When ‘Sweater Weather’ and COVID-19 Collide
October 27, 2020, 2:15 p.m. — Winter is coming. While San Diegans generally don’t have to worry about snow and freezing weather, cooler temperatures and the end of Daylight Savings Time — earlier sunrises, but also earlier sunsets — will mean more time spent indoors.
For many Americans, winter’s arrival means retreating indoors until spring arrives next year. Cooler temps also mean rising rates of seasonal colds and flu, which in a regular year wouldn’t raise undue alarm bells but, well, 2020 hasn’t been a regular year.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, recommendations for slowing or stopping the virus’ spread have remained constant: wear a mask, socially distance (6 feet or more), wash your hands and pursue physical and social activities outside, in fresh air.
Well, many of us are about to lose that last option. So what can you do to stay healthy when “sweater weather” and COVID-19 collide?
Here are some tips for staying healthy during the cooler months:
Get a flu shot. Although vaccination against the flu does not prevent COVID-19 infection, inoculating against flu lessens your chances for severe illness from influenza, which shares many symptoms with COVID-19. Additionally, experts are sounding the alarm on the possibility of a “twindemic” — more people getting a flu shot will mitigate some of the burden on our stressed health care systems.
Wear a mask, especially when indoors. Although there was some confusion in the beginning of the pandemic around masking, it quickly became clear that wearing a mask can slow the spread of virus. Wear a mask when participating in indoor activities, especially if maintaining social distance will be difficult.
Keep indoor gatherings small. One recommendation for safely gathering during this pandemic is to create a “quarantine pod.” Otherwise, when gathering indoors: limit the number of guests, which will make contact tracing easier if necessary; make sure the space is well ventilated; maintain social-distance from those not in your own household or pod; encourage your guests to bring their own food and drink; and avoid hugging or shaking hands. Most importantly, do not attend a gathering if you are experiencing COVID symptoms.
Limit your exposure time. News that a prison guard contracted COVID-19 despite minimal contact with any one infected prisoner led the CDC to update its guidance on what constitutes prolonged exposure: not just 15 minutes spent within six feet of an infected person, but any such contact that adds up to 15 minutes of exposure. Recently, California updated its safety guidelines for private gatherings to up to three households. While this is encouraging news, the guideline also states that, “duration should be 2 hours or less.” Before you decide to host an indoor gathering, check your state and local public health resources for the most up to date guidelines.
Consider virtual alternatives. While there is mounting evidence that many of us are experiencing “Zoom fatigue,” staying home is still the best way to avoid exposure. Look for ideas to keep virtual gatherings fun — like playing games or having contests.
While all of these suggestions can help minimize exposure, the reality is that this is going to be a hard winter for many of us. Remember that we are all in this together. Each of us can do our part to help keep others safe this winter by wearing a mask, washing our hands, maintaining social distance and getting a flu shot.
