When It Feels Like You're The Only Person Masking & Taking Precautions...

... it's because usually you ARE one of the only ones taking precaustions!  This section is from another of the coronavirus newsletters to which I subscribe, Time's Coronavirus Brief. If more Americans had been reading and educating themselves about the COVID pandemic all along, we might not be in this fix right now!

 Monday, July 11, 2022

What to Do When You’re the Only One Being Cautious

BY TARA LAW

There’s little doubt that COVID-19 is surging again. While the number of new reported cases is likely an undercount, since so many people now use rapid at-home tests, cases and hospitalizations are up, including in places where they’d previously been falling—like New York City, where I live. Looking around the subway, however, you wouldn’t know it. Although masking is still required on public transportation here, I’ve recently noticed more bare faces than I’ve seen since the start of the outbreak in 2020. This has made me wonder: now that I can’t rely on people taking precautions to protect me, how do I step up measures to keep myself safe—and, more importantly, protect my elderly relatives when I visit them?

Fortunately, since the start of the pandemic, experts have learned a lot about how to limit the spread of COVID-19. The key, several have told me, is not to count on any single measure to protect you—but to layer on different measures that can support overall protection.

Step up your masking. When fewer people around you are masking, it’s essential to wear a high-quality, well-fitted mask—preferably an N95—particularly if you’re going to be in a crowded area. Research has shown that N95s offer far more protection from infection than cloth or surgical masks.

Embrace the outdoors. Good ventilation is another great way to protect yourself from COVID-19, and in most cases, there’s no better way to guarantee that than stepping outside. (The virus can still spread outdoors, but much less efficiently than it does inside.) Studies have shown just how well vigorous indoor exercise can potentially spread COVID-19, so take advantage of the warm weather to exercise in your yard, local park, or at the beach.

Get boosted. If you're eligible for a booster shot but haven’t received it yet—or your second booster, if you’re over 50 or immunocompromised—it’s time to bulk up your immunity. Evidence suggests second boosters can help protect people from severe cases of COVID-19 as well as death.

Test, test, test. Although neither PCR nor rapid at-home tests can offer complete certainty that you don’t have COVID-19, they can help protect the people around you, especially if you’re about to travel or visit someone who’s more vulnerable, or if you're attending an indoor gathering.

Deciding which precautions to take requires weighing your personal risk tolerance and the level of risk in the community. However, there’s no bigger threat to your long-awaited summer fun than getting very sick from COVID-19—so it’s worth it to find the right mixture of precautions to keep you and your loved ones safe."