How to avoid COVID-19 and the flu during the holiday season

A two-stroke of COVID-19 and the flu is hitting California, sickening residents – some so badly they’ve needed to go to hospital – interrupting day by day life and threatening to upend trip plans.

However as each illnesses unfold broadly, officers stress that Californians will not be helpless. There are steps everybody can take to higher defend themselves and people round them.

Listed here are a number of suggestions:

Get your pictures

Vaccines can be found for COVID-19 and the flu – and officers say rolling up your sleeves is an efficient approach to thrust back critical sickness.

The up to date COVID-19 reminder grew to become out there in September, however most individuals did not obtain it. Statewide, 19.4% of eligible residents obtained the supplemental dose, in accordance with the California Division of Public Well being.

The brand new bivalent booster is formulated to guard not solely in opposition to the unique pressure of coronavirus, but additionally in opposition to the Omicron subvariants which have dominated the nation for a lot of the yr, particularly BA.5.

“Getting this up to date bivalent vaccine is an important factor you are able to do to ensure the immunity is updated and you’ll combat the virus that’s on the market,” stated response coordinator Dr Ashish Jha. White Home COVID-19.

Amongst UC San Francisco staff and college students, 1 in 100 individuals who obtained the up to date COVID-19 reminder have since contracted a coronavirus an infection. However of those that have not been vaccinated, 1 in 20 have been contaminated, stated Dr. Ralph Gonzales, affiliate dean of UC San Francisco, at a latest campus city corridor.

“When you’ve got a great pressure match with the booster and the vaccine, you are truly stopping various infections,” Gonzales stated.

It is also not too late to get your spherical of major COVID vaccines. In October, unvaccinated Californians had been twice as more likely to grow to be contaminated and hospitalized with COVID-19 and thrice extra more likely to die from the illness than their vaccinated counterparts, in accordance with state information.

The flu vaccine can be very nicely suited to the flu strains circulating this season, officers say.

“As a result of any case of flu can find yourself being critical, particularly when it spreads to folks at excessive threat – and that features the aged and younger kids – we ask you to know that it isn’t too late to get your seasonal flu shot. stated Los Angeles County Public Well being Director Barbara Ferrer.

Officers additionally notice that residents can obtain each the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine on the similar time.

“It is very easy. It’s very protected. That works. Your immune system is excellent at having the ability to deal with two vaccines without delay,” Jha stated on Friday.

Wash your palms, cowl your cough and sneeze

It sounds easy, nevertheless it’s true. Many viral diseases, together with influenza and respiratory syncytial virus – or RSV – are unfold by means of contact, corresponding to touching a contaminated floor after which your face.

“Spend at the very least 20 seconds scrubbing with cleaning soap and water, or use hand sanitizer if you do not have entry to cleaning soap and water,” Ferrer stated.

It is also a good suggestion to disinfect incessantly touched surfaces, Gonzales stated.

Avoiding touching your face as a lot as doable can be a good suggestion. The flu might be unfold by touching a floor contaminated with a virus after which touching your hand, eyes or mouth.

“Actually good research have proven that if we will work tougher to be vigilant about this, it’s going to enhance our possibilities of staying flu-free,” Gonzales stated.

The coronavirus, alternatively, is transmitted primarily by means of the air, particularly when an contaminated individual coughs or sneezes. That is why it is vital to cowl your face, utilizing one thing like your elbow or a tissue, if you sneeze or cough.

Urge the sick to remain residence

It is a disgrace to cancel occasions, particularly after the hiatuses of the previous two years, however even a tickle in your throat or a sense of dangerous climate ought to be a powerful warning sign to remain residence.

Take a fast take a look at earlier than an occasion

A fast coronavirus take a look at can assist establish asymptomatic people who find themselves contaminated and contagious earlier than attending a gathering. Technique is not foolproof, however it could possibly assist, particularly if the take a look at is taken as near the beginning of an occasion as doable.

Host social occasions outdoor or open a window

There’s a decreased threat of viral transmission when occasions happen outdoor. It’s best to supply drinks and meals exterior, if doable. Bettering air flow by opening doorways and home windows or utilizing an air air purifier also can assist.

Take into consideration masking

Officers and specialists say sporting a masks in indoor public locations can cut back the danger of an infection, each from COVID-19 and different respiratory diseases, by blocking respiratory particles that may unfold the illness. .

“Sporting a masks in indoor public locations, amongst different security measures, successfully slows the unfold of respiratory viruses that make kids and the aged very sick,” in accordance with the California Division of Public Well being.

Masking also can “considerably gradual the unfold and defend infants and younger kids who lack immunity and are too younger to put on a masks themselves,” in accordance with the division. wrote on Twitter this week.

Sleep, train and handle stress

As Gonzales famous, “Throughout the trip interval…we are inclined to get very busy with work, and with that surge now we have a whole lot of inactivity and stress.”

“And what we all know from research of medical college students earlier than finals and with marathon runners is that stress – whether or not it is psychological stress or bodily stress – will increase your threat of being contaminated with respiratory viruses. And that threat goes up two to 3 instances,” Gonzales stated.

He advised ensuring to follow these good well being habits:

• Have loads of sleep.
• Be bodily lively.
• Handle your stress.
• Drink loads of fluids.
• Eat nutritious meals.

Vitamin C might assist

Vitamin C could assist stop infections.

Gonzales stated he was an extended distance runner and that 50-70% of the time when lengthy distance runners get colds and flu it was after massive occasions.

“Randomized trials present that 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C, as soon as a day, can assist reduce that threat in half,” Gonzales stated. “After which there have been additionally research of vitamin C in folks, earlier than the finals, who had been sleep disadvantaged and underneath a whole lot of stress, to indicate that it helps with that as nicely.”