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As the holidays approach, we send our best wishes to you and your family for a safe, healthy season. We know that it has been a long and difficult year for many. We all badly want to spend time with friends and families.
There is exciting news that highly effective, safe vaccines and improved treatments are on the horizon. But with the COVID-19 virus spreading fast in the Bay Area and beyond, it’s more important than ever to guard against infection now.
It is tragic that so many people around the world are still suffering, and in many cases dying, just as we see a light at the end of the tunnel. Help is on the way — if we can just keep taking the safest steps a little longer.
Here are our recommendations for staying healthy until the global pandemic is well-controlled:Stay close to home. We urge you to skip travel except for truly essential reasons.
If you must travel, get tested 3 to 6 days after returning home. Also, isolate yourself from others for 14 days after your return, even if your test is negative.Wear masks when you are with other people who are not in your household bubble. Also wear masks whenever you are in a public space or building.Limit gatherings. Don’t have meals or celebrations with people outside of your household bubble.
If you must meet with people who are not part of your household, you can lower the risks with these steps: Limit the time you are exposed to others.Stay in highly ventilated areas, preferably outdoors.Keep 6 feet away from others, especially while eating or drinking.Wash your hands often.Make a special effort to stay away from others if you don’t feel well. That’s true even if you have only mild symptoms of COVID-19.
Symptoms include congestion, cough, muscle ache, feeling tired or short of breath, headache, loss of taste or smell, or a fever.Stay away from other people with any COVID-19 symptoms.Don’t delay seeking preventive care or treatment with your care team.Get tested if you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or have even mild symptoms of COVID-19. For information on testing, see Stanford Health Care’s website.We have a wonderful opportunity this holiday season to share the gift of safety and health. You can take special care to prevent new infections through the holidays.
With that, we can look forward to a much more normal world next spring and summer. Then we can plan to join with all of our friends and families for a very joyous holiday season next year.
Sincerely, Your Stanford Health Care Team
Source: Standford Healthcare
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