Introduction
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, it is important to understand the places and activities that put us at the highest risk of catching the virus. According to experts, certain activities and locations are more likely to lead to infection than others. In this article, we will explore the places and activities that experts say are most likely to lead to COVID-19 infection, as well as some tips on how to reduce your risk. We will also look at some of the foods that experts recommend avoiding in order to reduce your risk of catching the virus. By understanding the risks associated with certain activities and locations, we can all take steps to protect ourselves and our loved ones from the virus.
You’re Most Likely to Catch COVID Here, Say Experts — Eat This Not That
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, experts are warning that certain places are more likely to be hotspots for the virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the risk of catching the virus is highest in crowded indoor settings, such as bars, restaurants, and gyms.
The CDC recommends avoiding these places as much as possible and suggests that people take extra precautions when they do go out. This includes wearing a face mask, washing your hands often, and maintaining social distancing.
But if you do find yourself in one of these places, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of catching the virus. For example, the CDC recommends avoiding close contact with people who are not in your household, and avoiding touching your face.
When it comes to eating out, the CDC recommends avoiding buffets and salad bars, as these can be breeding grounds for the virus. Instead, opt for single-serve meals or takeout. Additionally, the CDC recommends avoiding crowded restaurants and bars, and opting for outdoor seating when possible.
Finally, the CDC recommends avoiding large gatherings, such as parties and concerts. If you do attend a gathering, the CDC recommends wearing a face mask, maintaining social distancing, and avoiding close contact with people who are not in your household.
By following these guidelines, you can reduce your risk of catching the virus and help keep yourself and others safe.
As the holiday season approaches, COVID cases continue to drop in most parts of the country. But no one knows what this winter will bring as indoor gatherings become more frequent. Experts agree that it’s still important to exercise caution about COVID exposure, even if you’ve been vaccinated. Here’s where you’re most likely to catch COVID now. Read on to find out more—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You May Have Already Had COVID.
“Going to an event indoors has much more risk, in the likelihood of getting infected,” said Dr. Christine Petersen, the director of the Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases at the University of Iowa College of Public Health, in an interview with CBSN in late October. “Dilution is the solution: When you’re in an outdoor environment, there’s a lot more fresh air.”
When should you definitely think about giving indoor leisure activities a pass? “It depends on the prevalence of COVID in the local community,” says Karen Jubanyik, MD, an associate professor of emergency medicine at Yale University School of Medicine and author of Beat the Coronavirus. “Where COVID is prevalent, I would avoid indoor, optional activities. It also depends on the vaccination rate in that community, as well as the mask rules/adherence rates.”
The CDC still officially recommends that people wear a mask when indoors in public places, whether you’re vaccinated or not. Dr. Ken Burns, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Louisville, offered advice to people who want to attend indoor events: “With standing-room-only crowds, you may want to actually not be standing-room-only,” he said. “Try to maintain distance. I would recommend that even if you’re fully vaccinated, for an indoor venue, that you should wear a mask.”
The CDC’s official guidance on indoor and outdoor activities is that outdoors is safer than indoors: You’re more likely to be exposed to COVID when you attend crowded, poorly ventilated indoor events versus attending an outdoor event or practice social distancing of at least six feet. Additionally, the agency’s advice includes:
- Wear a mask consistently over your nose and mouth
- If you’re fully vaccinated, wear a mask indoors in public if you’re in an area of substantial or high transmission
- In general, you don’t need to wear a mask in outdoor settings. But consider wearing a mask at crowded outdoor events in areas with high numbers of COVID-19 cases
- Avoid crowds and places that are poorly ventilated or crowded
- Wash your hands
Follow the fundamentals and help end this pandemic, no matter where you live—get vaccinated ASAP; if you live in an area with low vaccination rates, wear an N95 face mask, don’t travel, social distance, avoid large crowds, don’t go indoors with people you’re not sheltering with (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, and to protect your life and the lives of others, don’t visit any of these 35 Places You’re Most Likely to Catch COVID.