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 every day life and threatening to upend trip plans.

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

Listed below are just a few suggestions:

Get your photographs

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

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

The brand new bivalent booster is formulated to guard not solely towards the unique pressure of coronavirus, but additionally towards the Omicron subvariants which have dominated the nation for a lot of the 12 months, particularly BA.5.

“Getting this up to date bivalent vaccine is a very powerful factor you are able to do to verify the immunity is updated and you may battle the virus that’s on the market,” mentioned response coordinator Dr Ashish Jha. White Home COVID-19.

Amongst UC San Francisco workers 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, mentioned Dr. Ralph Gonzales, affiliate dean of UC San Francisco, at a current campus city corridor.

“When you may have a superb pressure match with the booster and the vaccine, you are really stopping various infections,” Gonzales mentioned.

It is also not too late to get your spherical of main COVID vaccines. In October, unvaccinated Californians have been twice as prone to grow to be contaminated and hospitalized with COVID-19 and 3 times extra prone to die from the illness than their vaccinated counterparts, based on state information.

The flu vaccine can be very effectively 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’s not too late to get your seasonal flu shot. mentioned Los Angeles County Public Well being Director Barbara Ferrer.

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

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

Wash your palms, cowl your cough and sneeze

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

“Spend not less than 20 seconds scrubbing with cleaning soap and water, or use hand sanitizer if you do not have entry to cleaning soap and water,” Ferrer mentioned.

It is also a good suggestion to disinfect steadily touched surfaces, Gonzales mentioned.

Avoiding touching your face as a lot as attainable 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 more durable to be vigilant about this, it should improve our possibilities of staying flu-free,” Gonzales mentioned.

The coronavirus, then again, is transmitted primarily by the air, particularly when an contaminated individual coughs or sneezes. That is why it is essential to cowl your face, utilizing one thing like your elbow or a tissue, once you sneeze or cough.

Urge the sick to remain dwelling

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 unhealthy climate must be a robust warning sign to remain dwelling.

Take a fast check earlier than an occasion

A fast coronavirus check may help establish asymptomatic people who find themselves contaminated and contagious earlier than attending a gathering. Technique is not foolproof, however it may assist, particularly if the check is taken as near the beginning of an occasion as attainable.

Host social occasions outdoor or open a window

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

Take into consideration masking

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

“Carrying 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,” based on the California Division of Public Well being.

Masking may also “considerably sluggish the unfold and defend infants and younger kids who lack immunity and are too younger to put on a masks themselves,” based on the division. wrote on Twitter this week.

Sleep, train and handle stress

As Gonzales famous, “Through the trip interval…we are inclined to get very busy with work, and with that surge we now have lots 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 mentioned.

He urged ensuring to observe these good well being habits:

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

Vitamin C may assist

Vitamin C could assist stop infections.

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

“Randomized trials present that 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C, as soon as a day, may help lower that threat in half,” Gonzales mentioned. “After which there have been additionally research of vitamin C in folks, earlier than the finals, who have been sleep disadvantaged and beneath lots of stress, to indicate that it helps with that as effectively.”