COVID-19 is real, deadly and surging once again, so what can we do here in Waxahachie?
The good news when it comes to the novel coronavirus pandemic is that people in the Waxahachie area are heeding warnings from medical professionals and keeping the spread at a minimum in Ellis County. The bad news is that as the holiday season approaches, it’s going to get more difficult to keep COVID-19 at bay.
And, despite the optimism we can all have that the vast majority of us who catch COVID-19 will make it through just fine, there’s still the potential for many of us to become so-called long-haul COVID-19 patients, and some of us could even die.
We know that the whole pandemic thing and the restrictions it’s brought are getting old, but according to Texas health officials, now is not the time to give up on face masks and social distancing, or to prematurely declare that the pandemic is over. In fact, we may not have seen anything yet.
“We are seeing surges again in COVID-19 cases. As people come together, at work, school, restaurants, et cetera, there is greater opportunity for transmission,” says Lara Anton, the press officer for the Texas Department of State Health Services. “We are entering the holiday season, when people tend to gather indoors in groups, and the activities will promote the transmission of COVID-19.”
The state’s tips on how to reduce infection risk:
1. Get your flu shot.
DSHS strongly urges people to get their flu shot and follow the safety measures that help prevent the spread of COVID-19 to preserve hospital capacity around the state.
2. Limit family get-togethers.
DSHS recommends that people make holiday plans that limit the risk of COVID-19 to themselves and those around them. Holiday gatherings with the lowest risk are ones that involve just your own household, or involve virtual holiday dinners with extended family.
3. Keep your distance, wear a mask and avoid indoor crowds.
If people are going to host a gathering with people who aren’t in their household, they should take steps to minimize the risk of COVID-19. This includes having everyone keep six feet of distance between themselves and people from outside of their household; having everyone wear masks when they are indoors or within six feet of other people; limiting the size of gatherings; and having gatherings in a place with good ventilation, ideally outside.
“Coronavirus most often spreads by respiratory secretions when people are in close contact — within six feet — with each other. So it is really important that people remember to continue to socially distance and wear masks, as well as wash their hands frequently, disinfect frequently-touched surfaces, and stay home if they have COVID-19, have COVID-19 symptoms, or have recently been exposed to someone with COVID-19,” Anton adds.
4. Shop online.
In addition, individuals should try to avoid gatherings of people, especially when they are indoors and involve many people. This includes holiday shopping. Get that shopping done online and avoid exposure to the crowds at stores or at the mall.
By following these simple guidelines, you can help your family steer clear of COVID-19 complications this holiday season and look forward to a return to normal life once we all get through the current pandemic.