SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – As summer approaches, health experts advise how to stay COVID-19 safe while enjoying holidays and time with family or friends.
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Dr. Amesh Adalja, Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told KCBS Radio's "Ask An Expert" the best thing a person can do to protect themselves is to be vaccinated.
"While in the age of omicron that's not a guarantee that you won’t get infected, it is basically a guarantee that you won't end up hospitalized or have severe disease," he said.
As we venture on in our two year battle with coronavirus, Adalja explained at some point, we have to learn to live with the virus.
"You have to remember that this Fourth of July, next Fourth of July, the Fourth of July after that, COVID is still going to be here," he said. "This is an endemic respiratory virus that will not be eradicated, that will not be eliminated."
To enjoy summer while also being aware of coronavirus, Adalja advised that people employ the same principles they've been practicing throughout the pandemic. "We know that indoors is not as safe as outdoors. We know that wearing a mask in crowded, congregated places is beneficial in prevention of spread. We know using rapid tests to see what people's status are before an event of a lot of gathering can also decrease the risk," he said.
Ultimately, it's not a one size fits all answer, he explained. "Everybody is going to have to come to terms with what level of risk is acceptable to them."
Due to the nation's immunity levels and the work to create antivirals and monoclonal antibodies, Adalja said it is acceptable for people to take advantage of gatherings and travels this summer.
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