Most People Get Omicron This Way, Experts Say — Eat This Not That

With Omicron nonetheless spiking across the U.S. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the chief medical advisor to the President and the director of the Nationwide Institute of Allergy and Infectious Ailments, predicted nearly everybody will catch it sooner or later. “I feel, in lots of respects, omicron, with its extraordinary, unprecedented diploma of effectivity of transmissibility, will, in the end, discover nearly everyone,” Fauci instructed the Heart for Strategic & Worldwide Research. Though Omicron is extraordinarily contagious, it ought to nonetheless be prevented if potential by taking precautions. Eat This, Not That! Well being talked with Dr. Eva Beaulieu, board-certified inner medication hospitalist at Piedmont Henry Hospital who defined the commonest methods individuals catch the virus and why it’s necessary to assist stop getting it. Learn on—and to make sure your well being and the well being of others, don’t miss these Certain Indicators You’ve Already Had COVID.

One of many some ways to get Omicron is by misidentifying signs, says Dr. Beaulieu. “Since Omicron shares many signs with a standard chilly and flu virus, it’s straightforward to suppose ‘that is only a chilly’” and catch it from somebody who’s sneezing away. “For those who suspect you” or somebody you might be close to “is likely to be sick, isolate your self from others and get examined to verify if in case you have COVID-19 or the flu.”

Dr. Beaulieu explains, “Omicron can even unfold by shaking an contaminated particular person’s arms and by touching your nostril, mouth or eyes with unwashed arms. Cleansing arms at key instances with cleaning soap and water for at the very least 20 seconds or utilizing an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at the very least 60% alcohol if cleaning soap and water shouldn’t be available is among the most necessary steps an individual can take to keep away from getting sick.”

Not staying at the very least 6 toes aside from others in public is one other widespread method to get Omicron, Dr. Beaulieu states. “Omicron spreads by way of the air, so maintaining your distance from individuals exterior of your family is among the best methods to keep away from getting contaminated.”

“In accordance with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, masks provide safety in opposition to all viruses,” Dr. Beaulieu reminds us. “The CDC continues to suggest carrying a masks in public indoor settings no matter vaccination standing.”

The CDC recommends the next:

• “In case you are 2 years or older and usually are not updated together with your COVID-19 vaccines, put on a masks indoors in public.
• Normally, individuals don’t must put on masks when outdoor. In areas of considerable or excessive transmission, individuals may select to put on a masks outdoor when in sustained shut contact with different individuals, notably if
• They or somebody they stay with has a weakened immune system or is at elevated danger for extreme illness.
• They aren’t updated on COVID-19 vaccines or stay with somebody who shouldn’t be updated on COVID-19 vaccines.
• Individuals who have a situation or are taking drugs that weaken their immune system will not be absolutely protected even when they’re updated with their COVID-19 vaccines. They need to proceed to take all precautions really helpful for unvaccinated individuals, together with carrying a well-fitted masks, till suggested in any other case by their healthcare supplier.
• In case you are updated together with your COVID-19 vaccines, to maximise safety and forestall presumably spreading COVID-19 to others, put on a masks indoors in public in case you are in an space of considerable or excessive transmission.
• Sporting a masks over your nostril and mouth is required on planes, buses, trains, and different types of public transportation touring into, inside, or out of the USA and whereas indoors at U.S. transportation hubs akin to airports and practice stations. Vacationers usually are not required to put on a masks in out of doors areas of a conveyance (like on open deck areas of a ferry or the uncovered high deck of a bus).”

Dr. Beaulieu says, “As a result of many individuals may expertise delicate signs when contaminated with the brand new variant, it may be straightforward to ‘wish to get it over with.’ Excessive price of group unfold places populations like youngsters, the aged and anybody immunocompromised liable to experiencing extreme outcomes like hospitalization or dying, so it’s necessary to maintain the well being of others in thoughts. Reinfection can also be potential, so it’s not ‘one and achieved!’”

Dr. Beaulieu explains, “In accordance with the CDC, the Omicron variant probably spreads extra simply than the unique SARS-CoV-2 virus. Any contaminated particular person can unfold the virus to others, even when they’re vaccinated or aren’t experiencing signs. We’re additionally seeing a rise in co-infections of COVID-19 and the flu. As a result of the flu virus can stay on surfaces for as much as 48 hours, I like to recommend cleansing and disinfecting excessive contact areas like doorknobs, gentle switches and counter tops with Clorox Disinfecting Wipes to kill 99.9% of viruses and micro organism.”

Observe the general public well being fundamentals and assist finish this pandemic, irrespective of the place you reside—get vaccinated or boosted ASAP; should you stay in an space with low vaccination charges, put on an N95 face masks, don’t journey, social distance, keep away from massive crowds, don’t go indoors with individuals you’re not sheltering with (particularly in bars), observe good hand hygiene, and to guard your life and the lives of others, don’t go to any of those 35 Locations You’re Most More likely to Catch COVID.