As winter settles in, more and more people are spending time indoors. With dropping temperatures, less opportunities for outdoor activities, and—for many—icy snow blanketing the outdoor world, families are beginning to hunker down and settle in for the winter season.
However, with more time indoors comes a heightened risk of spreading and transmitting COVID-19. While many are feeling the mental and emotional exhaustion from the ongoing pandemic, resulting in less masks and reduced social distancing, it’s never been more important to yet again enact these coronavirus safety measures to stay protected from COVID-19 this winter.
In addition to wearing masks and social distancing, Dr. Peramsetty has put together a helpful list of COVID-19 winter safety tips to help you stay healthy this chilly season.
COVID-19 Winter Safety Tips
Get Vaccinated
If you are not vaccinated, you’re not only putting yourself at risk but also those around you, including your friends and family.
Even though COVID-19 variants, such as the Omicron and Delta variants, are spreading at an alarming rate throughout the nation, vaccinations are still effective. Getting vaccinated not only protects you from getting severely sick, it also reduces the chances of spreading the virus to at-risk individuals, such as young children or immunocompromised people who don’t have the ability to get vaccinated.
While recent scientific data from South Africa suggests that the Omicron variant significantly reduces antibody protection produced by the Pfizer vaccine, scientists noted the people who recovered from the virus and received a booster shot will likely have more protection from severe disease.
This is why it’s essential to receive both your initial vaccine and booster shot. At Crimson Care, we’re offering the Moderna vaccine and Moderna booster in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Contact us or schedule your vaccine appointment online!
Mask Up, Alabama
As the seasons change, many activities are moved indoors, posing a heightened risk for transmitting and getting COVID-19 through the tiny respiratory droplets that are dispersed into the air when people shout, sing, laugh, or even just talk.
When you’re spending time indoors with crowds this winter season, make sure to properly mask up. That means securely covering both your nose and mouth, and choosing a mask that has adequate protection, such as an N95 mask or cloth mask with two or more layers.
As mentioned in previous Crimson Care blogs on COVID-19, wearing a mask not only protects you by filtering some of the air you breathe in, it also protects those around you by halting the amount of droplets that you may be dispersing into the air.
Avoid Crowded Space to Stay Safe from COVID-19 This Winter
Spaces where many people are close, crowded, and in close contact are the perfect places for spreading and transmitting COVID-19. To stay safe and healthy this winter season, Dr. Peramsetty highly recommends avoiding large crowds and practicing social distancing.
And if you do have to go into a crowded building or enclosed space with lots of people, it’s best to wear a mask, bring hand sanitizer, and try to stay 6 feet away from others.
Embrace Outdoor Activities
While the cold may put you off from spending time outdoors, Dr. Peramsetty recommends embracing outdoor activities that help keep you and your family protected from COVID-19.
For instance, if you are keen on getting together with friends, choose to go on a long walk with one another or eat at a local restaurant that offers outdoor dining with heaters to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus.
Implement Good Hygiene Practices
Good hygiene practices are a basic but essential COVID-19 winter safety tip. Throughout the chilly season, make sure you:
Regularly wash your hands
Avoid touching your face, mouth, nose, and eyes
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
Regularly apply hand sanitizer
Keep surfaces clean with a strong disinfectant
COVID-19 Services at Crimson Care in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
At Crimson Care, we offer several COVID-19 services in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. From COVID-19 testing and antibody treatment to COVID vaccinations and booster shots, Dr. Peramsetty and the Crimson Care team are here to help you stay safe this winter season.
Use our online scheduling portal to book your appointment today! We’re currently offering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and booster shots to anyone 18 and older at our Crimson Care and First Care clinics.