In the last week, at least fifteen people I know have tested positive for Covid-19. Now, I don’t know whether it’s the Omicron, Delta, or original Covid strain, however, I do know that it seems we’ve been hit with another giant wave of infections. Not much is known about the Omicron variant, but scientists predict that it spreads much easier than the original and that the vaccine treatment may need to be adjusted in order to properly defend our bodies against this virus. It seems as though Covid is ever-present in our lives, however, they are still ways that we can prevent this virus from getting too out of hand.
Here are some common symptoms of all variants of the virus:
Fever/chills
Cough
Difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle/body aches
Headache
Loss of taste/smell
Other flu-like symptoms
First, get the vaccine. Check out one of my other articles about the different types of vaccines, and how much they can make a difference as well as the ingredients within each vaccination treatment. According to the New York Times, on December 27, the number of new cases reported reached an all-time high for this calendar year: 543,315 in the United States alone. This number may only increase from here. While many people who have the vaccine are still getting infected, the severity of cases for vaccinated individuals is much less than those who are not. Vaccinations do not stop you from getting the virus; they only decrease your chances of getting hospitalized.
Second, get your booster shot. Clinical trials by Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson show that booster shots help prevent severe cases of Covid-19. With a more recent shot, your body will have an increased immune response if infected. If it’s been at least six months since you received your vaccine, you should seriously consider getting a booster. The booster is meant to serve as an additional layer of protection especially since there are concerns that the vaccine loses effectiveness over time.
Last, but certainly not least, wear your mask. Although mask-wearing has become a political issue over the past year and a half, it has been scientifically proven that wearing a mask can block 50-70% of fine droplets. The “fine droplets” that you should be worried about are the spit that sprays from peoples’ mouths when they sneeze, cough, talk, and even breathe. As Covid-19 is an airborne disease, wearing a mask prevents you from possibly spreading Covid to others. Furthermore, scientists believe that Omicron is “extraordinarily contagious” so mask-wearing will become even more important in the coming weeks.
In order for a mask to work properly, you must have several of them and wash them routinely. Those droplets can often land on the mask itself, so it’s important to avoid touching the surface of your mask if possible. Also, the type of mask you have is important. Bandanas and notoriously-thin masks are a definite no. The ultimate test to see if your mask is effective or not is the candle method. Light a candle, then put your mask on. Try to blow out the candle with your mask on. If it goes out, then the mask is not protective enough. If it stays alit no matter how hard you blow, then the mask is doing its job right.
Although it looks like we’re entering another period of high numbers in Covid-19 cases, remember that these are not unprecedented times. We went through a similar period like this last year, and although it didn’t last, medical professionals and scientists are working hard to help us live with this virus. It’s important that you do your part by getting vaccinated and wearing your mask.
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