It’s a few weeks into the new year and although cases of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), COVID-19 and the flu are ebbing slightly, the winter season is still a time for heavy virus activity, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). 

Nationwide shortages of cold, flu and fever medications, long waits at in-office urgent care facilities and emergency rooms can make the “sick season” even less tolerable. So, what can you do to try and stay healthy this time of year?

An article in Yale Medicine shares insights from infectious disease experts on ways to prevent illness.

Frequent handwashing and surface cleaning

Because the transmission of COVID-19, RSV and the flu vary somewhat, (RSV is mainly spread through contaminated surfaces; COVID-19 is spread through the air via sneezing and coughing; and flu is a mixture of both) it’s good practice to frequently wash your hands and wipe down all surfaces.

The CDC offers the following tips for proper hand washing to help prevent infection:

1. Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
2. Apply enough soap to cover the front and back of hands and in between fingers.
3. Rub hands together and scrub the front and back and in between fingers.
4. Rinse hands with clean water and dry completely.
5. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand rub that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Handwashing before, during and after activities such as preparing food, touching your face, caring for someone who is sick, changing diapers, after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing, after using the toilet, and touching garbage is recommended by the CDC.

Regularly cleaning and disinfecting surfaces that are touched regularly with an alcohol or bleach solution is also recommended to help reduce the spread of virus-causing germs. 

Get vaccinated & avoid crowded places

While one of the best ways to remain healthy is to avoid being around anyone who is sick, sometimes it can be hard to know if someone near you is feeling ill. Now is a good time to get the flu shot and to make sure you’re up to date on the COVID-19 vaccination, including the new bivalent booster, which provides broad protection against COVID-19 and a component of the Omicron variant. While the flu shot will not guarantee you immunity from the virus, it can lower your risk of getting it and lower the risk of serious illness resulting in hospitalization, according to the CDC. While currently there is no vaccine for RSV, multiple vaccine candidates are in clinical development.

During the winter months, events and gatherings are often held inside, increasing your risk of exposure to viruses. Consider taking a rapid COVID-19 test before attending large events to help prevent others from getting sick and mask wearing is recommended if you are not fully vaccinated or if you are feeling ill.

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Not sure what your symptoms mean? Check our chart below.