus to others. The experts answer 10 questions about how vaccinated people should adjust their lives and behaviors during the Delta surge. Here are their answers.
New Guidance for the Vaccinated

-If I’m vaccinated, why do I need to worry about Delta?
No vaccine offers 100 percent protection. Compared with earlier forms of the virus, Delta is like a viral hurricane; it’s far more infectious and presents a bigger challenge to even a vaccinated immune system.The good news is the current crop of vaccines available in the United States are doing a remarkable job of protecting people from serious illness, hospitalization and death. More than 97 percent of those hospitalized with Covid-19 are unvaccinated. And new data from Singapore shows that even when vaccinated patients are hospitalized with Delta breakthrough infections, they are far less likely to need supplemental oxygen, and they clear the virus faster compared with unvaccinated patients.

– What’s the real risk of a breakthrough infection after vaccination?
Breakthrough infections make headlines, but they remain uncommon. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stopped tracking all breakthrough cases in May, about half of all states report at least some data on breakthrough events. The Kaiser Family Foundation recently analyzed much of the state-reported data and found that breakthrough cases, hospitalizations and deaths are extremely rare events among those who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. The rate of breakthrough cases reported among those fully vaccinated is “well below 1 percent in all reporting states, ranging from 0.01 percent in Connecticut to 0.29 percent in Alaska,” according to the Kaiser analysis. But many breakthrough infections are probably never reported because people who are infected don’t have symptoms or have mild symptoms that end before the person even thinks about being tested. Experts say that it’s not a failure of the vaccine that we’re having breakthrough cases. What is clear is that the risk of a breakthrough infection increases the more opportunities you give Delta to challenge the wall of protection conferred by your vaccine. Big crowded events — like a July 4 celebration in Provincetown, Mass., or the packed Lollapalooza concert in Chicago — pose a much greater risk that a vaccinated person will cross paths with an infected person carrying a high viral load.

– When should I wear a mask?
The C.D.C. has a color-coded map of Covid-19 outbreaks in the United States. Blue and yellow zones show relatively low levels of infections, while orange and red zones indicate areas where cases in the past week were above 50 cases per 100,000 people. The agency advises people to wear masks if they live in an orange or red zone — which now accounts for about 80 percent of the counties in the United States.Infection numbers remain relatively low in much of the Northeast and Upper Midwest, while Delta has caused huge spikes in cases in Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana and Florida. The problem with the map is that case counts are changing rapidly and may surge in your local community before the map has changed colors. Even if you’re certain you’re living in a highly vaccinated community with very low case counts, it makes sense to consider the case counts and vaccination rates in nearby communities as well, because people — and viruses — cross state and county boundaries all the time.Most experts agree that you don’t need to wear a mask outdoors if you’re not in a crowd and have plenty of distance (at least six feet) from people whose vaccination status isn’t known. It’s still risky to attend a packed outdoor concert, but if you do, wear a mask.

– Should I upgrade my mask?You will get the most protection from a high-quality medical mask like an N95 or a KN95, although you want to be sure you have the real thing. If you don’t have a medical mask, you still get strong protection from double masking with a simple surgical mask under a cloth mask. A mask with an exhale valve should never be worn, since it allows plumes of viral particles to escape, and counterfeit masks may have faulty valves that let germs in.You may want to pick your mask based on the setting. A cloth mask may be adequate for a quick trip into an empty convenience store in an area with high vaccination rates. But a higher-quality mask makes sense during air travel or in a crowded grocery store, especially in communities where vaccination rates are low and case counts are high. Masks with straps or ties around the back of the head seal more tightly than masks with ear loops.
Doctors advice that all the mitigation efforts we used before need to be better to hold off the Delta variant, and this includes masks.

– What’s the risk of hanging out with my vaccinated friends and family?Vaccinated people are at very low risk when they spend time, unmasked, with their vaccinated friends and family members.But some circumstances might require extra precautions. While it’s unusual for a vaccinated person to spread the virus to another vaccinated person, it’s theoretically possible. A vaccinated friend who is going to crowded bars, packed concerts or traveling to a Covid hot spot is a bigger risk than someone who avoids crowds and spends most of their time with vaccinated people.Spending time with smaller groups of vaccinated friends has less risk than attending a big party, even if you believe everyone at the party is vaccinated. If you’re indoors, open the windows to improve ventilation. If someone in the group is at very high risk because of age or because they are immunocompromised, it’s reasonable to ask even vaccinated people to be tested before a visit. A simple rapid home test can even be offered to guests to be sure everyone is Covid-free.

– Can I still dine at restaurants?The answer depends on local conditions, your tolerance for risk and the personal health of those around you. Risk is lowest in communities with high vaccination rates and very low case counts.Parents of unvaccinated children and people with compromised immune systems, who studies show may get less protection from vaccines, may want to order takeout or dine outdoors as an added precaution.

-Is it safe to travel? Should I skip the peanuts and water and keep my mask on?Airplanes are typically well ventilated and not a major source of outbreaks, but taking precautions is still a good idea. The potential for exposure to an infected person may be even higher in the terminal, sitting in airport restaurants and bars, or going through the security line. In airplanes, air is refreshed roughly every two to three minutes — a higher rate than in grocery stores and other indoor spaces. While airlines still require passengers to wear masks, people are allowed to remove them to drink water or eat.To prevent air from circulating to everyone throughout the cabin, airplane ventilation systems keep airflow contained to a few rows. As a result, an infected passenger poses most risk to those sitting in the seats in the immediate area.
Most experts say that they use a high-quality medical mask, like an N95 or KF94, when they fly. If you don’t have one, double masking is advised. For a vaccinated person, the risk of removing a mask briefly to eat or drink during a flight is low, but it’s better to keep it on as much as possible. The C.D.C. says it’s best for unvaccinated people, including children, to avoid flying.

– How safe are buses, subways and trains for vaccinated people?Most buses, trains and subways still require everyone to wear a mask, which lowers risk. While vaccinated people are well protected, the risk of viral exposure increases the longer the ride and the more crowded the train car or bus. For many people, riding public transit is essential for getting to work or school, and wearing a well-fitted medical mask or double mask is recommended. When public transit is optional, the decision about whether to ride should factor in local vaccination rates and whether case counts are rising.
-Can I hug and visit older relatives? What about unvaccinated children?While it’s generally considered safe for vaccinated people to hug and spend time together unmasked, parents of unvaccinated children have more risks to consider, particularly when visiting older relatives. In communities with low case counts and high vaccination rates, it’s generally considered safe for unvaccinated children from a single household to spend time with vaccinated grandparents. But as the Delta variant spreads and children return to school, the risks of close contact also increase for older or immune-compromised people who are more vulnerable to complications from Covid-19, even if they’re vaccinated.When families plan a visit to a high-risk relative, it’s a good idea to minimize other exposures, avoiding restaurant dining or working out at the gym in the week leading up to the visit. Even though the risk of a vaccinated person spreading Covid-19 remains low, vaccinated grandparents should also reduce their personal exposure when they spend time with unvaccinated children.
Rapid home tests are an added precaution when visiting grandparents or an immune-compromised family member. Take a test a few days before the visit as well as the day of the visit.

– How do I know if I have the Delta variant?If you’re diagnosed in the U.S. with Covid-19, the odds are overwhelming that you have the Delta variant. The C.D.C. now estimates that Delta accounts for more than 82 percent of cases in the United States. The Delta variant has become dominant in other countries as well. In late July the World Health Organization said Delta accounted for 75 percent or more of the cases in many countries, including Australia, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Denmark, India, Indonesia, Israel, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Africa and the U.K.
Standard Covid tests won’t tell you if your infection was caused by the Delta variant or another variant of the virus. While health departments may use genomic sequencing to identify levels of different variants in a community, this information typically isn’t shared with individuals. You still need to isolate and seek medical advice if you have low blood oxygen levels, have trouble breathing or have other worrisome symptoms.

Edited and summarized from the NYT original article by Tara Parker-Pope