Five years after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic that forever changed the country, the U.S. could now be facing something much worse. It has been reported that there has been a nationwide surge in the flu, Covid-19, norovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
This might seem absurd, but not to worry. Believe it or not, the U.S deals with these viruses every year. However, the viruses are clustering. The probability of having another public health doomsday is short, but definitely something to worry about.
After the Covid-19 pandemic, America has been getting stronger and taking strides in public health. However, it’s very tough to stay away from diseases this season. This winter could be the spark of the Quademic. “Would stores be shut down again? Would we go back to online school? I would be more cautious,” says Charter senior Aleyla Mark.
The middle of winter usually comes with an increase in people getting sick. The cold conditions, dry air, and viruses are stronger during this season. The increase in diseases around the U.S. shouldn’t be coming at a surprise. The problem with this winter is that viruses are spreading faster than experts thought. However, there are many ways to stay safe and protect yourself and others around you.
Avoid people who are already sick
These diseases can be highly contagious. As we saw in 2020 with Covid-19, norovirus spreads easily according to the CDC, and RSV is known to be very contagious. Avoid being close to sick family members, and avoid going to school or crowded places if you are sick. PPCHS senior Ryan Tickell says, “Keep your distance from people. If someone looks ill or sounds ill, stay away.” This is a small, but easy, way to do your part and help keep everyone safe and healthy.
Get adequate sleep
For high schoolers, this can be a difficult thing to accomplish. However, not getting the sleep your body needs can weaken your immune system and make you more prone to getting sick. If you have an assignment you were planning to do at midnight, maybe try and get this done earlier. If you plan to scroll through whatever social media you use late at night, just save it for the next day. Your phone and those videos are not going anywhere.
Take Vitamins
During this cold time, the sun is barely out and that means less vitamin D entering your body. Taking vitamins such as vitamin D can significantly decrease the risk of catching respiratory sickness. Vitamin C, D, B12, and Zinc will all help you have a stronger immune system and fight infections.
All of these tips might be so simple, but this can be how you can stop the spread of Covid-19, the flu, norovirus, and RSV. Staying clean, making sure you have a strong immune system, and maintaining healthy habits is what everyone should be accomplishing each and every day.
