Never Do These Things Now, Say Virus Experts
The Omicron wave seems to be receding. COVID case levels have begun to decline nationwide, very sharply in some areas. Everyone's eager to get back to normal life. Although some experts are urging that restrictions be re-evaluated, they emphasize that it's not time to throw all caution to the wind. There are some very easy things you can do to reduce your risk of catching COVID at this point—and not doing them are frankly some of the dumbest (and most dangerous) mistakes you can make, virus experts say. Read on to find out more—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID.
Not Being Fully Vaccinated
Although Omicron is highly contagious, study after study has shown that vaccines and booster shots have been highly effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID. If you're not vaccinated, you're tempting fate.
New data from the CDC found:
- Unvaccinated people over 65 are 52 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID than people who are vaccinated and boosted
- Unvaccinated people between age 50 and 64 are 46 times more likely to be hospitalized than the vaccinated and boosted
According to virus expert Michael Osterholm, another new study found that people who got a booster shot were four times less likely to test positive for COVID, and 97 times less likely to die from the virus, than unvaccinated adults.
And a different study found that half of this winter's COVID hospitalizations could have been prevented if Americans had been vaccinated at the same rates as residents of major European countries.
Trying to Catch COVID on Purpose
Health experts were quick to condemn recent online reports of people intentionally trying to catch the Omicron variant "just to get it over with" and obtain immunity. The dangers of that choice: Health systems in several areas are already stretched thin by the influx of cases. You could transmit the virus to people who are more vulnerable to severe illness. Even mild cases of COVID can result in potentially debilitating "Long COVID."
And when you catch COVID, there is a chance you could get really sick, even if you're young, healthy and vaccinated. (The chance is slim, but there's still a chance.) "The majority of people that get Omicron that are vaccinated really do have minor symptoms," said Dr. Marc Larsen, an emergency physician at Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City this week. "It's still playing Russian roulette, though. If you get a really severe case, you can't take it back. I still encourage everybody to avoid getting it and to do everything they can to avoid it right now."
Going to Large Gatherings Unmasked
Attending large gatherings and events where people from several different households are unmasked continues to be one of the most efficient ways for this respiratory virus to spread. While many localities are easing restrictions on large gatherings, experts say it's too soon to abandon precautions altogether.
"Our worry is that lessening public concern about health risks, especially as case numbers decline from the absurdly high levels seen earlier this month — and more relaxed attitudes about mask-wearing, social distancing and quarantines spread — could fuel a deluge of long COVID this spring," wrote two public health professors in a New York Daily News op-ed on Tuesday. "Continued use of protective measures for a few more weeks will mitigate the upcoming long COVID epidemic and the accompanying societal, medical and financial burden it may present."
Wearing a Cloth Mask
Virus experts have been near-unanimous for weeks: Omicron is so contagious that cloth masks no longer provide efficient protection against the virus. They recommend upgrading to an N95, KN95, or KF94 mask, all of which provide about the same level of protection (blocking 95% of virus particles if properly fitted). Scientists have determined that cloth masks only filter about 37% of virus particles—leaving far too many to be inhaled and potentially infect you.
How to Stay Safe Out There
Follow the fundamentals and help end this pandemic, no matter where you live—get vaccinated ASAP; if you live in an area with low vaccination rates, wear an N95 face mask, don't travel, social distance, avoid large crowds, don't go indoors with people you're not sheltering with (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, and to protect your life and the lives of others, don't visit any of these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.
