It’s been a welcome relief to see the threat of COVID-19 fade in urgency. Finally, the general consensus is that life can (mostly) return to normal and we don’t need to be worried about our every move. Unfortunately, we aren’t out of the woods yet.
The most recent variants of COVID have been less deadly but more transmissible, which leaves us in a tricky spot. There is less reason to panic, but COVID isn’t going anywhere, and certain segments of the population are still vulnerable.
To protect ourselves and those around us, we need to stop the spread of COVID where we can by taking practical, responsible steps that can help us to go about our lives while mitigating risk. Here are five ways to do just that:
Vaccinate
Getting vaccinated is a personal choice, but research shows that booster shots provide protection against serious illness, particularly if you’re at high risk.
Prioritize who to protect
Nobody is an island, and everyone has family, friends, colleagues, and others to consider. At the same time, you don’t want to constantly stress about the possibility of infecting someone with COVID.
After all, it’s possible to be positive without any symptoms at all. The best way to stay relaxed and responsible is to consider the specific needs of the people with whom you come into contact.
If you’re spending time with someone who is at risk, you may want to sit outside or wear a mask.
Clean and disinfect
Most of us see cleaning as a chore but with the right approach and materials, it doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. If your main concern is COVID, you don’t need to panic clean the house every day.
First, prioritize what and where to clean. Shared workspaces, vehicles, and electronic devices are a great place to start. With an EPA-approved disinfectant that kills COVID, like Sterifab, just spray the surface in question and let it dry.
In a matter of seconds, you’ve made your environment safer and helped prevent the spread of COVID with barely a thought.
Check COVID news before traveling
Travel is one of the driving forces in the spread of COVID. Constantly checking the COVID news can be an unnecessary source of stress when you’re home in familiar surroundings, but it’s warranted before travel.
That’s because you could find yourself in an area with far greater case numbers or a new variant that’s just looking for a chance to spread to new areas. Even if you don’t want to change your plans, knowing the current COVID situation at your destination can help you decide if you want to take additional precautions.
Exercise, even a little bit
We’ve all got busy lives, and it’s notoriously difficult to establish a good exercise routine.
However, according to the CDC, obesity triples the risk of hospitalization from COVID. Poor overall health generally results in a lowered immune system vulnerable to all kinds of illnesses, especially COVID.
Cardio exercise can be particularly helpful in building up your body’s ability to combat COVID by increasing lung capacity. If possible, take the time to walk or jog to places you would normally drive to.
This way you’re not setting as much time aside specifically for exercise. Every little bit helps.
The last few years have been stressful, to say the least. Now that the immediacy of COVID has decreased, we can finally breathe a little easier. At the same time, we can’t act like COVID isn’t still a threat.
We don’t need to panic any longer, but we still need to be responsible, and we can do it without constant stress and worry.
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Author bio: John-Michael Kibrick is a writer, editor, and Hebrew-English translator.
Formerly a journalist and news editor for the Israeli publications Haaretz and Ynet, John-Michael has since expanded his knowledge to include pest control and disinfectants and is a head writer at Sterifab.com.