While it was good to suppose COVID was going away and issues have been getting again to regular, the truth is the virus hasn’t gone wherever and in reality instances are rising once more. Many states are seeing a surge and new variants repeatedly emerge. In response to the uptick in instances, the New York Times reviews that many colleges and schools are reinforcing indoor masks mandates in an effort to assist forestall the unfold of COVID and specialists warn taking precautionary measures remains to be essential. Eat This, Not That! Health spoke with Dr. Tomi Mitchell, a Board-Certified Family Physician with Holistic Wellness Strategies who explains what to know in regards to the virus proper now and COVID hotspots to keep away from.Read on—and to make sure your well being and the well being of others, do not miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.
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The Latest Information on COVID
Dr. Mitchell says, “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 55% of the country is either on high or medium alert for COVID in the community. COVID 19 has claimed the lives of over one million Americans, and that number is trending up daily. There is so much going on in the world, from wars to Ukraine, racially motivated shootings at grocery stores, abortion rights being significantly challenged, multiple homicides and tragic school shootings in Texas, and more. So it’s tough to focus on COVID-19. The COVID 19 conversation isn’t the headline now. Heck, to add more interest, we are now dealing with Monkeypox. I don’t know about you, but my heart sinks when I hear all these headlines.”
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Should We Be Worried About Going Out In Public?
“The answer is YES and NO,” Dr. Mitchell says. “Although the chances of contracting the virus may be lower now, it is still possible to catch it if you are not careful. There have been reports of people who were asymptomatic carriers of the virus and unknowingly spread it to others. Therefore, it is essential to take precautions when around people, such as wearing masks and maintaining social distance. However, even if you are very careful, you can still catch COVID. The chances of being in places where everyone is taking precautions, and yes, wearing a properly fitted N95 mask, triple boosted with their vaccinations, are, let us say, very low. But it only takes one asymptomatic individual to infect others. The good news is that the chances of severe illness and death from COVID are very low for young, healthy people. Most people who have caught the virus have had mild symptoms or no symptoms. However, a small percentage of people develop severe symptoms and require hospitalization. In addition, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions are at a higher risk for developing severe symptoms. So while the chances of contracting COVID may be lower now, it is still possible to catch it if you are not careful. If you do catch it, the chances of developing severe symptoms are relatively low, but they are not zero. Therefore, I would advise against testing fate.”
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What About Travel? Is It Safe To Fly Or Go On Vacation?
“The simple answer is no, it is not safe to travel right now,” Dr. Mitchell emphasizes. “The CDC has issued a level 2 or 3 travel advisory for all countries, a considerable risk. Also, because masks are no longer mandated, it’s a free for all. There are so many unknowns right now. So, to play it safe, I would recommend avoiding any travel if possible.”
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What’s The New Dominant Strain?
Dr. Mitchell shares, “The highly contagious Omicron subvariant BA.2 is now the dominant coronavirus strain in the United States, causing more than half of all Covid-19 infections last week.”
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What To Know About COVID Right Now
Dr. Mitchell states, “The virus has not disappeared. The virus is doing what viruses are trained to do- mutate and replicate quickly to avoid being taken out by the host (human immune system). Like any other living organism, viruses are fighting for their survival. The pandemic isn’t over. However, we have an opportunity to impact public health by adhering to a healthier lifestyle and reducing the burden of chronic illness by living a healthier, proactive, and holistic life.”
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Why Are Cases Rising Again?
According to Dr. Mitchell, “The cases are rising for many reasons, and I am sure there are many more reasons. 1) A more contagious variant has arisen 2) there has been a significant reduction in mandates/safeguards for COVID 3) People are being lax as far as taking precautions to reduce the spread of the disease 4) Waning immunity to the vaccinations over time. 5) Decreased social distancing and living life as if things were back to normal.”
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Airplanes
“The CDC has issued a level 2 or 3 travel advisory for all countries, which means high risk, ” Dr. Mitchell explains. “Also, with the fact that masks are no longer mandated, it is a free for all. There are so many unknowns right now. So, to play it safe, I would recommend avoiding any travel if possible. However, in the same breath, millions have put travel plans on hold, and for varying reasons, they will board a plane and live their lives. Now I know what you’re thinking, “I put on a masks on the airplane, and I sanitize my fingers, so I ought to be wonderful!” Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Both the CDC and WHO agree that airplanes are high-risk areas for transmitting diseases like COVID. This is because the air on planes is recycled and doesn’t go through filters between flights, meaning that any viruses or bacteria on the plane will keep circulating. In addition, most people take their masks off during flights (i.e., to eat).”
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Crowded Concerts
Dr. Mitchell says, “I get it; people love to sing, dance, and shout during a concert. However, add an indoor show with rowdy and sometimes inebriated individuals; you are asking for trouble when it comes to COVID.”
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Cruise Ships
Dr. Mitchell reminds us, “We have all seen what can happen when COVID gets on a cruise ship. It can quickly spread throughout the vessel, leaving passengers and crew sick and quarantined for weeks or months. So unless you are okay with being potentially stuck on a ship for an extended period, I recommend avoiding cruises.”
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Indoor VS Outdoor Dining
“Indoor dining is probably one of the riskier activities you can do right now regarding COVID,” Dr. Mitchell says. “There is less ventilation when you are indoors, meaning that any viruses or bacteria in the air are more likely to circulate and potentially infect people. In addition, many people take their masks off while eating, which also increases the risk of spread. So if you do choose to dine indoors, I would recommend doing so with people you are comfortable with and who you know have been taking precautions.
“Outdoor eating is safer than indoor eating, as there’s extra air flow and the danger of unfold is decrease. However, it’s nonetheless important to be cautious when eating outside, as there’s at all times the potential for shut contact with others. Therefore, I might advocate sticking to outside eating with individuals you’re snug with and who you recognize have been taking precautions.”
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Gatherings
“Whether they be indoors or outside, gatherings are nonetheless dangerous proper now,” Dr. Mitchell states. “This is as a result of they usually contain shut contact with others, rising the danger of spreading. Over the previous two years, now we have seen spikes in COVID instances just some weeks after main holidays or household occasions. It’s onerous to remain optimistic when the world is spiraling uncontrolled. Every day, there is a new headline saying some tragedy or catastrophe. It’s straightforward to develop into overwhelmed and even cynical in regards to the state of the world. It’s essential to keep in mind that there are nonetheless moments of sunshine regardless of all of the darkness. People are working tirelessly to finish wars, feed the hungry, and look after the sick. Some individuals dedicate their lives to creating the world a greater place. And some extraordinary individuals present nice acts of kindness and compassion each day. In occasions of darkness, it is important to deal with the sunshine. It may not make all of the headlines, however it’s nonetheless there – and it offers us hope for a greater tomorrow.”
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How to Stay Safe Out There
Follow the general public well being fundamentals and assist finish this pandemic, irrespective of the place you reside—get vaccinated or boosted ASAP; when you stay in an space with low vaccination charges, put on an N95 face masks, do not journey, social distance, keep away from massive crowds, do not go indoors with individuals you are not sheltering with (particularly in bars), follow good hand hygiene, and to guard your life and the lives of others, do not go to any of those 35 Places You’re Most Likely to Catch COVID.
