Cases of Delta variant seem to have decreased these past weeks as coronavirus cases also dropped. However, experts warn that this is not yet the time for the public to lower their guard.
As Deseret News shared, coronavirus cases are still high and most children remain unvaccinated against COVID-19. This makes a good recipe for dangerous winter and the public must remain vigilant as colder and drier months are coming, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.
Cyclist near Dybbølsbro in Copenhagen on a cold winter day. (Photo by: Kristoffer Trolle/Wikimedia Commons)
How Will This Year’s Winter Be Similar or Different to Last Year?
Epidemiologist Jessica Malaty Rivera, M.S., a research fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital told wellness website Self that it is still hard to tell how different or similar will this year’s winter be to winter 2020. Last year, most countries were spared by a bad flu season partly because of the closures of establishments and continuous health protocols.
But she said that dark days may come if not enough people get vaccinated in the US, especially with the Delta variant and breakthrough cases emerging.
Moreover, Eleanor J. Murray, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Boston University School of Public Health told Self that precautions implemented last winter should still be implemented this year.
Although, this year vaccinated people have more assurance of protection compared to unvaccinated people. That means a gathering of vaccinated people has a lesser risk of infection than a gathering where nobody was vaccinated.
How Do I Protect Myself From Delta Variant This Winter?
According to UNICEF, keeping updated on the level of COVID-19 transmission in the community is the first step in protecting oneself from getting infected. The higher the rate of transmission, the higher their risk of getting infected. Other ways include the following:
- Get vaccinated with a WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccine
- Do not go to crowded spaces and practice physical distancing
- Always wear face masks when in public, especially in places with high community transmission and physical distancing is not possible
- Wash hands regularly with soap and water; if it is not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
