Em_Adespoton t1_iz88n1b wrote
SARS-COV-19 is no longer a threat to the government— for the most part hospitals can now handle the constant stream of COVID cases (although in combination with the record flu and RSV numbers, the combination may cause issues over December).
This says nothing about risk to an individual.
As for the variants, keeping boosted means your immune system is keeping on the alert for COVID type infections. The latest strain may have mutated past where the bivalent booster will recognize it, but your immune system is still on high alert AND you’re still mostly protected against the older strains, which still exist.
But over December, you’re probably best served by wearing a mask in public (to protect others), keep a reasonable distance from others, wash your hands regularly, and stop touching your face.
wanted_to_upvote t1_iz8hvnp wrote
There is new research that shows wearing a mask outside during cold may protect the wearer from respiratory viruses since very cold air reduces the effectiveness of the nasal passages immune protection significantly.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/06/health/why-winter-colds-flu-wellness/index.html
Mammoth-Mud-9609 t1_iz93lma wrote
Masks do have other benefits though, firstly they keep your face warm and secondly, they reduce they reduce the amount of traffic fumes making it into the lungs.
Srs_Bizz t1_izbr06y wrote
Generally speaking, masks can reduce certain-sized particulate matter, but have no effect on fumes until you get a serious one like a PAPR w/ chem cartridge, gas mask, SCBA, etc. Even an N-95 would not stop fumes.
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