What is safe and what is not safe with the increasing number of BA.2 subvariants?Medical expert explains

To answer these questions, I spoke with CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Linawen, an emergency physician and professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. She is also the author of Lifeline: A Doctor’s Journey in the Battle for Public Health.

The following conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

CNN: Can you give us a quick review? What protective measures are effective against this highly contagious variant of BA.2.

The protective measures discussed in the early days of the pandemic are still effective against Omicron. The mask works very well, but here it is recommended to wear an equivalent mask such as N95 or KN95 or KF94. Simple cloth masks are much less effective, especially for contagious variants such as BA.2.

Ventilation is very important. The risk of outdoor infection is exponentially lower than that of indoor infection, and even in a well-ventilated, less crowded space, the risk is much lower than in a non-ventilated space. The surface does not play a role as much as an aerosol infection, but it is advisable to wash your hands thoroughly or use a hand sanitizer if you are waving and touching frequently used surfaces. This reduces not only this coronavirus infection, but also other respiratory and gastrointestinal pathogens.

CNN: What should people consider when deciding what precautions they want to take home, such as canceling a restaurant reservation or obscuring an indoor space?

The next thing to think about is what about your medical condition and the situation of others in your household. If you are generally healthy, fully vaccinated and backed up, the chances of a serious illness with Covid-19 are very low. It is different if you are immunocompromised or live with an elderly person with multiple medical conditions. Depending on your family’s medical condition, you may want to raise your level of attention.

Third, how important is it to you to keep avoiding Covid-19? Of course, none of us want to get infected with the coronavirus and no one should try to get it. However, some absolutely want to avoid it, while others accept that there are some risks when engaging in travel, party resumption, restaurant dining, and other pre-pandemic activities. It’s a personal decision that varies from person to person.

CNN: It makes sense to mask in some situations, but doesn’t it make sense in others?

Wen: absolutely. Risks are additive. You can get back what’s low-risk or high-value, but you can still take some precautions. For example, if you are working in a well-ventilated, well-spaced, vaccinated office, consider not masking with that setting. However, you may decide to mask in a crowded indoor location such as a grocery store or a train station. Again, if you are wearing a mask, it is recommended that you wear an N95 or equivalent mask. This is because it is the best chance to protect against the highly contagious BA.2 variant.

CNN: How about the outdoors? Since BA.2 is highly contagious, is it possible to get infected there?

Wen: The risk of infection outdoors is very low and virtually nonexistent. Outdoor get-togethers are very safe and certainly less risky than comparable indoor settings. I don’t think people need to wear a mask outdoors, but there may be situations where someone is very vulnerable and wants to be especially careful, for example, a cancer patient receiving chemotherapy. In that case, be sure to wear a mask outdoors or in a crowded place.

CNN: What if I have to go back to the office and someone else isn’t masking?

Wen: You need to understand that one-way masking with an N95 or equivalent works very well, and then decide which one is best for you. In other words, a high quality mask that always fits, even if no one else around you masks it.

It also depends on the details of your workplace. Let’s say you work in a well-ventilated office, everyone around you is vaccinated, and you’re far from your neighbors. You can remove the mask while sitting at your desk, but you can put it back on and enter a crowded elevator or conference room where you sit side by side with others. You can go for an outdoor lunch with a colleague, but skip happy hour at the packed bar. All of these are reasonable decisions, depending on how you think about your risks.

CNN: Should people avoid indoor gatherings because they know that outbreaks can occur?

Wen: necessarily. It also depends on what is happening in your community, what your medical situation is, and how much you want to avoid Covid-19. According to the CDC, for me, my area of ​​Baltimore is in a green or “low risk” area of ​​Covid-19 infection. My husband and I have been vaccinated and are being boosted. Although two young children cannot be vaccinated, we also recognize that it is very difficult to prevent infection with the coronavirus given the infectivity of this new variant.

Therefore, we participate in large-scale events such as indoor meetings and conferences. These events require proof of vaccination and negative test results for the day. Otherwise, it will be less secure. Just as others understand if they want to stay in them, they certainly understand if they want to avoid them for the time being. For me, this is no different from the decision to go back to the gym, resume my trip, or dine indoors at a restaurant. Some consider these activities to be worth the risk. Others don’t.