By Times Weekly Staff
The coronavirus keeps mutating – putting scientists on their toes as they brace for the possibility that the virus could get better at spreading or at making us sick. The new omicron variants that have emerged in recent months appear to be even more transmissible than previous versions of the virus, with preliminary data showing BA.2.12.1 to be about 25 percent more transmissible than the now-dominant BA.2 subvariant.
Federal health officials are urging people to continue wearing masks on airplanes, trains, buses, and other public transportation, even though mask mandates have fallen by the wayside in much of the United States. “CDC continues to recommend that all people — passengers and workers, alike — properly wear a well-fitting mask or respirator in indoor public transportation conveyances and transportation hubs,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky said in a statement.
If you notice any symptoms associated with COVID-19, it’s important that you get tested for active infection, especially when traveling. It’s particularly important to test before visiting vulnerable people.
Even if you’ve had all vaccination doses recommended to you by the CDC, you could still have what’s known as a breakthrough infection, and testing is how you can make sure you don’t spread the virus to anyone else.
Beyond COVID-19 testing, health experts recommend continuing to check trusted sources like the CDC, WHO, and local and state health departments for evidence-based information about preventing the spread of the disease.
Experts also recommend evaluating your personal risk of contracting COVID-19 when you leave your home and planning accordingly. For example, if community transmission is high in your county, or if you are part of a high-risk group, you should consider wearing a mask in public, especially in crowded and indoor spaces.
Getting vaccinated, if you are eligible, is another key preventative measure to reduce your risk of contracting the virus that causes COVID-19. Vaccines are highly effective against severe diseases, according to the CDC. Information is from Healthy Living and Washington Post
