How To Stay Safe This Holiday Season Amidst Omicron?
By Shantanu Sodhi +2 more
By Shantanu Sodhi +2 more
The holiday season is just around the corner as we are about to wrap up the year 2021. It definitely was not as anyone would have expected it to be but together, we somehow managed to emerge victorious over the Delta variant of COVID-19 that had wreaked havoc around the world in mid-2021.
Well, we might have won a battle against COVID-19 but the war is far from over as the virus has struck back with a brand new variant named Omicron, and with winter celebrations and New Year in the offing, its spread is most likely to become rampant all across the world.
There, however, are still some ways that can help us in containing the spread of the Omicron variant despite it being more contagious than the Delta variant. Below, we have mentioned some expert advice on how to stay and keep your family members safe during the holiday season amid the Omicron crisis. Have a look:
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Apart from avoiding huge gatherings, you should also maintain at least a six-feet distance from others when outdoors. Masks have not yet become optional accessories but continue to be an essential safety net in the war against COVID-19.
One must wear their mask properly so it covers their nose and mouth.
This is the first thing you need to do to save yourself from contracting this virus. While the scientists are yet to ascertain if Omicron is more severe than the Delta variant, experts have advised not to join any large gatherings and to prefer being outdoors instead of attending or throwing indoor events.
As people tend to travel a lot during the New Year festive season, the experts have advised people to be a little more flexible about the place they want to visit. Doing some research about the place you want to visit and finding out the active number of COVID-19 cases in the locality can help you in staying safe. Moreover, you can also find out the vaccination coverage in the particular region to better evaluate the risk of visiting there.
The Indian healthcare system has impressively covered a huge number of people in terms of COVID-19 vaccinations but still, there are a lot of people who are either yet to receive their second dose or have not got jabbed even once. So, the best possible way to prevent the Omicron infection is to get vaccinated on priority. There are speculations that the new variant may be able to cause breakthrough infection, but nothing is confirmed as of now. Furthermore, the initial studies prove that the Omicron virus can dodge immunity only to some extent. Hence, getting jabbed is the best defence mechanism we can opt for at the moment.
While travelling outstation, it is a good practice to keep some rapid test kits handy to determine if you have contracted the virus or not. Despite not being fully accurate, they can largely help in diagnosing the infection in the early days helping you to get early treatment as well as isolation.
Do not ignore any symptoms of illness- fever, sore/scratch throat, weakness, body ache etc. Isolate yourself, consult a doctor and do not meet other people till you are not sure of your disease. It is important for the safety of your loved ones.
Also Read: Is Covishield Effective Against Omicron?
COVID-19 was about to enter the endemic stage before the Omicron variant first appeared in South Africa and has spread to several countries since then. India itself has reported over 200 cases as of now, with Delhi and Maharashtra being the hub of the spread with 54 cases each. Hence, it is our responsibility to celebrate the upcoming holiday season cautiously and contain the spread of this variant before it becomes rampant. Virtual parties can be a safe and happy mode of celebration. Avoid any unnecessary travel, act responsibly and don’t forget to keep your masks on!
Also Read: Precautions to Take Against The Omicron Variant
Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.
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Last updated: Dec 14, 2022
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