Il Christmas has arrived and this year too the holidays will be dedicated to prevention. The infections have been increasing for several weeks now and the much feared looms over the Italians Omicron variant. And if up to a month people looked at these parties with "cautious" optimism compared to last year spent in lockdown, many wonder how reduce the risks associated with infections from Covid in a period in which schools are closed, many Italians are on vacation, so there will be numerous opportunities to meet, especially indoors where the risks of transmission are greater.
If the executive has launched new measures for public events, great attention is recommended, especially at home. Therefore, it may be useful to review the best practices to follow to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus and live the Christmas holidays responsibly and safely. We know the tools by now and they are the ones that have been with us for two years, albeit with some differences.
VACCINE: THE FIRST WEAPON AGAINST COVID
The substantial difference from last year is the vaccine. At the end of 2020 the vaccination campaign was starting and therefore there was no one who had received the first dose. Almost a year later, vaccines have been shown to offer high coverage against severe forms of Covid, which can lead to hospitalization and death in individuals most at risk. The effectiveness in preventing infections would appear to be reduced even if it is still significant in shortening the transmission time period.
Vaccines have made it possible to return to a sort of normality (the differences with past Christmas are evident) even if the effect that the Omicron variant will have, rapidly spreading in many European countries, is not entirely clear. Research is ongoing, but according to evidence, the booster dose significantly contributes to reducing the risk of becoming seriously ill.
BETTER MAKE A TAMPON
One of the solutions to mitigate the risk of being contagious or infected can be the antigenic swab, even if they are less sensitive than the molecular one. Doing it much earlier would not be enough, as it takes a few days for the rapid tests to detect any infection. Therefore, it would be advisable to do it as close as possible to the meetings.
MILD SYMPTOMS: WHAT TO DO?
Obviously if you experience symptoms known to be associated with the Covid infection (fever, cough, cold, alteration of the senses), albeit slight, it would be advisable to avoid meetings, carry out a test and respect fiduciary isolation in the event of contact with a positive.
AT THE TABLE: NO BUFFETS AND ROUNDS OF FORKS
Avoid exchanging plates, glasses or cutlery. No tastings or rounds of forks. Even if in our country it is a very adopted formula for lunches and dinners, shared dishes and that everyone serves themselves should be avoided. At the very least, leave some cutlery reserved exclusively for this function. Another good rule would be to set aside the buffet to always try to limit contacts. Space the seats well, the ideal would be the "classic" meter of distance between one person and another.
AIR OUT THE HOUSE
During meetings with people who do not live together indoors, it is advisable to ensure that there is good air circulation. It is advisable to open the windows every half hour to improve circulation so as to reduce the concentration of viral particles emitted by someone unknowingly positive.
USE MASKS
Masks, when worn correctly, can help reduce the risk of virus transmission, especially indoors when social distancing is not possible. Even if many do not prefer them, the Ffp2 models are recommended as they are more effective than surgical ones.
SANITIZE YOUR HANDS
It is good to wash and disinfect your hands frequently even during the exchange of gifts. Avoid direct contact such as kisses and hugs.
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: HOW MANY?
Reduce the number of guests (max 10 people), if necessary excluding those most at risk. Avoid crowded situations or large tables that may have been part of family Christmas traditions before 2020.
BETTER GO OUTDOORS
If the weather permits, favor outdoor activities or meetings, so as to spend time together without the fear of a virus hovering over our heads.
RESTAURANTS AND CLUBS
The new anti-Covid rules came into force on Monday 6 December 2021 and will be valid until 15 January 2022. Those who do not have the super green pass cannot consume inside bars and restaurants, only those staying in hotels can consume inside the restaurant also with basic certification. But the enhanced certification does not only concern accommodation facilities. The super green pass is also available for shows, cinema, theatre, parties and discos.
