How to Prepare for a Possible COVID Infection This Winter—Even if You've Been

Vaccinated and Boosted

These are the steps you can take before a diagnosis, to make sure you're ready for
anything COVID throws at you.

Less than one month after it was first detected in the US, the Omicron variant of COVID-
19 now makes up 58.6% of all coronavirus cases in the country, according to the latest
estimate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That sharp rise is thanks in
large part to the variant's increased transmissibility, according to the CDC, along with the
fact that Omicron is able to evade immunity (either that from a past COVID-19 infection,
or through vaccination).

The gist, regarding Omicron? The variant makes it possible for many more people—even
those who have been vaccinated and boosted—to test positive for the virus this winter.

That's not to say all hope is lost if you've done your due diligence to protect yourself and
those around you from COVID—and it certainly doesn't mean you can shirk other
protective measures like wearing a face mask and keeping your distance from infected
people. But, for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people, preparation is key. Here,
health experts help explain what everyone can do to prepare for a possible COVID-
positive test result this winter—from getting vaccinated (an important first step!), to
making a plan for isolation, if necessary.

Get vaccinated against COVID-19 (and the flu) ASAP

First things first: Getting vaccinated is still the best way to avoid getting COVID (and
ensure your symptoms are mild if you do end up contracting the virus). According to the
CDC, vaccination is the best way to protect against severe illness, hospitalization, and
death, even after an Omicron infection.

Past that, if you've already received both doses of an mRNA vaccine (that means Pfizer-
BioNtech or Moderna's shots), or a single-dose Johnson & Johnson-Janssen (J&J)
vaccine, it may be time to get a booster dose. A post on the National Institutes of Health's
Director's Blog on December 14, shared that preliminary data suggests booster shots (or
third doses of a vaccine) "will help protect people already vaccinated from breakthrough
or possible severe infections with Omicron during the winter months." As a quick
refresher, the CDC says you are eligible for a booster shot if you're six months out from a
final dose of an mRNA vaccine, or two months out from a J&J vaccine.

And while you're at it, be sure to get your flu shot, too. This can help you sidestep
infection and hospitalization for influenza during a time when healthcare facilities are
increasingly crowded due to COVID.
Upgrade your personal protective equipment.

In addition to vaccination and boosting, the next best thing you can do is to cover your
mouth and nose with a snug-fitting, high-quality mask—think N95, KN95, or a surgical
mask with a fabric mask over it—in public indoor spaces, crowded outdoor spaces, and in
any scenario where you can't confirm whether every person present has been vaccinated
and/or tested negative for COVID-19 before attending, says Dr. Thomas Russo, MD,
professor and chief of infectious diseases at University at Buffalo's Jacobs School of
Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

But the right mask isn't just for situations outside of the home: You'll especially want
proper PPE on hand to stop the spread if you become contagious or if you plan to look
after a household member who contracts COVID-19. While less conventional outside of
healthcare facilities, protective eyewear like glasses, goggles, or face shields can help
protect your eyes during brief interactions with infected household members, according
to Dr. Russo.

Purchase at-home COVID tests to have on hand

Though polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests are considered the gold standard for
detecting COVID infections, it's wise to have COVID tests at your disposal at home, too.
These at-home COVID tests (known sometime as at-home rapid tests or at-home antigen
tests) aren't quite as sensitive as PCR tests, but they can be helpful in a few situations.

First: These at-home tests have been found to be more sensitive in people who are
showing symptoms, and they're most accurate in the first week of symptoms, according
to research by Cochrane. So if you are feeling ill and you have an at-home test available,
you can take that as a first step to diagnosing a possible COVID infection. According to
the same research, "antigen tests may be most useful to identify outbreaks, or to select
people with symptoms for further testing with PCR." Note that even with a negative
antigen test, it doesn't mean you're not infected with COVID—to know for sure, a PCR
test is your best bet. "If you test negative for COVID-19 at home and you're still feeling
sick, you could have COVID-19 and not be producing the virus in your mouth and nasal
cavity yet," Cheryl G. Healton, DrPH, dean of the School of Global Public Health at New
York University, tells Health.

Another pro of at-home tests: Getting quick test results can help asymptomatic testers
gather more safely: You can and should test yourself before getting together with friends
or family indoors—particularly if someone in the party falls into a high-risk group due to
their age, health status, or because they've chosen not to get vaccinated and boosted, or
aren't eligible for vaccination, according to Dr. Russo: "Having everyone do a home rapid
test to ensure they are negative won't eliminate the possibility of someone infectious
showing up," he says. "But it will decrease the likelihood and give an additional layer of
protection."

Locate your local PCR testing facility

Because PCR tests really are the way to go to confirm a COVID diagnosis, it's wise to
find a place near you that performs the tests. Google can help here: In a White House
COVID-19 Response Team briefing on December 27, President Biden announced that
you can now search "COVID test near me" to find your closest testing center. Keep in
mind many places can offer COVID tests, including urgent care centers, pharmacies, and
other medical facilities or clinics.

One tip: You should prioritize places that you can walk or drive to, since you shouldn't
take public transportation if you're experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. And to minimize
potential exposure, choose a drive-through or outdoor testing option or facility known for
its short wait times, then plan to wear the highest quality mask you can tolerate, Dr.
Russo suggests.

Invest in a thermometer and pulse oximeter

Self-monitoring mild symptoms can help you sidestep crowded medical facilities and
keep your infection at home should you test positive for COVID-19 at some later date.
You might already have a thermometer, which can help you keep tabs on your
temperature, but you should also purchase a pulse oximeter, a device that measures the
percent of oxygen in your blood, which can drop in severe COVID-19 cases. In some
instances, this reading can alert you to low oxygen levels before you have difficulty
breathing—a sign you need oxygen therapy as soon as possible.

"It's the most important tool you can have if you test positive for COVID-19 and you are
isolating at home," says Dr. Russo, who recommends getting a baseline reading when
you first take it out of the box so you can use it to detect a downward trend. Although
readings can be false or on the low side among people of color, a normal reading is
around 95 or above. Typically, if you dip below 93, you should reach out to your
healthcare provider.

Stock up on the essentials

Whether you're experiencing symptoms or are asymptomatic but still contagious, the last
thing you want to do after testing positive for COVID-19 is run to the pharmacy for a get-
well kit. To ensure you're well-equipped, now is the time to stock your medicine cabinet
with pain relievers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, according to the CDC. You
should also make sure you have enough fluids on hand (now may be time to buy a large
water bottle, if you don't already have one), and plan to get enough rest, if the time
comes.

News of new drugs authorized for emergency use—like the antiviral medications
Paxlovid (from Pfizer) and molnupiravir (from Merck)—may have you wondering if you
can score any of those for your medicine cabinet, but there's a pretty hard answer there:
You can't. "There is a very limited supply [of these drugs] and it shouldn't be stockpiled,"
says Dr. Russo. Another important point: These drugs have some serious risks to them. If
you do test positive for the virus, you should contact your primary care doctor
immediately, and they can help you determine the ideal course of treatment, that may or
may not include a COVID-19 pill.

In addition to medications and other supplies, you'll also want to stock up on disinfectants
or sanitizing products, as well as soap. Though we are well past the point in the pandemic
when everyone was using Clorox wipes on groceries, it's still a good idea to maintain
cleanliness and proper hygiene—especially if you or a family member comes down with
COVID.

END-OF-TERM ASSIGNMENT
Cohort: ETE 41 Term: 1 Academic year: 2021-2022
Subject: Reading 1
Assignment instructions and requirements:
 Select ONE to TWO articles from reliable sources
 Choose the article(s) with the level of difficulty ranging from B2 to C1
 Determine the level of the text, using this tool:
http://www.roadtogrammar.com/textanalysis/
 Choose the article(s) with about 1500 words
 Choose one article with about 1500 words
 Or choose two articles; each one has about 600 to 700 words
 Suggested reliable sources:
 https://www.nytimes.com/
 https://www.theguardian.com/us
 https://newsela.com/
 https://www.washingtonpost.com/
 https://www.health.com/
 https://www.science.org/

Selected materials:
Article 1:
CEFR Level:
Word count:
……
Article 2:
CEFR Level
Word Count:
……..
PART 1: Find the root words and affixes (prefixes and suffixes) in the materials
selected (3 pts)
E.g.
Paragraphs Types of Affixes
Travel and Technology
1. …

2. The first thing I do when l'm preparing to travel is to visit traveler-review  -er: suffix for
websites like TripAdvisor. These interactive sites let travelers share their forming N
experiences at tourist attractions, restaurants, and hotels. They can give  inter-: prefix,
each place a rating, write a review, or discuss them in online forums. meaning: existing
Reading the opinions of genuine travelers can be much more convincing between, among,
than any advertisement. On top of that, reviewers often provide tips, like together
where to find a money changer in a small town, or which is the best room in  -ive: suffix for
a hotel. Also, being able to search for attractions by location, price, or forming adj.
quality rating is a big help because the kind of place l'm looking for depends  -ist: suffix for
on whether l'm traveling for work or for leisure. When I travel for work, I forming N
focus on comfort and location. But when I'm with my wife and three kids, I  ion: suffix for
always try to get the best value for our money. We also love making
forming N
personalized travel plans that focus on our interests, such as food and
 -ment: suffix for
beautiful beaches.
forming N

 -ize: suffix for

forming V

3. …

PART 2: Find the key words and expressions in the selected materials (3 pts)
PART 3: Summarize the material selected/ Summarize ONE out of the TWO
materials selected (4 pts)