There has been an unusually high number of Covid-19 infections and hospital visits in the past months. Even though the vaccination is very effective, it can’t stop all of the infections. Infectious disease specialists are now advising people to wear masks inside as a precaution.
There are many people who are committed to protecting themselves from unnecessary risk and who are vaccinated because they value safety and responsibility. These people cannot help but wonder: even when vaccinated, can you still do the same activities as before? Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen answered this question.
“We are entering a phase in the pandemic where nearly all activities will have some level of risk. People need to decide for themselves what risk they are comfortable with by considering their household’s medical circumstances and the value of the activity to them. If everyone in your household is fully vaccinated and generally healthy, you might be willing to take on more risk.”
Dr. Wen believes that vaccinated people are not a threat to public health, but it is essential to be aware of risk levels. For instance, there is a higher COVID-19 infection risk in a restaurant with an indoor environment than there would be in an outdoor setting. The size of your party also affects COVID-19 risk.
If you go to a gym or outdoor gym class and exercise by yourself, then your risk of contracting the virus is low. However, if you attend an aerobic class, for instance, exercising with a larger group in a closed space increases the risks. Dr. Wen also believes that the risks are relatively low in the case of air travel. However, as with anything in life, there’s always a chance that you could catch the virus before landing. That’s why it’s important to wear a mask and get your temperature checked before taking off.
