YAHOO! NEWS – New holiday COVID-19 guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges eligible people to get vaccinated against the virus and wear masks — in some cases — when gathering.
“Because many generations tend to gather to celebrate holidays, the best way to minimize COVID-19 risk and keep your family and friends safer is to get vaccinated if you’re eligible,” the CDC says in its guidance, issued on Friday.
Children in the United States who are 11 years old and younger are not yet eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Getting vaccinated helps protect those have the vaccine against severe illness and death from COVID-19.
Unvaccinated adults are over 6 times more likely to test positive for the virus and more than 11 times more likely to die from it compared to those who are fully vaccinated, the CDC found.
“Protect those not yet eligible for vaccination such as young children by getting yourself and other eligible people around them vaccinated.” CDC
When it comes to gathering this holiday season, the agency says it is generally safer to gather outdoors than indoors.
For those who are gathering at indoor public spaces, unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated people should wear well-fitting masks over their nose and mouth, if they’re 2 or older.
Fully vaccinated individuals in areas with substantial to high transmission rates should also wear masks in public indoor settings.
People who have a weakened immune system should also wear a mask when gathering.
“You might choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission if a member of your household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease, or is unvaccinated,” the CDC says …
Source: headlinehealth.com/cdc-issues-new-covid-19-guidance-for-the-holidays/?utm_medium=email