But it doesn’t have to be that way. With a smart approach in these cold-weather months, researchers say you can ignore their dire projections.
Health experts say cold weather, flu season, resumed schools and epidemic fatigue are a recipe for even more difficult months in the fight against coronavirus. Here’s why:
Cold weather: When more people gather indoors, there is less chance of spreading viral particles – the risk of spreading coronavirus increases.
“Aerosols mean that the droplets don’t land immediately. They keep moving for a period of time,” Fawcett said.
This becomes “very consistent” when you are indoors and there is poor ventilation.
“You can get both Flu and Covid-19 at the same time, which can be devastating to your immune system,” said Dr. Adrian Broise, a family medicine physician in Florida.
“Your defenses go down, and that makes you susceptible to another infection on top,” Yasmin said.
Outbreaks appear to be exacerbated during school and college campuses: Many of the schools that brought students back to classrooms are on the verge of an outbreak that could only grow in the coming months.
And once students and teachers become infected, they can inadvertently spread the virus to their communities.
The University of Georgia home, Athens-Clark County, managed to keep its Covid-19 numbers relatively low throughout the summer, but it suffered a “dramatic spike” in community cases, Mayor Kelly Girtez said.
The mayor said it is clear that a large number of students who do not come here during the summer are expected to return to campus.
Some universities have canceled the spring break due to concerns about Covid-19. These include Syracuse University, Georgia Tech and Ohio State.
IHME The director of Dr. There are two main reasons for this assumption, said Christopher Murray.
“First, as the number of cases in some states has decreased, we see that the less people become more cautious, the more they approach,” he said. “But the most important effect after that is the season of the virus – the more people go inside the house, the more transmission there is.
“That’s why our model Dell Surge shows huge growth as it lands in October and is expected to gain momentum in December.”
How can we stop this winter surge?
Just because the epidemic is still here doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the fall and winter fun.
Stay out if you can: Everyone should limit their interactions in indoor places, said Dr. David Aronoff, director of the department at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for Infectious Diseases.
If you have gatherings, invest in ways to keep them out of the house – perhaps with a fire pit, warm coat or heat lamp, said Dr. George, a physician and visiting professor in the emergency room of the Milken Institute School at George Washington University. Public health.
If you visit friends or family, do it wisely: “We know by now that much of the spread of the Covid-19 is really driven not by formal settings but by informal gatherings of family and friends.” “Some people will let go of their guard with loved ones.”
If you must travel for the holidays, cut down on risky behaviors before your trip, such as eating in an indoor restaurant or staying in touch with people you don’t live with.
“Because it’s possible to get a negative result even when you have a coronavirus, you need to be careful when you get a negative result.”
And even if the result of a negative test is correct, you may have been infected since that test was taken.
Instead of Halloween parties or trick-or-treating, the CDC suggests pumpkin carving at a safe distance with your family or with friends and neighbors.
“Children are given a list of Halloween-themed items where they walk from house to house at the distance of Halloween decorations,” the CDC said.
For Thanksgiving, you can celebrate by having a virtual dinner with friends or family from afar and sharing your favorite Thanksgiving recipe, the CDC said.
You can also help loved ones who are at high risk for Covid-19 or who feel isolated by preparing a traditional Thanksgiving dish “and deliver them in a way that doesn’t involve contact with others.”
CNN’s Scotty Andrew and Shelby Lynn Erdman contributed to this report.
.
