COVID-19 Prevention
News
News From the CDC
The Possibility of COVID-19 After Vaccination: Breakthrough Infections
Updates from the CDC: To maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.
COVID-19 Vaccine Anticipation
The arrival of the first shipment of Pfizer COVID vaccine today and the vaccinations of the first tier of Connecticut’s essential frontline healthcare workers can bring hope to all of us for the better days ahead and signals an end to the COVID -19 pandemic.
For many the impact has been profound. As we move through the final months of 2020 and into 2021 it is imperative that we all work together to flatten the curve by continuing to wash hands, wear masks & watch distance between each other in advance of comprehensive immunization against the SARS CoV-2 virus.
Initially the vaccine will be in limited supply, however, the supply is expected to increase in early 20121.
- Limited COVID-19 vaccine doses will be available and allocated to essential workers and vulnerable populations in a priority order. .
- It is anticipated that the vaccine supply will increase substantially in 2021 for the general population.
- The goal is for everyone to be able to easily get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as large quantities are available.
- It is important to understand that not everyone will be able to be vaccinated right away, but the goal is for EVERYONE that can be vaccinated to be vaccinated !!!
For those individuals who must wait to receive the vaccine, continue to observe the measures to protect against COVID-19 infection.
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/covid-conversations/engaging-patients.html
The more people from different households a person interacts with at a gathering, the closer the physical interaction is, and the longer the interaction lasts, the higher the risk that a person who has COVID-19 may spread it to others, whether he or she has symptoms or not.
The safest holiday gathering is with those who live in your home. Some ideas include:
Planning your gathering:
• Keep it small. Limit the numbers of guests, and encourage virtual participation.
• Ask guests to wear masks when they can’t be physically distanced from one another.
• Prepare seating arrangements to allow for physical distancing.
• Plan a shorter gathering.
• Maintain a guest list with contact information for contact tracing .
At your gathering:
• Ask guests to practice physical distancing and wear masks.
• Gather outside, as often as possible.
• Improve indoor ventilation by using a fan, opening windows.
• Wash hands frequently, and avoid touching surfaces.
• Make hand sanitizer available for your guests.
During meal preparation/serving:
• Everyone involved in meal preparation should wear a mask.
• Limit the number of people who are in the meal prep area.
• Avoid potluck-style meals or having guests bring food they have prepared in their own homes.
• Consider having one person serve all the food, instead of individuals serving themselves
After your gathering:
• Anyone who gets sick should isolate and get tested.
• If any guests test positive, all guests should be contacted and told to quarantine, monitor for
symptoms, and get tested if they develop symptoms.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html
Protect yourself and others
The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. Follow the Guidelines and help Stop the Spread.
- Stay at least 6 feet away from others, whenever possible. This is very important in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others. This helps reduce the risk of spread both by close contact and by airborne transmission.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid crowded indoor spaces and ensure indoor spaces are properly ventilated by bringing in outdoor air as much as possible. In general, being outdoors and in spaces with good ventilation reduces the risk of exposure to infectious respiratory droplets.
- Stay home and isolate from others when sick.
- Routinely clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
Pandemics can be stressful, especially when you are staying away from others. During this time, it’s important to maintain social connections and care for your mental health.
Learn more about what you can do to protect yourself and others.
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html