5 things to know now about COVID-19
Protect yourself from the devious coronavirus by avoiding high-risk activities and maximizing the benefits from face coverings and other precautions
The following is informational and not medical advice. It is based on a journalist’s review of scientific and other sources. As always, check with your own healthcare professionals for guidance specific to you.
With a new administration about to take over in Washington, the United States may be able to shift the COVID-19 trajectory. However, even a rapid change in policies or leadership cannot avoid many more weeks of heightened risk, new infections, deaths and hospitalizations.
But each of us has the power to take action for ourselves and those around us. Here are five key things to know now.
The virus is getting better and better at spreading
You’ve probably heard about the fast-spreading coronavirus variant known as B117, the mutation of the COVID-19 virus first identified in the United Kingdom. What makes B117 so concerning is that it appears to spread from one person to another at a 50% higher rate than the previous coronavirus strains. The variant is blamed for the recent, dramatic surges in England — and there is good reason to suspect it is fueling the increase in new cases in parts of the United States, especially in the Los Angeles area.
Now, doctors in Santa Clara County, Calif., just south of San Francisco have found another variant, known as L452R. There likely are other variants elsewhere, but few communities in the United States actively monitor the genetic sequences of infectious diseases.
What this means to you and me: If the new strains spread easier, you are more likely to get COVID-19 from other people even if your exposure to them is limited.
The Biggest Risks are Indoors
Breathing other people’s air is how most cases of COVID-19 spread. This is why keeping away from those you don’t live with, covering your face and washing your hands remain the most important individual precautions. Avoiding going into stores or offices or other locations is probably the best way to protect yourself. One study found that many COVID-19 cases among healthcare workers were in those who stayed inside when taking breaks or eating meals.
If going into a store for 10 minutes might have been relatively safe before, consider setting a 5-minute limit instead. And this is a very good reason to prefer curbside pickup or delivery.
If you must be inside, open windows and use an exhaust fan or other mechanical ventilation. The more air that exchanges between the indoors and outside, the better. In most instances, don’t waste money on UV lights and other devices sold for sanitizing homes. They usually are not necessary, may not be effective, and in some cases, they may be harmful. On the other hand, air filters may help, especially when combined with other precautions.
Use disinfectant to clean surfaces, especially door knobs and other “high touch” spots. Los Angeles health officials urge people to carry disinfectant so that you can disinfect your cellphone, car keys, work stations and door handles, and they suggest that you wash your hands thoroughly at least once per hour if you are around other people.
As for packages, mail and other objects… surface transmission is no longer considered a major COVID-19 risk. Do be careful handling objects that were handled by others, but focus more on not sharing your air and keeping your own hands clean all the time.
The Risk Outdoors is Not Zero
In general, you are more than 10 times more likely to catch COVID-19 indoors than outdoors, but there are many variables that increase or decrease the risk.
If you are working out with other people, infectious particles can travel more than six feet and get into your body or onto your clothes.
If you are dining outside, keep your distance - especially because masks will be off while eating.
Do not be fooled into thinking that you are safe with people you know. It’s no different from the early days of HIV/AIDS. Taking universal precautions protects everyone.
If you are working out with people who do not live in your home, be mindful of how long you are near each other and whether you are really out in the open or in a semi-enclosed space. Wear face coverings. Wash your hands. Wash your clothes.
Mask Up, the Right Way
What kind of mask are you wearing, and are you handling it correctly? There now is overwhelming evidence supporting face coverings to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Even a casual cloth over your face cuts the risk by about 50%, and people in communities with mask mandates and high compliance have about 70% lower risk than others. Mask mandates are estimated to have prevented more than 200,000 COVID-19 cases in the United States between March and May 2020.
But there is considerable variation in the amount of protection that you get with different types of masks, and my clinician friends are telling me that the heightened risks in California and elsewhere may warrant more than casual cloth. On the other hand, wearing an N95 mask every day is impractical, at best.
In a recent New York Times article, experts explain that two non-medical masks actually can achieve very good protection. For example, wear a surgical-style mask against your nose and mouth and a cloth mask over that one. Don’t make it air-tight but nose bridges and straps that go around your head reduce unfiltered gaps.
Handling masks correctly is important: don’t touch the front of your mask and wash your hands before and after putting your mask on or taking it off. The CDC last week updated its mask guidance. Also: know how to store and clean your mask. This is something way too many people overlook.
Get the vaccine when you can
The vaccines are going to bring the pandemic to an end… but we have a long way to go, first. State and local governments have been re-tooling their vaccine administration programs and adjusting to the uncertainties of vaccine supply deliveries, so they are likely to be better prepared by the time a steady supply of vaccine doses rolls out. The 20 million or so doses that have been shipped but not used yet should get into people’s arms much faster now that the emphasis will be on getting more people vaccinated. If you are 65 or older, you may be able to get vaccinated this week - or soon.
And the supply should open up considerably once the next vaccine becomes available. Johnson & Johnson soon will have data from its 45,000-person, Phase 3 study of its COVID-19 vaccine. If the data shows safety and efficacy, the shots could be distributed starting in February.
What this means to you and me: If you are 65 or older or in any higher risk category, check with your local health authorities or your own healthcare provider to find out how soon you can get a COVID-19 vaccine. Others should keep an eye out for their chance.
If you are pregnant or have certain other health conditions, ask your doctor if the vaccine is a good idea for you.
Immunity from the vaccinations builds up over several weeks, so please do not relax your precautions after getting the shot. There are many cases of people who have gotten COVID-19 in the days after receiving the vaccine. Since the vaccines do not contain the virus, these cases are all from other exposures.
With clear messaging from the new president on down, there is hope that we can get back to some semblance of normal during the summer or fall. But it will take a lot of patience and effort to get there. We can do it.
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