Omicron and Delta Safety Tips to Make It Through the Winter Surge
How to Stay Safe as COVID Breaks New Records
Big Picture
Omicron and Delta are continuing to break record cases and the best way to protect our families, friends, and communities is through the use of high-quality masks like N95s, increasing ventilation by opening windows, cleaning indoor air through HEPA filtration, preparing our immune systems with vaccinations, and postponing large group gatherings until after the surge ends. Included in this piece are safety tips and resources to help our families, friends, and communities make it through the winter as we begin the new year.
High-Quality Masks
The best protection against transmission is to prevent and reduce exposure in the first place through the use of high-quality masks like N95s, KF94s, and KN95s. You can order them from Amazon, Home Depot, ProjectN95, and other stores — get them immediately. The smaller size of KF94s and KN95s makes them a great fit for children. For KN95s, verify the brand you are buying is on the FDA’s approved list for masks since many have been found to be counterfeit.
The Virus is Airborne
Delta and Omicron are invisible to the naked eye but spread like cigarette smoke and can stay in the air for upwards of 3 hours. Opening windows to increase ventilation and using HEPA filtration devices to remove the virus from the air will help prevent and reduce exposure. You can build your own air filter similar to HEPA filtration that costs under $100, one such DIY design is a Corsi Rosenthal Box.
‘Vaccine Plus’ Additional Precautions
While the vaccines and boosters help to prevent severe disease, mutations on Delta and Omicron variants have decreased the level of protection, especially when it comes to infection. Get vaccinated and continue precautions like wearing high-quality masks and using ventilation because getting sick from Omicron is likely if you’re exposed to someone who is sick. As the number of cases increases, so does the risk of catching COVID — all tools are necessary to reduce the chances of transmission.
Rapid Tests, Isolation, and Monoclonal Antibodies
If you have symptoms or have been around someone who is sick, get tested and isolate immediately. If you receive a positive test and are a high-risk individual, call your hospital to see if you are eligible for monoclonal antibodies right away upon receiving a positive test. Some regions have experienced shortages of monoclonal antibodies so you may have to contact other neighboring hospitals or infusion centers for availability. Rapid tests are helpful to show if you are infectious at the moment that you take the test but not meant to determine whether you have COVID since it is possible to test negative at the beginning of the day and test positive later that night with a rapid antigen test. Additionally, preliminary findings suggest Omicron may create accuracy issues for both PCR and rapid antigen tests, if you have symptoms or, if only one type of test is positive, then assume you may be positive and avoid contact with others.
Postponing Large Gatherings
The pandemic continues to grow to dangerous levels and postponing large gatherings until the surge is over will help save lives and keep many people healthy. Keeping people healthy and out of the hospital is particularly important right now as healthcare systems may not have the staff available to treat patients for both COVID and non-COVID-related health issues and injuries.
Long COVID
Long COVID continues to be an issue for many who experience even a mild infection. Omicron and Delta’s increased ability for breakthrough infections increases the chances of long COVID. The best way to prevent long COVID is to practice every precaution that reduces the risk of transmission.
Final Thoughts
Omicron and Delta will continue to grow toward record cases and practicing prevention through the use of high-quality masks, opening windows and using HEPA filters, being vaccinated, and postponing large gatherings until the surge is over is the best way to keep ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities safe. Let’s do all we can to bring as many people as possible through the winter surge.
Resources
HHS Therapeutics Distribution or National Infusion Center Association: Location finders for monoclonal antibodies at nearby hospitals or infusion centers.
Green Zone Act: Help pass federal legislation to end the pandemic
Speak Up America: Learn about airborne transmission and how to make schools and other indoor environments safer
ProjectN95: Critical equipment clearinghouse for personal protective equipment
Clean Air Crew: Airborne pandemic tips and tools
FDA EUA for Masks: Approved list for high-quality masks
Previous Deep Dive articles: Overview of variants of concerns, vaccine equity, hospital capacity, long COVID, children and COVID, herd immunity, and other related topics
*Stay tuned for more resources*
