Many folks have been waiting over two years for the chance to hear live music and see sports in person again, but if you plan to attend events you still need to protect yourself against COVID, an expert says.
“We are doing much better and our viral numbers are improving rapidly and dramatically, so that’s very encouraging,” says Dr. James McDeavitt, executive vice president and dean of clinical affairs at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
“However, we’re still in a very high-prevalence environment. People need to continue to be cautious, particularly if they’re in relatively high-risk groups or routinely exposed to people at high risk,” he added in a Baylor news release.
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When should you wear a mask?
You should still consider wearing a mask in a crowded indoor setting, and the best choice is an N95, KN95 or a surgical mask. If you cannot get these, wear a double-layer cloth mask, McDeavitt suggests.
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How do you assess your risk?
It’s also important to assess your risk based on your health and location.
If you are not vaccinated and boosted, get the vaccine and booster. If you plan to go to a large event with a group, ask members of the group if they are vaccinated and boosted and encourage others around you to get vaccinated, McDeavitt advises.
He notes that during the Omicron wave, unvaccinated people accounted for a disproportionate number of patients who became critically ill, while those who were vaccinated and boosted were largely protected against critical illness.
Assess the risk among people close to you: family, friends, colleagues and anyone else you come in contact with regularly. Maintain a higher
