COVID-19 is here to stay: variant XEC emerges globally

Make sure you are up to date on the vaccines available for your age group. While they don’t necessarily prevent you from catching the virus, they reduce the risk of severe infection and hospitalization. According to the CDC, a new vaccine will be available in September which better targets current variants. They recommend that everyone over the age of six months should receive it when it's available.

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Wash your hands -

According to doctors, the best way to prevent the coronavirus is to wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. The main mode of transmission is hand to mouth, eye, or nose contact.

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Handwashing: how often? -

The list of scenarios in which you should wash your hands is longer than you’d think. It includes each time you blow your nose, each time you sneeze, and before you touch your face.

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Handwashing: how often? -

Other times to scrub include before and after cooking, before and after eating, each time you come within six feet of a sick person, and before and after caring for a sick person.

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Handwashing: how often? -

Then there’s after touching or feeding an animal, after touching animal waste, after touching garbage, after changing a baby’s diaper, and, of course, after using the toilet.

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Handwashing: tips -

Make your hands wet with water and use a quarter-sized amount of soap to build up a lather. Note that the temperature of the water makes no difference—feel free to use hot or cold.

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Handwashing: tips -

Use the lathered soap to scrub under your nails, between your fingers, the backs of your hands, and your wrists. You should wash your hands for around 20 seconds in total.

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Handwashing: tips -

If you find it difficult to time 20 seconds in your head, humming or even singing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song should have you scrubbing for the right length of time.

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Handwashing: tips -

Once you’re done with the scrubbing, be sure to rinse your hands under running water until all the soap is gone.

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Handwashing: tips -

After washing your hands, use a paper towel to turn off the tap. This is very important as it will help to avoid recontamination.

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Handwashing: tips -

Dry your hands using an air dryer or, where possible, a paper towel.

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Handwashing: tips -

If you’re using a public bathroom, it is also important to open the door using a paper towel. This will help further to prevent recontamination.

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Hand sanitizer -

Where it is not possible to wash your hands using water and soap, doctors have said that hand sanitizer is an acceptable alternative.

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Hand sanitizer -

The sanitizer used should be at least 60% alcohol and should be rubbed into the hands until they are completely dry.

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Hand sanitizer -

This will usually take around 20 seconds, so get that ‘Happy Birthday’ song going in your head again!

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Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth -

Your hands can pick up viruses from the many surfaces they come into contact with. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, since you risk transferring the virus.

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Maintain social distance -

It is important to keep at least six feet (1.8 meters) between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

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Maintain social distance -

When a person coughs or sneezes, liquid droplets are released that may contain the virus. If you are too close, you risk breathing these droplets in.

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Practice respiratory hygiene -

Whenever you cough or sneeze, be sure to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your bent elbow. If you use a tissue, always discard it immediately.

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Stay informed -

Be sure to follow advice from your healthcare provider and your national or local health authority about how to prevent transmission of the virus and to keep yourself and others healthy.

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Precautions on public transport - Buses, trams, and trains are notorious for high virus transmission rates, since people are in a closed environment and often in close proximity to one another.

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Precautions on public transport -

Walking and cycling carry a lesser risk, but if you do use public transport, consider wearing a mask.

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Precautions on public transport -

Always make sure to use hand sanitizer before and after the journey, and avoid touching your face with your hands.

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High risk groups -

The elderly, those with compromised immune systems, and those with underlying heart, lung, or kidney conditions, should take extra precautions such as avoiding crowded, poorly ventilated spaces and indoor gatherings.

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Visiting the immunocompromised -

If you are visiting someone with any of the aforementioned issues, try to take extra precautions in the week prior and take a home test or two the day before and day of the visit.

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If you feel unwell -

If you feel unwell with symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, or runny nose, you should stay at home and take a COVID-19 test. If you experience prolonged symptoms or difficulty breathing, contact your healthcare provider.

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If you feel unwell - In many countries, there are no longer mandatory isolation periods for the infected. However, it’s advised to stay at home until your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours. Continue to take precautions like wearing a mask on public transport or at indoor gatherings for five days if your symptoms persist.

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Stay up to date -

It is important to follow the instructions of your local health authority, since they will have the most up-to-date information about the situation in your area.

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COVID-19 vaccinations -

Getty Images

1 / 29 Fotos

Wash your hands -

According to doctors, the best way to prevent the coronavirus is to wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. The main mode of transmission is hand to mouth, eye, or nose contact.

Shutterstock

2 / 29 Fotos

Handwashing: how often? -

The list of scenarios in which you should wash your hands is longer than you’d think. It includes each time you blow your nose, each time you sneeze, and before you touch your face.

Getty Images

3 / 29 Fotos

Handwashing: how often? -

Other times to scrub include before and after cooking, before and after eating, each time you come within six feet of a sick person, and before and after caring for a sick person.

Shutterstock

4 / 29 Fotos

Handwashing: how often? -

Then there’s after touching or feeding an animal, after touching animal waste, after touching garbage, after changing a baby’s diaper, and, of course, after using the toilet.

Getty Images

5 / 29 Fotos

Handwashing: tips -

Make your hands wet with water and use a quarter-sized amount of soap to build up a lather. Note that the temperature of the water makes no difference—feel free to use hot or cold.

Getty Images

6 / 29 Fotos

Handwashing: tips -

Use the lathered soap to scrub under your nails, between your fingers, the backs of your hands, and your wrists. You should wash your hands for around 20 seconds in total.

Shutterstock

7 / 29 Fotos

Handwashing: tips -

If you find it difficult to time 20 seconds in your head, humming or even singing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song should have you scrubbing for the right length of time.

Shutterstock

8 / 29 Fotos

Handwashing: tips -

Once you’re done with the scrubbing, be sure to rinse your hands under running water until all the soap is gone.

Getty Images

9 / 29 Fotos

Handwashing: tips -

After washing your hands, use a paper towel to turn off the tap. This is very important as it will help to avoid recontamination.

Shutterstock

10 / 29 Fotos

Handwashing: tips -

Dry your hands using an air dryer or, where possible, a paper towel.

Getty Images

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Handwashing: tips -

If you’re using a public bathroom, it is also important to open the door using a paper towel. This will help further to prevent recontamination.

Getty Images

12 / 29 Fotos

Hand sanitizer -

Where it is not possible to wash your hands using water and soap, doctors have said that hand sanitizer is an acceptable alternative.

Getty Images

13 / 29 Fotos

Hand sanitizer -

The sanitizer used should be at least 60% alcohol and should be rubbed into the hands until they are completely dry.

Getty Images

14 / 29 Fotos

Hand sanitizer -

This will usually take around 20 seconds, so get that ‘Happy Birthday’ song going in your head again!

Shutterstock

15 / 29 Fotos

Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth -

Your hands can pick up viruses from the many surfaces they come into contact with. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, since you risk transferring the virus.

Getty Images

16 / 29 Fotos

Maintain social distance -

It is important to keep at least six feet (1.8 meters) between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

Getty Images

17 / 29 Fotos

Maintain social distance -

When a person coughs or sneezes, liquid droplets are released that may contain the virus. If you are too close, you risk breathing these droplets in.

Getty Images

18 / 29 Fotos

Practice respiratory hygiene -

Whenever you cough or sneeze, be sure to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your bent elbow. If you use a tissue, always discard it immediately.

Getty Images

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Stay informed -

Be sure to follow advice from your healthcare provider and your national or local health authority about how to prevent transmission of the virus and to keep yourself and others healthy.

Getty Images

20 / 29 Fotos

Precautions on public transport - Buses, trams, and trains are notorious for high virus transmission rates, since people are in a closed environment and often in close proximity to one another.

21 / 29 Fotos

Precautions on public transport -

Walking and cycling carry a lesser risk, but if you do use public transport, consider wearing a mask.

Getty Images

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Precautions on public transport -

Always make sure to use hand sanitizer before and after the journey, and avoid touching your face with your hands.

Getty Images

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High risk groups -

Shutterstock

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Visiting the immunocompromised -

If you are visiting someone with any of the aforementioned issues, try to take extra precautions in the week prior and take a home test or two the day before and day of the visit.

Shutterstock

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If you feel unwell -

Getty Images

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Stay up to date -

It is important to follow the instructions of your local health authority, since they will have the most up-to-date information about the situation in your area.

Getty Images

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COVID-19 is here to stay: variant XEC emerges globally

Hospitalizations have risen dramatically in the world

28/10/24 | StarsInsider

HEALTH Advice

It's been over a year since the World Health Organization downgraded COVID-19's pandemic status, but since the summer of 2024 has seen a sharp increase in the number of cases. We all know someone who came back from their vacation and tested positive, or have come down with the virus ourselves. In September, a new COVID variant was identified worldwide, raising concerns that it could soon become the dominant strain of the virus. The XEC variant has been found in at least 15 countries and 12 US states.

COVID-19 seemed to be in the rearview mirror, so why this sudden summer outbreak? Experts suggest several factors, including the emergence of XEC, which is believed to spread more easily and, according to CNN medical expert Dr. Leana Wen, an increase in travel and gatherings held indoors to escape the heat during peak temperatures. She recommends taking extra precautions when traveling or visiting those who are immunocompromised, and staying up to date on vaccines.

Check out this gallery for some important tips to stay safe and slow down the spread.