COVID Updates: GPs in Hunter-New England area worried about how they will cope with rising number of cases

How to reduce the risk of spread around Christmas

With the busy Christmas season approaching and people catching up with family and friends, there are ways to make the day safer for everyone.

Catherine Bennett, president of epidemiology at Deakin University, was just on ABC News Channel and spoke about some tips for families.

Professor Bennett says a key piece of advice is to avoid visiting other people or hosting if you’re not feeling well.

Eat in a ventilated area if possible

“On top of all the other stuff, great ventilation, hold the event outdoors if you can,” Prof. Bennet says.

Watch what you’re doing upstream

“The less people do before a gathering, the less likely they are to have a last minute exposure that could actually make them infectious. With Omicron, your rate of exposure thus becoming an infection and developing an infection yourself is very short. But in fact, by trying to prioritize a family reunion and doing less up front, it will be safer to get to that event for everyone, whether you are vaccinated or not, ”she says.

Rapid antigen test

“If you have someone really vulnerable in the house, whether or not you are vaccinated, you might want to check first if you have people in your house, do a rapid antigen test. is not a full guarantee, but testing negative the day or night before is another safety measure you can put in place just to make sure there are no obvious signs that a person is having a very contagious with no symptoms, or mild symptoms that it may have, ”she said.