The United States celebrates strange holidays for the second year in a row.
Although
the current situation is incomparable to that of December 2020
, the explosion of infections caused by the omicron variant forces us to take extreme precautions to avoid a health collapse in the coming weeks.
Despite the fact that this new strain has a much higher transmission capacity than delta, studies support that it causes a less serious disease, especially in those people with the full COVID-19 vaccination and the third dose administered.
Two people take a photo next to a Christmas tree in a Los Angeles mall on December 22, 2021.Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP
This situation has led many families to rethink how to celebrate Christmas due to the risk of contagion
.
But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintain that, by adopting a series of measures, there is no reason to cancel meetings with family and friends on these dates.
Here's
a guide to celebrating a safe Christmas
:
Get vaccinated
Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the main strategy of the authorities.
Data has shown that they are safe, effective, and significantly reduce virus-associated hospitalizations and mortality.
The pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna have also pointed out that their booster dose, available to all adults,
increases the number of antibodies
and offers good protection against omicron.
Wear a mask
Wearing a mask is a good alternative not only to protect yourself, but to
protect those who are not eligible for vaccination
.
CDC Reduces Isolation Days for COVID-19 Positive Healthcare Workers
Dec. 24, 202100: 34
In this group are those
under 5 years of age
, for whom no injection has yet been approved, or
people who are considered at high risk for suffering from some type of previous pathology such
as diabetes, obesity, heart disease or cancer.
On the other hand, as experts have been remembering, it is essential to cover your mouth with your arm if you are going to cough or sneeze and do not wear a mask.
["It will never go away." COVID-19 continues to delay medical care in hospitals across the country]
The mask is fully recommended for those who are not vaccinated, according to the CDC guide.
Rule out infections with home tests
Taking a home test is one of the measures recommended by the CDC,
a quick and cheap method
to know if we are infected.
Dozens of people line up around the block to receive free rapid COVID-19 home test kits, Monday, Dec. 20, 2021, in Philadelphia.Matt Rourke / AP
As Dr. Edgar González, a general practitioner in Miami, explained to Noticias Telemundo,
the ideal is to "use it before meeting" with people
because it detects at the moment if there is a viral load in our body.
Taking this type of test "can give you information about your risk of spreading COVID-19," emphasizes the CDC.
Don't forget the ventilation
When possible, experts advise holding meetings outdoors to reduce the options of breathing air contaminated with virus particles.
Thousands of flights are canceled around the world because of the omicron variant on Christmas Eve
Dec. 24, 202101: 55
If low temperatures make it necessary to meet in closed spaces, it is important to
ensure good ventilation by keeping a window open
or installing an appliance that ensures air quality.
Avoid crowded spaces - keep a safe distance
The CDC insists on the importance of "avoiding crowded spaces" to also reduce the risk of contagion.
[Royal Caribbean cruise ship fails to dock on two islands after 55 people tested positive for COVID-19]
They also recommend keeping at least 6 feet of distance with people with whom we do not live because "some asymptomatic people can spread the virus."
Be careful when serving food
Instead of arranging the food as a buffet and offering trays for people to serve themselves, Dr. González emphasized
the need for "one person to handle all the food
.
"
In addition, "it is important that the portions are individual and that the materials in which [the food] is served are disposable," he added.
Ómicron ruins Christmas party plans in New York and other US entities
Dec. 23, 202102: 37
"This
reduces the possibility of transmission of the virus,
" he stressed.
Wash your hands frequently
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the authorities have repeated the importance of washing their hands frequently or, failing that, applying disinfectant gel.
The CDC recalls the need to continue adopting this practice on these dates, when many meetings are planned, to
reduce the possibilities of transmitting COVID-19 through the hands
.
Symptoms?
Discomfort?
Cancel your plans
"If you have symptoms, if you feel bad, do not go" to the celebration, warned Dr. González.
Cancel your plans.
[FDA approves Merck's COVID-19 pill, the second oral treatment available in the US]
"Call the family, you can do it even by camera. We are in the 21st century, with which communication is much easier. So we do not put our loved ones at risk," recommended the expert.
