How to prepare for another winter with covid-19? An expert gives us some recommendations

Melissa Velasquez Loaiza

(CNN) – Winter is here. After weeks of steady decline, winter covid-19 cases appear to be on the rise again.

Is a sudden increase in covid-19 cases in winter inevitable? How should families think about the coming winter? What can you do to prepare for and get through this period safely?

I discussed all of these questions with our expert, Dr. Leana Wen, a CNN medical analyst who is an emergency physician and professor of health policy and administration at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. She is also the author of a new book, “Lifelines: A Doctor’s Journey in the Fight for Public Health,” and a mother of two young children.

CNN: Do we need to resign ourselves to another wave of covid-19 in winter?

Dr. Leana Wen: No. If there is one thing we have learned from the pandemic, it is that the future is not predetermined. There is much that depends on us.

Yes, we are facing a very contagious virus, the delta variant of the coronavirus. Yes, sadly we are seeing a rebound again in cases. And yes, I am concerned about what will happen this winter with covid-19, because we saw since last year that when the weather is colder, people are at home, where the risk of transmission is greater. The upcoming holidays also worry me, due to the increase in indoor gatherings.

However, unlike last year, we have vaccines that add an important layer of protection. We also have other tools, such as tests, that can help.

I don’t think we should resign ourselves to an increase in covid-19 cases in the winter. We can prevent it by working together.

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CNN: What is your advice for families to try to stay as healthy as possible this winter?

Wen: Anyone eligible to get vaccinated should do so. That includes children ages 5 to 11, who are newly eligible.

Those who are eligible to receive their booster shots must also receive them. There is growing evidence that immunity decreases over time and receiving a booster will help protect against breakthrough infections, and will likely reduce the likelihood of passing COVID-19 to other people as well.

Let’s also talk about the health aspects other than the coronavirus. To start, make sure you get a flu shot. It can be given at the same time as a coronavirus vaccine or a booster. The flu vaccine reduces the chance of getting this virus and the severity of the illness if you still end up getting the flu. This is particularly important because last year was a mild flu season, which means that many people do not have immunity to influenza. We want to prevent the possibility of a “demic-twin” of flu and covid-19.

For children, make sure they are up to date on other vaccinations as well. And for both kids and adults, pay attention to other health maintenance issues. Many medical appointments have been delayed due to covid-19. Now is the time to get a mammogram and cervical and colon cancer screenings, get a blood pressure and diabetes checkup, visit the dentist, and generally stay on top of your other medical problems.

It is also vital to mention mental health, which is just as important as physical health. The pandemic has been a great challenge for many people. Mental health was already an unmet need before covid-19. Now is the time to work on mental health wellness and seek help if you need it, just as you would with physical health problems.

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CNN: Are there any supplies that you would recommend for people to stock up, from a covid-19 standpoint?

Wen: Every household should have a standard set of supplies when it comes to caring for sick family members. That includes a thermometer, fever-reducing agents (acetaminophen and ibuprofen), and rehydration solutions (such as Pedialyte).

High quality masks (N95, KN95, KF94) are now widely available. Make sure you have at least five masks for each member of the household. They should be used when you are in crowded indoor areas.

I also highly recommend stocking up on quick tests. Your family should have at least one, ideally two, rapid tests for each household member. These are tests that are available for purchase without a prescription at your local pharmacy. Results come back in 15 minutes. That is different from the gold standard test, the PCR test. In many places, you must get a doctor’s note to get a CRP test, or you may need to go to an urgent care center for care. That adds expenses; in addition, the results may take 24 hours or more to return.

Because PCR tests are not that readily available, rapid tests can be helpful if someone starts to have symptoms, especially if it takes time to get a PCR test and then get the results. Rapid tests are also very useful for screening purposes, for example before meeting friends and family indoors.

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CNN: What do you say to those who are really tired of covid-19, especially in winter, and want to return to normality prior to the pandemic?

Wen: I would say that I listen to them! I’m also tired of covid-19, we all are.

However, here’s the thing: Covid-19 is not done with us yet. We still have more than 80,000 new infections daily and more than 1,100 Americans die every day from the coronavirus. We are in a much better place than we were last year, thanks to vaccines, but we are not out of the woods yet.

That being said, there are many things we can resume to try to get back to normal. Consider making a list of all the things you want to do. Go through the list and see how many things can be done now, with greater confidence.

For example, you can have Christmas meals with your loved ones, even if you have children who are not fully vaccinated yet. There are some additional precautions that still need to be taken, but you can meet up with friends and family again.

I know that the pandemic has been very difficult for many families. We can get through this winter without covid-19, if we all work together to reduce risk, while restarting the activities that we lose the most.

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