Tips for coping with Covid and relieving anxiety

LONDON – Covid rules have been relaxed in many places around the world, including England and parts of the United States, with rules on mask wear, social distancing and the number of people who can meet both inside and outside being relaxed.

While this easing of measures is applauded by many, especially the younger ones after almost 16 months of intermittent blockages, many others feel anxious about the changes, especially those with health and problematic conditions. underlying health.

Almost all restrictions were lifted in England on Monday, which has been dubbed “Freedom Day” (although it was delayed by a month due to the increase in Covid cases due to the delta variant). Meanwhile, in the United States, the CDC relaxed its Covid guidelines on masks for fully vaccinated people on May 13, saying they didn’t need to use them or stay 6 feet away from either the other, “except as required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local guidelines for business and the workplace.”

Many experts have criticized the relaxation of the rules, saying it comes at a time when the infection rate is extremely high, especially among those under the age of 30. Meanwhile, many people have expressed concern for their own safety and the safety of others, especially those who may be clinically vulnerable, such as cancer patients or people with disabilities.

Macmillan Cancer Support was one of the many charities that criticized the decision to open and offers advice and a support line to anyone affected. He tweeted on Monday that “despite the relaxed restrictions, 1 in 5 people with cancer in England feel unable to return to normal life today”.

Tim Spector is Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London who is leading the Zoe Covid Symptom Study, an ongoing UK-based study that allows the public to enter their Covid symptoms on an app when allows scientists to then analyze the data.

On Monday, Spector and his team posted seven tips to help people navigate their new freedoms. Here are their simple tips:

Be aware of personal space and personal choices, Spector said on Monday on the eve of “Freedom Day” in England. “Some people may not be ready to kiss, shake hands, or reduce social distance. Don’t assume what people are comfortable with. Instead, ask them and respect their personal choices.”

This is especially true of the choice to wear face masks, Spector noted, with the issue having become something of a battleground in the UK and US.

“With limited advice from the government on where and when we should wear a face covering, respect people’s choices. If wearing a mask makes someone feel more secure, then they have every right to to keep wearing one, ”Spector said.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called on people to use common sense and courtesy when it comes to masks, advising they are worn in crowded spaces. In the United States, a number of states and local officials have reinstated mask-wearing rules.

Socializing outdoors remains one of the best ways to reduce transmission of Covid-19, experts note, and is much easier now that summer has arrived. In England and Wales there are no longer rules limiting the number of people who can attend outdoor gatherings, but limits are still in place in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

“Fresh air means very small droplets and aerosol particles containing an infectious virus cannot hang around and disperse quickly, so outdoor spaces are the best places to be with friends and family,” Spector said.

Airborne particles can multiply quickly in crowded and poorly ventilated places, such as the subway or busy buses or trains.

So, wherever you find yourself in a crowded confined space, Spector recommends that you continue to wear a face covering, if you are able to. Some airlines have already said they will continue to make masks mandatory.

Maintaining good basic hygiene has been one of the main recommendations to the public throughout the Covid pandemic. Virus droplets can be transferred from your hands to your face, so you should avoid touching your mouth and eyes if you’ve been outside and haven’t washed your hands in a while, Spector and the team noted. study of Zoe Covid.

Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap, but if you don’t have access to soap and water, using any hand sanitizer with a minimum of 60% alcohol should work.

You could be easily forgiven for not knowing the main symptoms to look out for when it comes to Covid, as government advice changed during the public health crisis. Symptoms have also been updated as new variants have emerged.

The “classic” symptoms of Covid were a persistent cough, loss of taste and smell, fatigue, and a sore throat (and variations on that), but analysis of the Zoe Covid study has identified new common symptoms.

The main symptoms from data reported in the Zoe Covid study in the 30 days leading up to July 14 are, after two doses of a vaccine:

1. Runny nose
2. Headache
3. sneezing
4. Sore throat
5. Loss of sense of smell

For the unvaccinated, the first 5 symptoms are:

1. Headache
2. Sore throat
3. Runny nose
4. Fever
5. Persistent cough

The Zoe Covid study team recommends that the British public continue to record all symptoms with its ongoing study, arguing that this is more crucial than ever given that restrictions have been relaxed.

“By continuing to record your symptoms, your contributions can help us stay at the forefront of uncovering the main current symptoms indicating a COVID infection before and after vaccination,” he notes. The data can also help experts determine long-term vaccine effectiveness and could also help determine whether or not booster shots may or may not be needed in the fall.