Choosing Safer Social Activities Amid COVID-19
Updated May 19, 2021
If you鈥r别听fully vaccinated against听COVID-19,听迟丑别苍听you鈥檙e probably听itching听迟辞听return to the gym,听take in听补听baseball game, hear a听concert,听or听plan a听backyard听barbeque--especially听since th别听听has determined that听you no听longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in听most听settings,听excluding听public transportation,听and听unless听federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, local businesses or workplaces indicate otherwise.听In keeping with this听new听CDC guidance,听听is lifting听most听pandemic-related capacity restrictions and waving mask mandates outdoors for fully听vaccinated people, except in certain crowded settings and venues.听
Yet,听it鈥檚 still a good听idea to be cautious,听says听Matthew S. Simon, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases and听Assistant Attending Physician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/茄子直播.听听
鈥淥nce you鈥檙e fully vaccinated,听听says we can loosen some restrictions, but we鈥檙e still in a vulnerable time with a minority of people who are fully vaccinated and very high case counts,鈥 he says.听鈥Although the vaccines are likely to remain protective against variants, we don鈥檛 have a full understanding of听any differences in the vaccine鈥檚 effectiveness between newer variants and older strains of the virus.听听Things will get better but we鈥檙e not听quit别听there yet.鈥听
Given th别听latest听capacity increases for indoor and outdoor venues, including indoor听dining,听entertainment venues,听salons and other personal care businesses, as well as returning听round-the-clock subway service,听understanding what it means to be protected against COVID-19 and how to stay saf别听remains听critical for your health and the health of those around you.听
For example,听it鈥檚 important to understand that听being听partially听vaccinated听is听not the same as being fully vaccinated, Dr. Simon says.听鈥淧eople can鈥檛 run out a week after they鈥檝e gotten their shot and think they have full protection,鈥 he says.听Being fully vaccinated is defined as听鈥at least听two听weeks after听a听second dos别听of th别听Moderna听or Pfizer shot,听or听a听single听dose听of th别听Johnson & Johnson.鈥听
Even once you are fully vaccinated, there are several factors to consider before you start听participating in activities听and relaxing health precautions:听
Know the level of COVID-19 in the community where you live or plan to spend time.
If community rates are still very high--as they are in New York--迟丑别苍听keep in mind that听there听is some risk involved in eating inside a restaurant or going to a bar. 鈥Becaus别听COVID听rates听remain听high,听the majority of people are not听yet fully听vaccinated, and the vaccines are not 100% protective, crowded indoor settings听still听pose a risk of transmission听even for those who are fully vaccinated,鈥澨Dr. Simon听says.听听
Keep gatherings small.
Th别听听avoiding medium and large events. If you are fully vaccinated,听迟丑别苍听you听can听visit with a small group of other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing a mask or physically听distancing. You can also visit indoors without听wearing masks or physically听distancing with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease.听听
Prioritize outdoor听activities.
鈥Because of the ventilation, outdoor activities are generally safer听than indoor activities.听This is especially true for eating at restaurants where you won鈥檛 be able to wear your mask while eating and drinking鈥 Dr. Simon says.听In fact, one study found that adults with positive COVID-19 test results were twice as likely as those with negative results to have reported eating at a restaurant.听听to minimize risk when visiting restaurants:听
- ensure听that a restaurant has good ventilation听of outdoor air (e.g听tents with open doors, rolled up sides) or听open outdoor听seating;听
- check the restaurant鈥s website to see if you feel comfortable with听its听COVID-19 safety听guidelines;听
- avoid busy dining times听and sit at tables spaced at least听six听feet听apart;听
- minimize听your time at听a听restaurant by ordering in advance online or via听app;听
- park your own car听or, if you use valet parking, open the windows for at least 15 minutes before getting听in; and,听
- limit your alcohol consumption so you鈥檙e more likely to follow safety measures.听
Avoid crowded spaces at the gym.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important to get some physical听exercise听during the pandemic, however it is still necessary to take precautions when visiting听an indoor听gym.鈥澨听to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID at gyms听include:听mask use, physical distancing,听limiting high-intensity group activities,听evaluating the gym鈥檚 ventilation practices, hand hygiene,听and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces.听听
Assess听activity听risks.
Consider听if听the activity will put you in听close contact with other peopl别听not in your household.听听Assess听how you can maintain a safe distance听from others听and if peopl别听around you听will be masked.听鈥淲hen you鈥檙e out in public, it鈥檚 still important to wear a mask, even if you鈥檙e fully vaccinated,鈥听Dr. Simon says. 鈥淚t鈥檚听important听not just for you but for听th别听community at large.鈥听