Winters are here. Generally, in winter, all members of the family get together for vacations, celebrations, or holidays. Many of us also plan to travel either domestically or internationally. According to some news, a massive spike in COVID cases has been reported in China. Hospitals are full of COVID positive patients, and many of them are unable to get treatment due to a lack of beds or a shortage of medical staff. This surge is believed to be a result of lifting COVID restrictions. The surge is seen not only in China but in some other countries also like Japan, and South Korea. Every one of us wants to reduce the risk of contracting COVID while enjoying this season.

Tips to lower the risk of contracting COVID

Get booster shots – You can take booster shots for coronavirus and the omicron subvariant. The vaccine offers immunity against infection, and transmission and prevents hospitalizations and fatalities. 

Follow preventive measures – Wear your masks. Follow social distancing. Wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer as and when needed. In winter, we usually spend more time indoors, thus opt for a space that has good ventilation, in case you travel to another place. These tips can lower the chance of contracting the virus. 

Take a test if you have symptoms – As COVID and normal cold and flu symptoms overlap, it gets difficult to distinguish the signs. And for that reason, testing is very much needed. If your test results are positive, you can very soon start the treatment. Isolate the positive people, this will prevent the virus from spreading.

Travel responsibly – While traveling, follow all COVID protocols. If you have any of the symptoms, then avoid traveling. Family members like children are not completely immunized since there are no COVID vaccines for them, traveling to some hotspots can increase the risk, thus it is better to avoid or delay the travel plans.  

A safe place for gathering – A small close room and crowd is not the correct option for a party. If possible, you can party outside in a big space where people can follow social distances from one another and wear masks. Limiting the number of people and ensuring sufficient ventilation is essential for lowering the risk of exposure if you are planning to conduct indoors. However, masks should be compulsory.