Autumn 2020 seems like it was here just the other day. Masks were mainstream and the scariest part of Halloween was potential COVID-19 infection. For that reason, that the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) advised against door-to-door trick-or-treating. With climbing vaccination rates and reduced COVID-19 cases, could trick-or-treating be safe this year?

Various health experts don’t advise gathering in large crowds this year, but they do expect kids to enjoy some semblance of normalcy this Halloween. In fact, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that children can enjoy a safe, fun Halloween this year. That means one thing and one thing only: ready your buckets because trick-or-treating is on!

Given that trick-or-treating is an outdoor activity and many children over the age of 12 are getting vaccinated, Fauci considers it a safe activity. Children under the age of 12 already spend time together on the playground and in the classroom at school. Trick-or-treating doesn’t pose an additional risk to them, according to hygienists and clinical professors. There is one variable, however, and it’s the door-to-door interaction with strangers. Nobody can know how safe other people are, but experts want to assure people that being outside significantly reduces the rate of infection. Plus, there are several steps you can take to stay safe while collecting candy. 

Avoid Indoor Trick-Or-Treating

In colder areas of the country, it’s common for parents to take children to trick-or-treat in malls, or indoors at an apartment building. The reality is that these places do not have great ventilation, which puts younger children, or the unvaccinated people, at risk. To limit your risk of COVID-19, it’s best to focus your efforts on outdoor candy collection. If the only option is to trick-or-treat indoors, it’s best to wear a mask. 

Keep The Mask On

The great thing about Halloween costumes is that many come with masks! The only downside is that costume masks do not replace masks with three to five layers of fabric. Costume masks are not designed to limit the spread of viral particles. Parents can, however, get creative and make a face mask a part of a child’s costume. Surgeon costumes, anyone? It’s also possible for children to wear masks under their costume masks, but parents should make sure children can breathe comfortably. 

Inspect Treat Before Indulging

It’s hard to resist a bag or bucket full of candy when you are a child. Some adults have that same problem! Try to feed your child(ren) a large meal before you venture out to trick-or-treat in order to reduce the urge to savagely consume candy. Upon arriving home from a successful night, discard any candies that have torn packaging, or ones that don’t have a seal. As a general safety measure unrelated to COVID-19, inspect labels if your child suffers from food allergies. 

Keep Hands Clean

Between railings, fences, candy, and the other things kids may come in contact with on Halloween, it’s important to keep hands clean. Since you’ll be out with children away from soap and water, keep hand sanitizer at the ready. It’s not necessary to sanitize after every house you visit, but every once in a while is beneficial. The risk of contracting COVID-19 via candy wrappers is very low, but keeping hands clean decreases the risk even further. Additionally, experts advise that children wash their hands before they eat some of the candy they picked. This reduces the risk of ingesting any germs they picked up while trick-or-treating. You don’t have to quarantine the candy, by the way.

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Many people in certain parts of the United States remain vulnerable to the fast-spreading delta variant of the coronavirus. New data from the last week of July 2021 documented a 10% increase in COVID-19 cases in 48 states. There has even been an uptick in cases where vaccine rates are higher, and in areas where previous outbreaks occurred early on in the pandemic. 

As of now, health experts and data analysis supports the fact that the southern United States are most susceptible to COVID-19 surges. Even though minimally vaccinated areas like northern Arkansas or southern Missouri face outbreaks, so do areas with 70-80% vaccination rates. Researchers agree that no area in the United States has achieved herd immunity. Because the delta variant is more contagious, it’s making that task more difficult. 

An analysis conducted by researchers at Georgetown University detected 30 clusters of counties with low vaccination rates. These areas also have significant populations, but five clusters stood out more than the rest. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, two of those areas were in Arkansas and Missouri. Three others included Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Alabama. The data suggests that these areas are more vulnerable than they were in December 2020, given the high-transmission rate of the delta variant. 

What Does The Data Say?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one-third of Americans have yet to receive a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Now, the reason that vaccinated areas are also susceptible is because the vaccines are not 100% effective. There are always occasional breakthroughs with any vaccine, even with high vaccination rates. When only 50% of the population is fully vaccinated, which is the case for the United States, it’s much easier for breakthrough cases to happen. That’s why hospitals are seeing an increase of COVID-19 infections in vaccinated people. Some researchers even go so far as to say that the unvaccinated are putting vaccinated people at risk. 

Can Unvaccinated People Lower Their Risk?

Yes, this is completely possible. Failure to follow basic protocol in regards to COVID-19 safety measures, though, will increase the risk of infection. Places like movie theaters, concerts, sporting events, bars, and restaurants are easy places to catch COVID-19. Being in close quarters with other unvaccinated people is quite dangerous. Additionally, if the delta variant is spreading in an unvaccinated area, it’s much easier for more contagious variants to develop. If you want to protect yourself, avoid the following places if you’re unvaccinated.

Movie Theaters, Concert Halls, And Churches

People missed all of these venues during lockdown because they provide either entertainment or encouragement via worship. Unfortunately, congregating indoors with a large amount of people, especially if they are unvaccinated, can be a breeding ground for COVID-19. You can attend these areas, but take proper safety precautions beforehand. For example, wear a mask indoors and get a test within 48-72 hours before the event. Safer alternatives include drive-in movie theaters, outdoor concerts, or outdoor church ceremonies. Virtual concerts and church congregations are the safest options.

Bars And Restaurants

You may have to wear a mask to enter an establishment, but the mask comes off as soon as you sit down at a table. Restaurants, however, are doing their very best to keep people socially distanced and offer outdoor dining options. Bars, on the other hand, tend to be overcrowded and don’t have great ventilation. When you are with people you don’t know, which is the case for most bars and restaurants, you are much more vulnerable to COVID-19 exposure. The whole point of being at a bar or restaurant is to eat, drink, and socialize without masks, so masks can’t be on. To be safer the CDC suggests grabbing an outdoor meal, having food delivered, or hosting a drink night within your bubble of friends. 

It seems like it’s best to go back to masks during this time of the delta. Take your precautions and do your part to slow the rise in COVID-19 infections. If we all work together, we can move forward in a positive direction. 

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Summertime is nearly here and mask mandates are slowly being lifted for millions of people across the United States. This is a brand new era in the coronavirus pandemic that seemed so unattainable one year ago. At the same time, the public, scientists, and health experts have mixed emotions about lifting mask mandates. What will happen for unvaccinated people? Will they still have to wear masks while their vaccinated counterparts get to enjoy more freedoms?

The hesitancy to lift mask mandates exists because many people resisted the COVID-19 vaccine. Some people think microscopic robots will infest their system, while others think that the government is spying on DNA. Vaccination beliefs aside, the reality is that there are risks for unvaccinated people now that mask mandates are gone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that fully vaccinated people can resume normal activities without masks in most situations. Unvaccinated people should continue to wear masks indoors and where social distancing is not possible. 

The likelihood of unvaccinated people wearing masks when mask mandates disappear is very low. A survey polled millions of Americans to discover how they felt about socializing in unmasked indoor situations. About 63% of people who do not plan to get the vaccine felt mostly safe with socializing without a mask. Compare that to 36% of people who received one dose of the vaccine. They are more reluctant to socialize without a mask. While this was only one survey, it’s likely that people who don’t plan on getting vaccinated have no fear about entering a new, unmasked society. 

What Happens To Unvaccinated People When Mask Mandates Are Gone?

The reason that the CDC and health experts encouraged and incentivized people to get the vaccine was to protect against future, more dangerous COVID-19 variants. Unmasking and returning to a sense of normalcy only increases the risk of exposure for unvaccinated individuals. The CDC recommends that unvaccinated Americans safely participate in gatherings. Ideally, people should congregate in outdoor settings where social distancing is possible. Unvaccinated people who mix with other unvaccinated people should wear masks, otherwise they increase their risk of COVID-19 infection.

Unvaccinated people may be perfectly comfortable without masking up, as there has been an overlap between mask and vaccine skepticism. It’s also possible that unvaccinated individuals happily abide by masking requests when necessary. The CDC’s masking guidance for vaccinated individuals didn’t do any favors, however. A large percentage (34%) of unvaccinated people decided to stop wearing masks, even though the masking guidance didn’t apply to them. Fortunately, no massive increase in COVID-19 cases came as a result. 

Workplace Environment For Unvaccinated People

According to many health advisors, people shouldn’t throw away masks just yet. Workers are chomping at the bit to abide by the new no-mask guidelines. However, it remains unclear what the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will apply to workplace environments in regards to wearing masks. Until OSHA issues new guidelines, it should be clear that the same masking guidelines are in place for most workers.

The current thought is that the COVID-19 pandemic won’t be over in the United States until it reaches herd immunity. 70-90% of the population would need to be vaccinated to reach that goal. At this point in time, nearly 50% of American adults are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Even with that vaccination percentage, there are still new infections, hospitalizations, and deaths from COVID-19. Health experts advise that these hospitalizations and deaths are largely among those who are not vaccinated. Even though the numbers are much lower than before, unvaccinated adults continue to experience new infections and deaths every day. 

We aren’t back to normal just yet, but things are moving in a positive direction. Continue to monitor the infection rate in your area and wear masks when necessary, especially if you are unvaccinated. Summer is nearly here, so it’s a great time for outdoor gatherings if you are at all worried about the presence of COVID-19.

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Society is reopening and we are starting to experience some semblance of the “normal” life we used to know. It seems crazy to think about the fact that nobody would think twice about standing shoulder to shoulder with strangers at a concert over a year ago. There was nothing abnormal about dining indoors at a crowded restaurant with a two-hour waitlist. 

Millions of people receive the COVID-19 vaccine every single day. A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) detailed guidelines for what vaccinated people can do, both indoors and outdoors. Even though this is exciting news, some people are not as keen as others to rush back into social, unmasked lives. Clinical psychologists say that getting together with friends or family again may cause severe stress and anxiety. Is this normal? As it turns out, it is very common.

The Traumatizing Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic was something that nobody ever thought they would live through. For many people, isolation proved to be impossible, resulting in serious cases of depression, anxiety, and stress. Whether people want to admit it or not, the pandemic was traumatizing. Depending on what your role or job was during the pandemic, you may have experienced different trauma than others. Front line workers saw the worst of the pandemic and experienced different trauma than people who never left the house. 

Some people didn’t follow health guidelines and ignored the reality of COVID-19, while others took it very seriously. Lots of people died and people felt incredible fear if they experienced a sniffle, cough, or slightest bit of fatigue. How do you go from grocery deliveries and Zoom happy hours to socializing in person without fear? According to an Italian study, this will be a very difficult transition for some people, primarily because of the anxiety about contracting the virus in social settings.

It’s Possible To Fear Public Places

Collective social anxiety is a real thing. Rates of agoraphobia, social anxiety, depression, and school refusal will likely increase as people head back into world. Going from a year of isolation, avoiding contact for so long, to “normal” will not be an easy for everyone. With the increased cases of these conditions, however, we can only hope that there will be a newfound understanding and respect for general anxiety. Some people have dealt with these conditions for many years, but they may be more respected post-pandemic. 

Mental health experts describe social anxiety disorder as a persistent overwhelming anxiety about social situations. Anxiety can arise whether you eat out with friends or have to give a presentation at work. The stress hormone, cortisol, is a common trigger for this condition. Researchers say that COVID-19 is an unlikely cause of social anxiety for most people. In reality, many people already struggled with social anxiety pre-pandemic, and it’ll be difficult for them to reenter society post-pandemic. In fact, the last year has almost been a buffer, a relaxing period, for people with social anxiety. 

What does all this mean in relation to post-pandemic life? People may have legitimate reasons for turning down invitations as the world re-opens. People will have to face their fears, but one way to ease their entry back into society is by not shaming them for declining invitations to public places. 

How Do You Face Society Again?

The world is calling you back into the light, so to speak. How do you answer the call and show up? It’s best to start slow by wading in the shallows before plunging into the deep end. If you know that you will start socializing with larger groups of people in a month, start by meeting one person or two people at a time. If you have to head back to the office and stop working from home, consider working on a project with a coworker. Follow COVID-19 safety protocols and meet in uncrowded places. Perhaps you can feel more at ease if you and everyone you rendezvous with are vaccinated. 

As you reenter society, mental health experts say that it’s paramount to maintain healthy boundaries to the best of your ability. Everyone has a different level of comfort and will approach the newly opened world differently. Know what your boundaries are and be clear about them to friends and family. You don’t have to end a friendship just because you don’t want to party at a club or go to a stadium filled with people. People will understand!

If you find that you still experience social anxiety or agoraphobic issues for more than a month, consider seeking help. There’s no reason to feel shameful about asking for help. Don’t let your mental health deteriorate because you are worried what others might think. Mental health is serious and early intervention is the best way to counteract anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder. The sooner you seek help, the better. Let’s brave the newly opened world safely and smartly!

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There are new guidelines when it comes to mask wearing for fully vaccinated Americans. The new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is in place, so long as people wait at least two weeks after their last shot. Fully vaccinated Americans no longer have to wear masks outdoors when alone, or with immediate family members or friends. 

If you received your last shot and have waited two weeks, there’s even more good news. Fully vaccinated Americans do not have to wear masks indoors, as long as they are with other fully vaccinated people. People can also engage with unvaccinated people from another household, but they should avoid any people who have an increased risk of COVID-19. 

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said, “Today is another day we can take a step back to the normalcy of before. If you are fully vaccinated, things are much safer for you than those who are not yet fully vaccinated.” 

Who Is Fully Vaccinated?

According to the CDC, people are considered fully vaccinated:

• 2 weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series. This applies to the Modern and Pfizer vaccines. 
• 2 weeks after receiving a single-dose vaccine, which only applies to Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.

Is The CDC Trying To Encourage Vaccinations?

Some people interpret the new relaxed guidelines as a ploy to get more people to receive the COVID-19 vaccines. It seems that fully vaccinated people experience more freedoms than their unvaccinated counterparts. For example, fully vaccinated people have fewer mask restrictions, but they also have an easier time with travel, especially if places require a negative PCR test prior to departure. Please continue to check with the state or country’s rules about travel prior to booking flights or stays, though.

Should You Still Wear A Mask?

Mask wearing will be in place for quite some time, people. It isn’t dying off just yet. Even if you are fully vaccinated, the CDC recommends wearing masks in indoor public settings. President Joe Biden emphasized that sentiment, encouraging mask wearing for all in crowded places. Most stores and indoor establishments require this anyways, unless you are eating or drinking. Outdoor stadiums or venues also require masks, although some outdoor sports events may soon offer mask-less sections for fully vaccinated people. 

What Does These New Guidelines Mean?

The announcement of the new guidelines represents a shift in public health messaging. During the pandemic, public health guidelines were very imposing, rigid, and abnormal for people. Some people protested these guidelines, while others complied. According to weekly averages for COVID-19 cases, the United States is doing very well. It’s clear that the vaccines are effective and more things can open up as a result. Both the CDC and President Joe Biden have said that it’s easier and safer to do things, both indoors and outdoors, if you are fully vaccinated. 

As of April 27th, 2021, the CDC released information that 30% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated. At least 42% of the population has received at least one dose of the vaccine.

If you do gather with people, all health experts encourage outdoor gatherings. The CDC has long said that the risk of infection is minimal outside, now more so than ever if you are vaccinated. If you gather inside, make sure that the space is ventilated so that everyone receives optimum air flow. Remember that vaccinated people can still contract the virus and be carriers, so please take preventative measures when necessary. Mask up and stay safe. 

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The United States is well on its way to achieving herd immunity from COVID-19. This occurs when 75-80% of the population receives the vaccine. As of March 29th, 2021, more than 28% of the U.S. population received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. While mask wearing and social distancing are far from over, the country seems to be heading in a safer direction. 

Now, if you received your first or second shot, or are about to get the vaccine, you may have some questions about the vaccination process. What is safe and what isn’t safe to do after you get your shot? As many health experts warn, it’s safe to expect some pain at the injection site for a day or so. It’s possible to experience other side effects, which may or may not occur depending on what you do post-vaccination. 

A lot of people are ecstatic about the vaccine. The return to some semblance of what we used to know as normal is exciting. People want to reunite with family members and socialize with friends again. They want to travel and emerge from quarantine cocoons! Well, hold your horses, kids. Don’t go licking door knobs and frolicking with whomever you please once you receive the vaccination. Additionally, there are certain self-care tips to consider in the days and weeks following your shot(s).

Don’t Get Drunk

Sure, it’s tempting to pop a bottle of champagne or celebrate with some drinks, but don’t. Drinking alcohol, especially hard liquor, is one of the worst things you can do to the body after receiving the vaccine. Drinking post-vaccination may be the worst mistake you make. It doesn’t affect the efficacy of the vaccine, but it can increase the risk of side effects, or worsen the side effects you experience. The side effects of alcohol can compound the side effects of the vaccine, some health experts warn. This can cause extended misery in the form of nausea, body aches, or other flu-like symptoms. Experts advise that if people decide to drink alcohol, they should only consume a small amount about three days after the shot. Some health experts suggest waiting longer. 

Don’t Take Over-The-Counter Meds

There’s advice circulating the web that suggests people to self-medicate with over-the-counter medications right before or right after the shot. Many of these medications include ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen. People want to prevent the side effects or reduce them, but these medications can actually reduce the efficacy of the vaccine. They may even interfere with how the vaccine interacts with the body. Health experts say that you should not take these medications preemptively. Should you start experiencing headaches, body aches, or other side effects, then you can take the suggested dose to help the body. 

Don’t Schedule Other Vaccines

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend to receive different vaccines around the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine. For example, don’t book a flu shot a few days after or before your COVID-19 shot. There isn’t enough research to determine the potential interactions with multiple vaccines. The CDC suggests that if you want to get another vaccine like the flu shot, leave at least two to three weeks between vaccine appointments. You also should not book a flu vaccine between your two coronavirus vaccine shots. 

Don’t Get A Tattoo

We know it’s tempting to have more needles jabbed in your body after that initial injection, but don’t do it. The skin is the body’s protective barrier against pathogens or foreign objects. It can trigger immune responses as a result of these encounters. If you get a piercing or tattoo, the skin can trigger these immune responses, which may turn out poorly if you just received the COVID-19 vaccine. There’s no guarantee that this will happen, but experts don’t know enough about it. It’s possible that a tattoo or piercing could trigger an adverse immune response. 

Don’t Mix Vaccines

This is not the same point we made earlier. If you decide to get a COVID-19 vaccine, the CDC strongly encourages people to pay attention to the vaccine they receive. The current vaccines are Pfizer and Moderna, which involve two doses, and the Johnson & Johnson, which only requires a single shot. If you opt for either the Pfizer or the Moderna vaccine, it’s imperative to receive the same vaccine for the first and second dose. Don’t get a Pfizer shot and a Moderna shot a month later. Stick to the same vaccine to ensure optimum efficacy. 

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Depending on which state you live in, you are either approaching or passing the one year anniversary of COVID-19 lockdowns. We all remember the empty shelves of canned goods, toilet paper, disinfectant sprays, and paper towels. There were long lines outside grocery stores and people scrambled to get as much bleach as possible. Times were tough, businesses went under, and the virus unfortunately claimed the lives of millions worldwide. The good news is that we have made a tremendous amount of progress and the future looks brighter and promising.

It’s safe to say that people never experienced anything like this pandemic ever before. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended limited gatherings, social distancing, frequent hand washing, and mask wearing. For many Americans, March 2020 was a time of relearning, acclimating to the new times. “Uncertain times” and “social distancing” became part of the lexicon, and people worried like crazy. Would we ever emerge from COVID-19? Could we ever return to some sense of normalcy?

More Than One Year Later

It’s not over, but the ride will hopefully be a little less bumpy from now on. Numbers continue to drop and vaccines roll out daily. Additionally, health experts know so much more about the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, than they did back in March 2020. Infectious disease specialists always knew that something like COVID-19 could happen, but it’s different when it happens on a global scale. It’s even worse when nobody is ready for it. 

We Learned About Its Origins

The theory that is still most plausible is that the SARS-CoV-2 virus originated in bats and was passed to humans. The World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a month-long investigation and this is the conclusion they arrived at. There are other narratives and conspiracy theories in existence, but this theory is the most valid. Virologists also think people should know that seven different human coronaviruses are also exist. Four mild strains circulate among humans and are likely responsible for 30% of common colds. SARS-CoV-2 is more like a combination of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome). SARS-CoV-2 is less lethal than SARS and MERS is more global, according to scientists. 

We Learned That Asymptomatic People Can Spread It

It’s not uncommon for someone to experience a flu or common cold with less severe symptoms. At the first sign of these symptoms, it’s always been best to isolate until they diminish. This is not the case for COVID-19. A high percentage of infected people experienced no symptoms, but they could still transmit the virus to others. Infectious disease specialists found it common for younger, healthier people to contract it, walk by a more at-risk person, and pass it to them. That person could then become very sick. According to a study published on January 7th, 2021, roughly 59% of transmission occurs from asymptomatic carriers. That’s why health experts agree that temperature checks are not enough for detection.

We Learned That It Affects Children Differently

Children and adults experience COVID-19 differently. It’s common for children between ages 5 and 17 to have much lower infection rates. The current estimate is that children in that age bracket make up 10% of all confirmed cases, while children between 2 to 4 accounted for only 2% of confirmed cases. Virologists suspect that this has to do with angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a protein found in human cells. Children have less ACE2 than adults, which is a physiological difference. Since SARS-CoV-2 binds to ACE2 to enter cells, this explains the lower infection rate in children. This remains a hypothesis and there is still no definitive answer. 

We Learned Misinformation Slowed The Fight

People will believe what they want to believe, be it legitimate or fake news. Unfortunately, there was a lot of misinformation surrounding COVID-19, in part because of the myriad unknown factors. Remember the joking bleach injections? Disinfectant consumption spiked the next day. Some people decided to drink turpentine and others thought masks didn’t help slow the spread. Unfortunately, medical misinformation is nothing new, but the media only made matters worse and more mainstream. 

We Know It Is Not Going Away

The goal behind mass vaccinations is to achieve herd immunity. In order to reach that goal in the United States, 75-80% of Americans have to receive the vaccine. That doesn’t mean that COVID-19 goes away; rather, it simply becomes more manageable and doesn’t spread rapidly. The more people who get vaccinated worldwide, the more COVID-19 becomes a minor illness. Let’s not forget that it has already mutated, so new vaccines will most likely come in the future. The hope is that it will be more like the seasonal flu, as opposed to an illness that cripples the world. 

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The pandemic forced many people to isolate from their families, primarily to keep parents or grandparents safe. If they have been following the rules, older adults have had a difficult time being separated from families for about a year. This is why there is so much excitement about the COVID-19 vaccines. But does getting the vaccine mean that life immediately goes back to normal? Experts advise against this way of thinking. 

Health care workers, the elderly, and people with pre-existing conditions are currently being vaccinated. That doesn’t mean that everyone is vaccinated, though, and experts say that precautions are still necessary for this reason. Vaccinated people have the mindset that they can hang out without masks or social distancing. According to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, it is only 95% effective at preventing infection, while Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is 94.1% effective. This means that the risk of contracting the virus is very low, but it’s still possible, especially if you hang around non-vaccinated people. 

What’s The Best Way To Think About The Vaccine? 

People seem to have two ways that they currently look at the vaccine: life before the vaccine, and life after the vaccine. Well, there’s also the large group of people who seemingly don’t care about the virus or vaccine and just do whatever they want. There is no immediate transition or switch that flips everything back to what we once knew. Epidemiologists and infectious disease specialists advise people to think about the vaccines as a gradual progression. 

You can’t just go visit grandma once she gets the vaccine, especially if you didn’t receive it yet. Additionally, you can’t just hang out in a cabin with nine friends after you all get the vaccine and think that everything is dandy. It’s very possible to contract the virus between the first and second dose of the vaccine. After the second shot, it takes ab out two weeks for the body to build up its protection. Even then, it’s still possible to contract the virus. That’s why experts suggest that people continue to wear masks and practice social distancing. You can read more about that by clicking here. 

The Three Stages Of 2021

It can be beneficial to separate 2021 into three different stages. This isn’t how the world will end up; rather, it’s more about how to gradually integrate yourself back into the world. During stage one, you can engage safely with your close friends or family members, so long as all of you are vaccinated. What you can do during stage two will depend on your city’s policies and COVID-19 numbers. The state, county, or city has to feel that herd immunity is achieved, meaning that enough people are safe or protected from infection in your area. Stage three is all about international herd immunity. Just so people are aware, it’s unlikely that international herd immunity is achievable during 2021. 

Health experts can theorize and give their thoughts of how things will go, but everything comes down to how effective the vaccines are at preventing symptomatic disease. Will they protect against infection and transmission as well? These are the unknown answers that we will only understand farther down the line. 

Can You Hang Out Immediately After Being Vaccinated?

Let’s give the example that five relatively healthy friends receive both shots of the vaccine. Is it possible to rent out a house in the desert and do everything together without masks? Some argue that this is completely fine, while others say that there is potential worry. Vaccines do not take effect immediately. It’s imperative to wait at least two weeks before you decide to gather with anyone. Virologists don’t know how the vaccine will work in each person, and that’s what worries them. There is no 100% guarantee that every person will develop a protective response. Neither of the primary vaccines assure 100% protection, so there is still a chance that vaccinated friends can develop symptoms around each other. This all depends on who else they hang out with. 

The weekend getaway or trip to gather all of your family in one area is not entirely safe. Epidemiologists agree that we will not be in a zero risk situation for quite some time. The best thing that we can do is slow down to a minimal risk situation. That’s what we are trying to do right now. Until then, practice the same protective measures even after you receive the vaccine. Wear masks indoors, strive for small outdoor, socially distanced gatherings, and keep gatherings limited to a bubble of vaccinated people. 

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For many people around the world, the COVID-19 vaccine is a very promising light illuminating the end of the dark tunnel that was 2020. With the recent authorization of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, health organizations have started to administer them to the first phase of people. After getting both doses of the vaccine, the mask wearing doesn’t stop. Health experts advise that social distancing and mask wearing are still integral for everyone’s safety.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mask guidelines and social distancing rules will remain in place. Getting vaccinated does not make you immune to the virus, especially when the majority of people around the world have yet to be vaccinated. When most people receive the vaccine worldwide, only then will health officials issue new guidelines. The reason for this is because experts don’t understand how the vaccine will look in the long run. 

Full Protection Right Away Is Not Guaranteed

It’s easy to get the vaccine and immediately think, “I’m finally safe and everything can go back to the way it was.” According to infectious disease specialists, this is an inaccurate way of thinking about the vaccine, especially between the first and second doses. Depending on which vaccine you receive, the waiting period between doses is 21-28 days. During the period between the first and second shot, it’s still possible to contract COVID-19. Health experts estimate that the vaccine is only 52% effective after the first shot. This is because it can take up to 10-14 days to start developing antibodies. After the second shot, however, that percentage increases to 95%. 

Once you receive the second shot, the body requires time to enhance its armor that it needs to fight the virus. This can take up to two weeks after receiving the second shot. You should be extra cautious after receiving the second dose for your own safety, and the safety of those around you. 

It’s Possible To Spread COVID-19, Even After Getting The Vaccine

There are so many unknown factors surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine, and this is one of them. There is not currently enough evidence to know whether or not people can carry coronavirus pathogens and pass them on to others, without being infected themselves. If a vaccinated person comes in contact with the virus, the vaccine will aid the body in fighting the virus. The data is lacking on whether or not the person can then transmit the vaccine to other, non-vaccinated people. More research is necessary to determine if vaccinated people could be potential asymptomatic carriers. Health experts hope that this data becomes available once they learn more about the effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

This is why wearing a mask is still of the utmost importance. Most Americans will not get the opportunity to receive the vaccine until May 2021. Priority groups like the elderly, healthcare workers, first responders, and people with existing conditions will receive vaccine access first. If you are around a vaccinated person, you should wear a mask for the reasons listed in the above paragraph. You don’t want to catch the virus unknowingly and experience an adverse effects. Additionally, a vaccinated person should wear a mask to protect those who haven’t received the vaccine. 

At the end of the day, there are many unknown factors about how these vaccines will play out in the long run. For the time being, continue to practice social distancing and wear masks when out in public spaces. Be safe, be well, and stay as healthy as possible. 

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Yes, Zoom fatigue is a real thing that resulted from the chaotic year that was 2020. Safer at home orders drove most people into isolation, working from home or remaining isolated to stay healthy. Many people relied on Zoom for work meetings or happy hour socials to stay connected with others. 

Zoom is still a regular way of communication because COVID-19 cases in the United States continue to spike. Glitches, poor video quality, delayed sound, and general online interactions have caused what people refer to as Zoom fatigue. People who work from home are in and out of Zoom meetings throughout the day. Then they have to use the same technology they despise to hang out with friends and family. 

According to Neda Gould, PhD, clinical psychologist and director of the Mindfulness Program at Johns Hopkins Medicine, Zoom video calls lead to uncomfortable feedback. First off, you have to look at yourself on screen, and the slightest flaws can make people with anxiety feel insecure. Secondly, humans thrive off social cues and personal interactions, and both of those are lost over Zoom. It’s also hard to read emotions and nonverbal cues, which help people interact successfully, over a Zoom call.

Do Other Factors Contribute To Zoom Fatigue?

The simple answer is: yes. From a cognitive standpoint, Zoom conversations are unlike real conversations in that people can virtually multitask. For example, a person can check Facebook, buy something on Amazon, type a Word document, all the while conversing with someone over Zoom. Whether you know it or not, you become mentally drained because the mind doesn’t experience the social tradeoff cues it is accustomed to. With all this mental distraction and lack of attention to the conversation, you get Zoom fatigue. Plus, it’s difficult for the brain to activate dopaminergic pathways, which come from the reward assessment from in person conversation. Without those pathways, you are not fully alert, you have low energy, and there’s minimal motivation to engage. 

Although this all sounds like terrible news, there is a way to climb out of Zoom fatigue. Psychologists researched numerous methods to help make Zoom calls more engaging. Plus, you’ll be able to become more social without getting tired of virtual interaction.

Get Active Over Zoom

This tip is not about actively engaging in conversation, although you should do that; rather, sign up for virtual exercise classes. Get a group of friends to sign up with you so that you can Zumba, yoga, lift weights, or get swole over Zoom. Many local gyms or trainer friends instruct Zoom fitness classes to make money. They are often reasonably priced, fun, and supportive!

Switch To Phone Calls

Although it is nice to see familiar faces, you don’t need Zoom to interact with people. In the virtual age, a phone call seems like a primitive way of communication, but it’s still very effective. If you are Zoomed-out after a long day of work meetings, switch up your location and talk one-on-one with someone over the phone. Try going on a walk during your phone call so you can get some fresh air and exercise. 

Cook The Same Recipe

Food brings people together, and a meal is a historically social event. Since you can’t host a dinner party, stay connected with food via Zoom. Between a group of friends, agree on one dish that everyone should make. You can start the Zoom call when your dishes are ready to reveal, or you can leave the camera on while preparing the meal. Each person may come up with a different way to make the same dish. 

Start A Virtual Book Club

While a book club sounds like something out of ancient history, it’s very popular and making a comeback. Ask a friend, or a group of friends, if they are interested in starting a book club. You can all agree on a book by voting, or you can have each person pick a book that everyone will eventually read. It’s a great way to stay connected because the Zoom call requires active engagement. The act of reading the book before the conversation gets you excited, and it makes you accountable for finishing something. 

Stop Multitasking

When you’re on the Zoom call, be on the Zoom call. It’s so easy to lose focus, minimize the Zoom window, and open games or other applications. Put your phone away for the Zoom call and be present to engage in conversation. If the Zoom call happens after a long day of virtual meetings, put a cap on your family/friend call. Keeping a call short can help you avoid multitasking and fatigue. 

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