Almost two years since the start of the covid-19 pandemic, cases are surging and the threat of another highly contagious variant looms, but projections show people still plan to travel for the holidays.

Nearly 28 million more people will travel this year compared to 2020, according to AAA, and airlines will see a projected 184% increase over last year. That will bring this year’s levels to about 92% of what they were in 2019.

In just Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey, more than 770,000 people intend to fly during the holidays, according to AAA, and another 287,000 plan to travel via bus, train or other means of public transport. Just over 11 million people plan to drive to their destination, according to AAA.

Experts weighed in on what people should consider heading into the two-week stretch of gatherings and celebrations.

Q. Should people go ahead with plans for holiday travel and gatherings in light of omicron and the recent uptick in cases?

The answer for those who are fully vaccinated, according to Pittsburgh-based infectious disease expert Dr. Amesh Adalja, is “yes.”

“Omicron does not change that equation,” he said. “Just as has been true of delta, if you are fully vaccinated and you get a breakthrough infection, it’s going to be mild.”

And that — a mild illness rather than severe disease, hospitalization or worse — is really the goal of vaccines, Adalja said.

“It’s not going to be eliminated. It’s not going to be eradicated,” he said of covid-19. “People have to learn to risk-calculate, and the best way to risk-calculate is to be fully vaccinated.”

There are, however, differing views on what it means to be “fully vaccinated.”

Adalja has said that the focus should remain on vaccinating the unvaccinated rather than booster shots. Dr. Jonathan Baktari, a pulmonary care physician and chief executive of e7Health, said at this point people should think of the vaccines as a three-shot series.

“I no longer call it a booster — it’s definitely a three-shot series,” he said, noting he believes covid vaccines will go the way of flu vaccines in that people will need updated versions each season.

“I think we just have to kind of get over ‘did you get a booster?’ It should be more like, ‘did you finish your three-shot series?’ ” he said.

The CDC has maintained its definition of “fully vaccinated” as two weeks out from the second in a two-shot series or two weeks out from the first dose of a one-shot vaccine.

Q. What travel restrictions are in place?

Masks are required in all areas of public transport, including in airports and on flights for the duration of travel. They also are recommended indoors in areas considered to have substantial or high levels of covid transmission as defined by the CDC.

Some states and cities have instituted their own, stricter measures. California this month reinstated a statewide mask mandate for all indoor public places — regardless of vaccination status.

Several cities, including New York and San Francisco, require proof of vaccination for indoor dining, gyms and other venues. Los Angeles County requires proof of vaccination to enter bars, nightclubs, breweries and wineries. The city is requiring proof of vaccination for anyone 12 and older to enter any public indoor space.

The CDC advises travelers check the transmission level and any restrictions in place at their destination.

The U.S. Department of State earlier this month laid out guidance for people traveling into the U.S.: Anyone 2 and older must show evidence of a negative viral test taken within one day of travel, regardless of nationality or vaccination status.

Q. What should families who are of mixed vaccination status — some are vaccinated, some are not — consider as they get together for the holidays?

Adalja said this comes down to risk tolerance — the amount of transmission risk people are willing to tolerate.

“Vaccinated family members have little to fear from those people who are unvaccinated,” he said, reiterating that vaccinated people who have a breakthrough infection are likely to have only mild illness.

“The big danger is when you have high-risk unvaccinated people who are susceptible to getting severe illness,” he said.

Dr. Jonathan Baktari, a pulmonary care physician and chief executive of e7Health, said that when it comes to people who are unvaccinated, there are those who are high risk and those who are low risk. He said people should move away from the idea that unvaccinated people can avoid the virus if they take the right steps.

“I think people have to come to terms that they are going to get covid-19 sooner or later,” he said. “I think the only concept is how well prepared you will be when you get it and how well prepared your immune system will be when you get it.”

Indeed, Adalja said, it’s those who are unvaccinated who are most at risk at family gatherings.

“In that situation, if you’ve got unvaccinated people coming — especially high-risk unvaccinated people — that’s where testing could be something to allow the activity to go on in a safe manner,” he said.

Q. When should we be taking at-home covid-19 tests?

Adalja said it depends on the purpose of the test.

“First of all, if you’re symptomatic, you should be taking a test immediately,” he said. “If you’re not symptomatic and you’re taking a test for screening purposes, the closer you take it to whatever the activity is — visiting someone, going to a party — the more valuable it’s going to be.”

Depending on where you are, at-home tests can be hard to come by.

Q. What precautions are in place at travel hubs like airports?

At Pittsburgh International, the measures put in place at the start of the pandemic — and more instituted since then — remain in place, airport spokesman Bob Kerlik said.

That includes basics such as masking and social distancing along with other measures such as using ultraviolet light on touch points to add an extra layer of sanitation.

Kerlik said seating in gate areas, food courts and baggage claims have been reconfigured to keep people properly spaced, and the airport is looking at using touchless transaction technology to reduce person-to-person contact even more.

Airport officials expect more than 250,000 people to pass through the terminal daily from Dec. 23 to Jan. 2.

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