BA.2, the latest Omicron subvariant has been spreading all over the globe, Europe and Asia especially and experts believe the surge will be happening in the United States soon as well!
The head of the UC San Francisco COVID-19 Community Public Health Initiative and chair of the department of epidemiology and biostatistics at UCSF, Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo states that “Even though I know the likelihood is that all of us are going to get exposed to some extent, all of our actions still play a role in making sure the wave isn’t quite as high as it could be if we were throwing total caution to the wind. We still have a responsibility to do everything we can. Put our little brick in the wall, create some wall to protect all those people for whom, no matter what happens, they’ll continue to be at risk. The only thing that we can do as a community is to try and reduce some amount of that transmission that is occurring. That’s still front and center in my mind.”
With that being said, you should make sure to follow a few basic, but important steps that will significantly lower your risk of catching the virus:
- Stay away from crowds.
Experts stress that if you avoid large crowds of people, you will definitely be much less likely to become sick with the subvariant as it’s highly contagious.
- Wear your mask.
Even though mask mandates have been dropped, doctors recommend wearing one, especially if COVID cases have been surging in the area you live in.
- Get vaccinated.
At this point in time, the shot is still your best protection against the virus.
In fact, Professor Michael Plank stresses that “Omicron isn’t mild. The only reason why it appears mild is because we have excellent vaccines.”
- Get boosted.
After getting the vaccine, you should also consider getting the booster since it is key in getting some extra protection against Omicron and all other COVID variants circulating.
- Get all the necessary precautions when traveling.
Traveling comes with quite a few risks which is why it’s important to get vaccinated and boosted.
Furthermore, emergency physician and professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Dr. Leana Wen, advises that “Wearing masks in crowded indoor settings reduces the risk. In the United States, just follow the CDC guidance and make sure to wear your mask in areas that have high Covid community levels. If you’re planning international travel, know the rules, including whether you have to have proof of vaccination or a recent negative test.”
