crodonilson
He/Him
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Whichever bird you or nuts you are roasting this Xmas always iportant to remember the fundamentals to enjoy a civd-free dinner.
The most important thing is to get up to date with your vaccines, according to Linda Bauld, a professor of public health at Edinburgh University and the chief social policy adviser to the Scottish government.
Being fully vaccinated won’t fully protect you from infection, but it significantly lowers the risk of illness, she says, adding that this applies equally for the flu jab.
Currently only those over 50 are routinely eligible for a seasonal (autumn) Covid booster (along with healthcare workers, care home residents, immuno-suppressed people and some others). But uptake has fallen markedly since the first wave of immunisation, and many remain hesitant – 39.5% of people of Black Caribbean origin, for instance, are still unvaccinated.
Getting all the jabs available to you, says Bauld, “also means you reduce your risk of long Covid, because we know that people who have symptomatic Covid, and particularly who become unwell – those are the ones who are getting long Covid”.
“The first thing I would say is, go for it,” says Bauld. “It’s brilliant that we can socialise – let’s do that with gusto while we’re well, but no reason why we shouldn't be able to enjoy ourselves without reasonable precautions.”
There are caveats of course – mainly, don’t go if you have, or suspect you might have, Covid. Parties can be made safer too, points out Prof Cath Noakes, an expert in ventilating buildings for infection control from the University of Leeds. “There’s evidence that the highest risks are in unventilated and really poorly ventilated rooms. So even just small amounts of ventilation can help.”
Absolutely, she says. “I know it’s hard at the moment [with] the cost of heating. But it’s still really important to think about whether you can let some fresh air in, maybe open the windows intermittently. It can make the difference.” The A* way of having Christmas dinner is doing so outdoors. If you can't have this providing a cleaning station and asking others to bring their own cutlery and plates will help eliminate some risk. While infection methods aren’t always the same, what helps reduce Covid will also help with other respiratory diseases, she says. “Fresh air is good.”
If she was going to visit an elderly or vulnerable relative, Bauld would consider taking a Covid test, she says, “but that’s because I’ve still got some in my house. I don’t think, in a cost of living crisis, we should be advising people to test who have to pay for them.”
That said, if you can afford it, your vulnerable guests are likely to be grateful. Just don’t rely on them entirely, says Salisbury. “It’s important to remember that sometimes Covid tests don’t turn positive until several days into an illness – so if you are unwell, don’t put others at risk and do carry on testing.”
“We know masks work [in preventing the spread of respiratory illnesses],” says Noakes – particularly a well-fitting FFP2. “You’re probably not going to want to wear your mask at the party while socialising. But wearing it when you’re travelling on the bus to the party – maybe that is a good idea because it gives you and other people some protection.
“You just have to look at how overwhelmed hospitals are, the numbers of respiratory infections they’ve got at the moment to deal with. And Covid hasn’t gone away. People are trying to pretend it has but it really hasn’t.”
OK then – what should I do?
The most important thing is to get up to date with your vaccines, according to Linda Bauld, a professor of public health at Edinburgh University and the chief social policy adviser to the Scottish government.
Being fully vaccinated won’t fully protect you from infection, but it significantly lowers the risk of illness, she says, adding that this applies equally for the flu jab.
Currently only those over 50 are routinely eligible for a seasonal (autumn) Covid booster (along with healthcare workers, care home residents, immuno-suppressed people and some others). But uptake has fallen markedly since the first wave of immunisation, and many remain hesitant – 39.5% of people of Black Caribbean origin, for instance, are still unvaccinated.
Getting all the jabs available to you, says Bauld, “also means you reduce your risk of long Covid, because we know that people who have symptomatic Covid, and particularly who become unwell – those are the ones who are getting long Covid”.
But what about the Christmas party I’m going to this evening?
“The first thing I would say is, go for it,” says Bauld. “It’s brilliant that we can socialise – let’s do that with gusto while we’re well, but no reason why we shouldn't be able to enjoy ourselves without reasonable precautions.”
There are caveats of course – mainly, don’t go if you have, or suspect you might have, Covid. Parties can be made safer too, points out Prof Cath Noakes, an expert in ventilating buildings for infection control from the University of Leeds. “There’s evidence that the highest risks are in unventilated and really poorly ventilated rooms. So even just small amounts of ventilation can help.”
Does that apply while I’m hosting Christmas dinner?
Absolutely, she says. “I know it’s hard at the moment [with] the cost of heating. But it’s still really important to think about whether you can let some fresh air in, maybe open the windows intermittently. It can make the difference.” The A* way of having Christmas dinner is doing so outdoors. If you can't have this providing a cleaning station and asking others to bring their own cutlery and plates will help eliminate some risk. While infection methods aren’t always the same, what helps reduce Covid will also help with other respiratory diseases, she says. “Fresh air is good.”
Should I ask my family to take a Covid test before they come over?
If she was going to visit an elderly or vulnerable relative, Bauld would consider taking a Covid test, she says, “but that’s because I’ve still got some in my house. I don’t think, in a cost of living crisis, we should be advising people to test who have to pay for them.”
That said, if you can afford it, your vulnerable guests are likely to be grateful. Just don’t rely on them entirely, says Salisbury. “It’s important to remember that sometimes Covid tests don’t turn positive until several days into an illness – so if you are unwell, don’t put others at risk and do carry on testing.”
What about masks?
“We know masks work [in preventing the spread of respiratory illnesses],” says Noakes – particularly a well-fitting FFP2. “You’re probably not going to want to wear your mask at the party while socialising. But wearing it when you’re travelling on the bus to the party – maybe that is a good idea because it gives you and other people some protection.
“You just have to look at how overwhelmed hospitals are, the numbers of respiratory infections they’ve got at the moment to deal with. And Covid hasn’t gone away. People are trying to pretend it has but it really hasn’t.”