Let's get real about being safe this winter with COVID19

Lately, the whole world has been facing and trying its best to fight the pandemic 2020. Many countries had gained control over the situation and the number of COVID cases had finally started to decrease. However, the seasonal change coming ahead has raised concern worldwide, on how to survive the cold weather with COVID. 

Since situations all around the world vary from one another hence it is hard to say for sure what the coming winter would entail. Here are some basic guidelines to follow to cope up in winter with COVID-19:

·      Be on guard: With COVID cases decreasing, generally, the public has started to lose vigilance. They have stopped wearing masks and are easily joining public gatherings. Undoubtedly, we know less about how to survive cold weather with COVID but we should at least stick with what we know. Follow basic SOPs, maintain social distancing, and remain vigilant about your health and the ones around you.

·      Stay away from stereotypical beliefs: When the pandemic 2020 hit us hard so did every other quack in the world. Beware of the fraudulent doctors out there and lookout for the source before you follow any instructions. Such people have given rise to stereotypical belief that COVID-19 and cold weather would be a deadly combination. Factually speaking, did summers make it any less dangerous? NO, it didn’t. So, don’t just believe anything you read or hear.

·     Holiday season: With businesses opening up public has started to ignore the whole pandemic 2020 scenario. Considering that the holiday season is ahead of us it is best to say no to huge public gatherings and parties. Nevertheless, if it’s just a close family gathering where all are healthy and well you can say yes to one of those. One condition though, don’t forget to take your mask with you.

·      Common cold: A change in season usually brings the viral cold with it which results in a runny nose and an infected or sour throat. Usually, this common cold is harmless and can be cured easily. However, it affects the upper respiratory tract insignificantly. In this cold weather with COVID don’t take the common cold casually. Start treating it from the very beginning and whenever you feel any symptoms rising to isolate yourself so that it doesn’t spread.

Pandemics and their history In the last 250 years, there have been 10 respiratory pandemics and only one of them had a worse effect because of the cold weather. No one can say for sure whether COVID -19 and cold weather would turn out to be one of the exceptions or not. But it is safe to say that the chances of that happening is much less.

Research conducted in all parts of the world proves that there is no significant increase in the number of COVID cases just because of the cold weather. Many places have experienced major outbreaks of COVID-19 cases. South Africa and Australia went through such an outbreak during winters but many U.S cities and Italy experienced the same or even worse outbreaks in summer. Hence, research hasn’t proved any real relationships between COVD-19 and cold weather.  

We are in this together! Keep everyone safe and be smart!