The number of new infections with the coronavirus is increasing and increasing. But we are not at the mercy of the virus. Five specific things that everyone can do now to protect themselves and their loved ones even better.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) is alarmed: With 37,120 proven corona cases within 24 hours, a new high was reached in the pandemic on Friday. The number of cases in Germany has risen sharply again since mid-October. The risk of coming into contact with the virus continues to increase.
The RKI has therefore upgraded the risk assessment for unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated people: from “high” to “very high”. There is also a change in the assessment for fully vaccinated people: their risk is still “moderate”, writes the RKI in the report. However, due to the number of infections, the risk is also increasing in this population group.
What can each and every one of us do to reduce the risk of illness for themselves and others? Sure, distance and hygiene rules remain important. And especially now, when many people are meeting more and more indoors because of the cooler temperatures, it is better to keep the windows open than to stay. What else needs to be considered:
1. Check vaccination status
Corona vaccines offer very reliable protection against severe Covid-19 courses and deaths. The immune protection is particularly good in the weeks and months after the last necessary vaccination. (However, not immediately in the two weeks after the injection, as the body first needs time to arm itself with antibodies against the virus.)
For many older people and people with certain pre-existing conditions, however, the vaccination was usually a long time ago. The same applies to medical staff who were also part of priority group 1 and were vaccinated in early 2021. that the vaccination protection, which diminishes over time, can be improved again with a booster vaccination, which, among other things, further reduces the risk of severe courses.
The Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) recommends the booster – for people over 70 years of age, immunocompromised, people in need of care, nursing staff and people in medical professions with direct patient contact. The prerequisite is that the last necessary vaccination was at least six months ago. The vaccination date is noted in the vaccination certificate, as well as in the certificates of the Corona-Warn-App and the CovPassCheck-App.
An exception applies to those vaccinated who have only received the single-use vaccine from Janssen (Johnson & Johnson): On the recommendation of Stiko, you can receive an mRNA vaccine (Biontech / Pfizer or Moderna) as early as four weeks after the injection. ” boost “regardless of age.
In principle, the Federal Ministry of Health emphasizes, younger people under the age of 70 can also get a third vaccination. Here, too, the prerequisite is that the last vaccination was at least six months ago. However, there is no Stiko recommendation for younger people. The experts want to decide on this in the coming weeks.
In practice, it will be difficult for younger people to use the booster by then – many medical practitioners in private practice orientate themselves on the recommendations of the Stiko. The federal states want to use vaccination buses and vaccination centers for the booster vaccination campaign.
Even people who have no or no complete vaccination protection should get a vaccination appointment immediately. Because the risk of contracting the coronavirus in the coming winter months has never been higher during the pandemic.
2. Avoid places with lax controls
“3G” applies in the restaurant around the corner, but no evidence is asked at the entrance? Even if you have been vaccinated, have recovered or have just been tested, you should consider visiting another restaurant. Because who tells you that this also applies to the people at the next table?
3. Take symptoms seriously
The nose runs and the throat hurts: Symptoms like these are typical for the current season, because in addition to the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus, there are several other pathogens, including cold viruses. Some of them cause very similar complaints and can hardly be distinguished from Covid 19 diseases – even doctors cannot do that. Only one test provides information, preferably a PCR test, which examines the genetic material of the pathogen.
It is important to stay at home at the first signs of illness, even if you have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. In such a case, the RKI advises contacting your family doctor and having yourself tested.
Vaccinated people are less likely to contract the coronavirus than those who have not been vaccinated, but vaccination breakthroughs – i.e. illnesses despite a full vaccination – are also observed in them. Such an infection is usually mild, but those affected can infect other people – especially if they assume it is “just” a harmless cold, do not keep distances and do not wear a mask.
4. Rapid tests also help
Are you planning a birthday party in a small private circle and everyone present is healthy and double vaccinated? These are good prerequisites. If risk groups are also present, such as grandparents over 70, you can further increase the protection with rapid tests. There are no longer any free citizen tests. However, drugstores and supermarkets still sell corona self-tests, often for less than two euros each. Ideally, the grandparents have already been boosted and the room will be aired every now and then – so everyone can celebrate with the greatest possible security.
5. Make sure the mask fits properly
Medical masks are mandatory in supermarkets and public transport. But even optimally filtering masks, including FFP2, are of little use if there is a large gap between the nose and the mask and the aerosols are breathed past the mask.
A problem that drew attention to. A laboratory test showed that all FFP2 masks kept at least 99 percent of the aerosol particles. However, only one model passed a practical test in which the fit of the mask was also checked on several test persons: the FFP2 mask “Aura 9320+” from manufacturer 3M. It suited all test subjects equally.
Source From: Stern
