CDC’s 10 Strategies to Stop the Spread of COVID-19 this Winter
Public health experts have consistently forewarned that this winter will be perhaps the most challenging time of the COVID-19 response. While we all are learning more every day about COVID-19, there are fact-based strategies we already know that can limit the spread to keep our families, friends and communities safe through the winter months.
Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an article in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) highlighting 10 strategies we can all take on the community and individual levels to reduce the spread of COVID-19. As we head further into the winter months, we will be moving indoors more as well, and a combination of these strategies will provide the much-needed protection our communities need.
The new report reminds us that consistent and correct use of face masks is vital for protection, especially in light of estimates that approximately one half of new infections are transmitted by people who have no symptoms. Also, CDC highlights that we need to be vigilant about maintaining physical distance of 6 feet or more from others when possible and limit contacts with those outside our immediate household. Importantly, we also should avoid going into nonessential indoor spaces and immediately seek testing if you have known exposure to someone with COVID-19, have possible exposure or experience symptoms.
Contract tracing can play a key role in slowing the spread of COVID-19. It is helpful for individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 to provide names of known contacts, while close contacts should anticipate a call from the health department, adhere to the quarantine guidelines and seek testing.
We also need to do our best to protect individuals with underlying medical conditions by identifying high-risk populations in our communities and provide them with testing. It is important that high-risk individuals also minimize contact with people outside of their immediate household.
Other key strategies involve protecting our essential workers with policies that limit their risk of transmission, postponing travel and mandating masks on public transportation, increasing ventilation in indoor spaces, and always remembering to wash your hands frequently.
Finally, as a safe and effective vaccine becomes available in your community, follow the vaccine guidance to protect yourself and your loved ones.
What we do now matters. If we all work together, we can end the COVID-19 pandemic.
