SLN MARCH 2021 R

Seven Lakes Lifestyle & Entertainment March Edition Page C 3
Can I Safely Travel Again
After My 2nd Shot?
After you’ve been vaccinated for
COVID-19, is it safe to travel?
Where will you be able to go, and
what will be required of you?
Many In Seven Lakes age 65 and
older have begun receiving their
first and second doses. Now what?
What can I do? Can I travel? What
safety precautions will I still need
to take? Where can I go? Who can I
see? Vaccines are indeed a cause
for optimism, including for travel
and travelers.
It’s been just over two months
since the U.S. began distributing
the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines
for COVID-19, and since that time
more than 64 million doses have
been administered, according to
the CDC’s vaccination tracker.
At the current rate of about 840,00
doses being administered each
day estimates on when we might
reach herd immunity, when enough
people are immune to the virus so
that it can’t spread, vary between
as early as this spring and as late
as this fall.
Dr. Manisha Juthani, an associate
professor of medicine and
epidemiology at the Yale School
of Medicine, and an infectious
diseases specialist at Yale
Medicine, is also encouraged
about how this year will unfold.
When Dr. Manisha Juthani, was
asked what advice she would offer
travelers regarding how they should
view the coming weeks and months
to avoid having too many hopes
dashed (we already went down that
road in 2020, remember?), she
says, “Once vaccinated and if the
rates of infection are low around
you and in the place that you are
going to, I would definitely plan to
travel.
“I miss traveling myself and hope
to take a trip on a plane in 2021.
It will require continued vigilance,
public/private partnerships, and a
commitment from everyone in the
world to get this virus to recede,
but I remain hopeful that we can
do this in 2021.”
“Just because you get vaccinated
does not necessarily mean that you
can’t get infected with SARS-CoV-2
or COVID-19, but it does mean
that if you are, you are much less
likely to be hospitalized and you
are much less likely to have a lot of
the severe outcomes that we worry
about with COVID.” “Data to date
show that vaccination protects
100 percent from hospitalization
and death,” says Dr. Juthani.
But that even with that added layer
of vaccine protection, travelers
should take precautions—and baby
steps. For starters, you shouldn’t
head out the door immediately
after your second dose.
Amira Roess, professor of global
health and epidemiology at
George Mason University, adds
“Remember that vaccines don’t
work immediately.
You need to give your body about
two weeks after each dose for a
strong enough immune response
to occur. . . . We expect that about
two weeks after your second dose
you may have very high protection.”
Roess notes that because we are
still seeing a lot of community
transmission of COVID-19, and
because there are new variants
circulating that we are still learning
more about, those who are
vaccinated should remain vigilant
by continuing to wear masks and
practicing social distancing.
According to Roess, “Plan that trip.
Plan it for late summer, plan it for
fall, so you have something to look
forward to.
I think there’s a very reasonable
expectation that a large segment
of the population is going to be
vaccinated by then.”
By: Diane Keating SL News
Source: AFAR
SL West Controlled Burn
The SLW Infrastructure Committee and the
SL Garden Club join forces and burn the Muhly Grass
between the lower pond and Longleaf Drive!
This year the last killing frost is Smother insects and egg masses
forecast to be April 8th. So do by spraying plants with All Season
not go out and buy those pretty Spray Oil when the temperature
petunia’s yet! You can plant cold is between 40-85°F. Do not apply
hardy vegetables and herbs. This is within 24 hours of freezing weather.
a great time to get new perennials To reduce disease problems,
in the ground or move plants or remove dead leaves and decayed
shrubs that are not doing well in fruit from under trees. Help prevent
their current location.
camellia petal blight by mulching
4″deep around susceptible
camellias, keeping the trunk area
clear of mulch, and replacing the
mulch annually after flowering. Pick
off any diseased or fallen flowers.
For severe infestations, spray with
a fungicide. Ask for help at the
local hardware stores!
Just because it’s still winterish and
many plants are dormant doesn’t
mean your garden doesn’t need
some TLC! So pick a mild day,
layer up your clothing, bring a mug
of your favorite hot beverage, and
enjoy the peace and fresh air of the
garden. Here’s what you can work
on:
Now is the time for weed control.
Put down a pre-emergent for
crabgrass and spring weeds.
Prune deciduous trees and shrubs
& roses (but NOT spring flowers
such as azaleas):
Most deciduous trees and shrubs
are best pruned in late winter to
early spring.
Prune for shape, remove
overlapping branches, get some air
into the center of the shrub/tree.
Some basic cutting techniques:
Cut back to 1/4″ above buds. Make
cuts on a 45° angle. For limbs
larger than twigs, be sure to cut
the limb just past the swollen area
where the branch and the trunk
meet called the branch collar. Use
sharp tools!
Ward off pests and disease:
This is a great time to kill
overwintering insects such as
mites and scale on shrubs & trees
including roses and fruit trees.
Check-in with your tools:
Sharpen and oil hand tools then
sharpen your lawn mower blades
as well as change its oil, filter, and
spark plugs. New electric models
are less maintenance and cleaner
for you and the environment.
Rusty tools can be soaked in white
vinegar overnight then scrubbed
with a scrubbing pad to remove
rust. Dry them well and coat with
mineral or camellia oil.
I saw they burned the Muhly grass
in Seven Lakes West, should I do
that? We burn the Muhly grass
because when it is grown near
water it is susceptible to a fungus.
Burning eliminates that risk. If
yours is not on the shore of a lake
or pond, just cut it back severely. If
you burn, do it early in February or
early March. Cut of the top fronds
to maintain control of the burn.
Just use a match or ignitor, don’t
pour on any accelerant, too hot is
not good! Happy Gardening!
Contributed By: Carolyn Sink