It’s no secret that the novel coronavirus is highly infectious. With millions of Americans battling active COVID-19 infections, no one can legitimately claim that this virus is difficult to pass on.
As such, the recently-emerged Omicron variant being among the most contagious variants to show up thus far should be cause for concern. So, if pandemic fatigue has caused you to relax your guard and stop taking essential precautions, now is the time to correct these behaviors and take steps to limit your risk of exposure.
1. Request Remote Work
During the first year of the pandemic, many businesses embraced remote work and allowed employees to go about their respective job duties from the comfort and safety of home. However, as the situation wore on and vaccines became widely available, a fair number of employers opted to start calling people back to the office.
Needless to say, many members of the workforce regard this development as less than ideal. For example, if your employer isn’t requiring employees to get vaccinated, it’s only natural that you’d come to feel that your safety isn’t a huge priority to them.
So, if you don’t feel safe in your place of business, ask that you be permitted to work remotely. If your job can be done effectively and efficiently from your residence, there’s no good reason you should be expected to place your health at risk on a daily basis. You may be powerless to change your employer’s mind regarding mandatory vaccinations and/or masking rules, but their lack of proper judgment should not be allowed to infringe on your personal safety.
2. Opt for Virtual Medical Appointments
The continued threat of Omicron – and the various other forms of COVID-19 – shouldn’t prohibit you from being proactive about other health-related issues. As such, make a point of remaining in regular contact with your doctor and heeding their advice on matters concerning your safety. Additionally, if you don’t currently have a general practitioner (GP), there’s no time like the present to fix this. For example, healthcare seekers who are based in the Cincinnati metro area are likely to find a great general family medical practice Red Bank Expwy.
If you don’t feel safe venturing into a medical facility at the present time, ask your doctor about remote visits. If they don’t need you to be physically present for an appointment, there’s a good chance your physician will be amenable to this. Furthermore, should you develop non-emergency COVID-19 symptoms or believe yourself to have been exposed to the novel coronavirus, place a call to your GP.
3. Avoid Public Settings Whenever Possible
While going on errands and walking around various stores may provide you with a certain level of comfort in these difficult times, public outings are particularly risky at the present time. This is made worse by the fact that many businesses have completely abandoned mandatory masking policies despite how prevalent Omicron has become. So, whenever a contactless pickup is an option, you’d do well to take advantage of it. This may deprive you of the opportunity to physically set foot in one of your favorite businesses, but it can be a boon to your personal safety, as well as the safety of those around you. In situations where the contactless pickup isn’t available, make a point of wearing a mask – preferably an N95 – and maintaining a safe distance from other shoppers.
4. Get Your Vaccine Booster(s)
Even if you’re fully vaccinated, a booster shot is needed to maximize the level of protection vaccination provides. As such, adults who received the Moderna vax and people aged 12 and up who got the Pfizer-BioNTech vax should get a booster at least five months after their second shot, while adults who got the Johnson and Johnson’s Jansen vax can receive a booster at least two months after their initial shot. In addition, many immunocompromised individuals are now eligible to receive a second booster.
The Omicron variant – and indeed, COVID-19 in general – should not be regarded as a joke. Failing to exercise common sense and take basic precautions during this time stands to compromise your health and the health of those around you. In light of how infectious Omicron has been found to be, taking measures to limit potential exposure is an absolute must for anyone who cares about public health. Fortunately, with the help of the measures discussed above, minimizing exposure risks should prove neither difficult nor inconvenient.
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