This spring, the situation around the COVID-19 pandemic continues to change rapidly. We’re still learning more about how to treat and prevent this extremely contagious respiratory virus. Multiple safe and effective vaccines for COVID-19 protect more and more people in the United States every day from severe COVID-19, but variants of the virus that causes this illness also continue to develop.
In the weeks and months ahead, it will continue to be important to take measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, in order to protect yourself and others. Whether you’re fully vaccinated, or still waiting for your vaccination, the team of family medicine experts at MS Family Medicine Health Care PC can help you plan how to stay safe from COVID-19.
Dr. Michele Reed and her team offer a full range of disease screening, treatment, and preventive medicine services. Here’s what we want our new and existing patients from around the Queens and Long Island area of New York to know about the precautions to avoid COVID-19 transmission, both indoors and outside.
COVID-19 cases continue to be high in specific locations around the US. If you’re not vaccinated, you can transmit COVID-19 to others, even if you don’t have symptoms. You can be infectious without even knowing you’re infected yourself.
That’s why it’s essential for unvaccinated people to continue to follow precautions in order to avoid COVID-19. It takes time to develop full immunity after vaccination, as well. People who are not yet fully vaccinated should remain cautious about getting or transmitting COVID-19.
Avoid gatherings with people from outside your household, and stay away from crowds, especially indoors. Indoor spaces pose more risks than outdoor ones. The duration of your exposure matters as well, so keep indoor trips brief, ideally under 15 minutes.
Maintain social distance when out and about, and when interacting outdoors with people from other households. Outdoor transmission is less likely than indoor transmission, but even when you’re outside, you should continue to lessen your risk of getting or transmitting COVID-19 by wearing a mask and keeping a clear space around yourself.
At MS Family Medicine Health Care PC, we offer concierge COVID-19 testing, so you can be sure of your infection status.
Vaccination protects you from contracting a severe form of COVID-19, and appears to reduce transmission to others. However, while case numbers in the US continue to be high, with more infectious COVID-19 variants circulating in many states, we all need to keep working together to prevent outbreaks.
The CDC advises that people who are fully vaccinated can safely make some changes to their behavior. Fully vaccinated people can visit other fully vaccinated people from different households indoors, and, while masked, indoor activities like haircuts or gym visits are safe, as well. You should continue to wear a mask whenever indoors in public after you’re fully vaccinated.
Even when you’re fully vaccinated, your behavior still impacts those around you. Model and promote healthy behaviors, and consider the level of risk to yourself and your guests if you’re thinking about hosting an event or gathering. Continue to pay attention to the number of COVID-19 cases in your community, and be aware if an outbreak occurs.
For expert advice on staying safe from COVID-19 this spring, talk to a provider at MS Family Medicine Health Care PC today. You can schedule an appointment at one of our New York locations in Rosedale, Queens, and Garden City, Long Island by calling now, or use the online tool to request your appointment now.
