Why you need to remain vigilant during COVID-19
As the pandemic wears on, it can be tempting to ease up on the precautions against COVID-19. Infectious disease physician Anna-Kathryn Burch, MD, said it is important to remember that the pandemic isn’t over.
“We are seeing some benefits of everyone wearing masks, which is great,” said Dr. Burch. She credited mask ordinances within cities and towns and mask requirements from retailers with helping to bring down the transmission rate.
“South Carolina was on fire as far as spreading the virus, but we basically put a hose on it by wearing our masks, washing our hands and social distancing. Now, we’re like a slow burning fire.”
How do masks help slow the spread of the virus?
Dr. Burch said the odds of getting COVID-19 are much higher when we do not wear masks. “It’s easier to transmit a virus without masks on because there’s no barrier to catch the virus. If I’m wearing a mask and you’re wearing a mask, the ability for that virus to spread from me to you goes significantly down to less than a 5% chance.”
She said it’s not that the virus is less virulent. It’s that people are taking the necessary precautions that keep one person from spreading it to another. So, fewer people are getting infected. “If we reverted back to nobody wearing masks or not having good hand hygiene or not staying quarantined when we are exposed, that transmission rate would go back up,” said Dr. Burch.
Is there any added risk with restaurants allowing full capacity?
“As long as you’re in a controlled setting, your risk is decreased. You need to wear your mask into the restaurant, take it off while you’re sitting and eating with your family or friends, and then put it back on to walk out,” said Dr. Burch. “If you’re not near another table and the waiter or waitress is also wearing a mask, the risk is lower. If you have a bunch of people at a crowded bar, you’re going to see the transmission go up.”
Why do we have to remain vigilant?
Dr. Burch said it’s important to keep following the precautions. “Wear your mask, wash your hands and practice social distancing. Because when you get lax and let your guard down, your risk of getting COVID-19 goes up. The virus has not gone away.”
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