Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic nearly 2 years ago, there has been a vast change as well as improvement in the strategies adopted by people across the world to protect them against this infection. The guidelines by the WHO (World Health Organization), the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), and other healthcare authorities have been modified from time to time based on the change in the behaviour of the virus and the emergence of new variants.
Here is a brief discussion about the latest guidelines recommended for preventing the virus from spreading.
The basic guidelines for the prevention of the spread of the virus
Wearing a face mask while in public places is one of the most effective strategies recommended by the WHO and the CDC for the prevention of COVID-19.
Wearing a facemask, avoiding crowds, and maintaining social distancing norms have been the cornerstones for containing the spread of this virus.
Other than these, people also need to take some extra precautions and be aware of the basic dos and don'ts that can help protect them against this virus.
Patients who are not fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 should follow the precautions given below.
- Wear a face mask, as recommended by the CDC
- Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet between yourself and others
- Avoid large gathering
- Avoid socializing outdoors
- Get vaccinated at the earliest if you are eligible
Here are the guidelines that have to be followed by all irrespective of their vaccination status:
- Wear a mask while in public and in indoor spaces, especially in the areas having a substantial spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue while coughing or sneezing, and then, discard the tissue in an appropriate manner
- Avoid close contact with a person who is sick
- Avoid touching your nose, eyes, and mouth
- Stay home if you are sick
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when water and soap are not available or wash your hands
- Clean the frequently touched surfaces and objects regularly
Do fully vaccinated people need to wear masks again? When and where do they need to wear a mask now?
The CDC has recently advised all people, including the vaccinated and unvaccinated populations, to wear a facemask in public indoor places, and in the areas with the high or substantial transmission of the coronavirus.
The healthcare authorities have also advised unvaccinated people and those at an increased risk to use a mask indoors, regardless of the extent of community transmission. These changes in guidance for the fully vaccinated people were made amidst the increasing number of infections and hospitalization across the world.
Another factor that is driving the rise in the cases of infections is the emergence of the Delta variant, which is found to spread more easily than the earlier variants. The emergence of the Omicron variant has further contributed to the rise in the number of cases. The Delta variant is currently the most dominant variant of SARS-CoV-2 in the US.
What indoor and outdoor activities are considered safe for the prevention of the spread of the virus?
Whether you are vaccinated or not, you need to follow the federal, state, local and tribal laws, as well as the business and workplace requirements about physical distancing and mask-wearing. The indoor and outdoor activities may be performed safely provided the basic guidelines for the prevention of spread are followed efficiently.
Doctors can attend our Respiratory Therapy CME Conferences 2021 to learn the latest guidelines recommended by the healthcare authorities in this regard.
What do I need to know about washing hands for preventing the spread of the virus?
You need to wash your hands frequently with water and soap for at least 20 seconds. You must wash your hands before eating, after going to the bathroom, after blowing the nose, sneezing, and coughing, and after handling an object that has come to your home from outside.
In case water and soap are not readily available, you may use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer having at least 60% alcohol. Use these sanitizers to cover all the surfaces of the hands and rub them together gently until they are dry. You should also wash the hands whenever they are visibly dirty.
Why is contact tracing important for slowing down the spread of COVID-19?
Any person who has come in close contact with a patient having COVID-19 is at a higher risk of becoming infected, and potentially infecting others. Contact tracing could help prevent the further spread of the virus by identifying and alerting the people who might be infected and contagious. This can allow them to follow appropriate measures to avoid infecting others.
Contact tracing ideally begins with identifying any person that the patient recently diagnosed with COVID-19 has come in contact with after he or she became contagious. In the case of COVID-19, a patient may be contagious about 48 to 72 hours before he or she experiences any symptoms.
Once the contacts are notified about the possible exposure, they can be guided about the symptoms to watch out for and advised on when they can get tested for the virus. They can also be educated about whether and for how long they need to isolate themselves or seek medical attention if they start experiencing the symptoms.
Our Respiratory Care Conference is aimed at training doctors about the role of contact tracing and other measures adopted by the healthcare authorities to contain the spread of this virus.
Conclusion
The prevention of the spread of SARS-Co-V-2 is the most effective strategy to end this pandemic at the earliest. Doctors and other healthcare professionals can attend our AARC Approved Live Respiratory CEUs, Live Respiratory Conference to stay updated about the latest guidelines recommended by the concerned healthcare authorities. This will help them offer the best advice to the vaccinated and unvaccinated people about how they can protect themselves against this infection.