October 27, 2023

COVID-19 and The Holidays

COVID-19 and The Holidays

The “COVID-19” holidays are just around the corner, and we all must remain vigilant! The National Institute of Health (NIH) and Center of Disease Control (CDC) recently released recommendations to have a safe Thanksgiving.

Lower Risk Activities

  • Small dinner with people in your ‘CoVID Bubble’ or family household.
  • Having a virtual dinner and sharing recipes with family and friends.
  • Shopping online rather than in person on the day after Thanksgiving.
  • Watching sports events, parades and movies from home

Moderate Risk Activities

  • Having a small outdoor dinner with family and friends who live in your community

Higher Risk Activities

  • Going shopping in crowded stores.
  • Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgement and increase risky behaviors.
  • Attend large indoor gatherings with people from outside your household

As the number of cases are back on the rise, its as important we remain compliant with recommendations from our medical experts. Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that handling of food or eating is associated directly with spreading COVID-19. It is possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object, including food, food packaging or utensils that have the virus, then touching their own mouth, nose or possibly eyes. However, this is not the main way that the virus is spread. Practice good hand hygiene. Make sure everyone washes their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds (there is a new app on the apple watch which provides an automatic countdown if it senses water and hand washing movement). Instead of potluck-style gatherings, encourage guests to bring food and drinks for themselves and for members of their own household only. Wear a mask while preparing or serving food to others who don’t live in your household. If serving food, consider having one person serve all the food so that multiple people are not handling the serving utensils. Avoid any self-serve food or drink options, such as buffets or buffet-style potlucks, salad bars or drink stations. If you use items that are reusable (seating covers, stable cloths, linen napkins), wash and disinfect them after the event.

After the event, if you participated in higher risk activities or think that you may have been exposed during your celebration, take extra precautions for 14 days after the event to protect others. Stay at home as much as possible and avoid being around people who may be at higher risk. Finally, consider getting tested for COVID-19. If you develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath) or test positive, immediately contact the host and others that attended the event. Contact your health care provider and follow theCDC-recommendations for community-related exposure.

It is important to reiterate from above recommendations; it is a stressful time for all of us. We want to ensure our patients and community optimize their health, including mental health. It is a stressful time in everyone’s life across the world. The way to maintain resiliency is to ensure that we work on ourselves, and keep our body and brain healthy.

"We see patients in the following locations: Skokie, Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, Miami Beach, Florida, Miami Florida, Frisco, Texas, Dallas, Texas, and surrounding areas of Illinois, Florida, and Texas. Call us to book your appointment today."

At StrIVeMD Wellness &Ketamine Clinics, the team of expert physicians is available 24/7 to help treat some of the emotional stressors that often emerge and worsen during pandemics and post-pandemic. We offer ketamine infusions as well as intravenous vitamin therapy, in addition to comprehensive functional wellness consultations by a board-certified functional medicine doctor, additional team members include a pediatric anesthesiologist, neurologist, pediatrics, psychologist and pain medicine physician. StrIVeMD Wellness & Ketamine has the highest number of health and wellness services in the midwest by a multidisciplinary team of physicians and providers who have been trained from the most prestigious institutions in the country. StriveMD Wellness & Ketamine has a primary location in the greater ChicagoLand area (Skokie, Illinois), and is now expanding to the Greater Cincinnati area (Crestview, KY). Please contact us anytime, we look forward to serving you.

Reference:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html#thanksgiving

https://www.nih.gov/