St. Patrick’s Day parties are ripe for spreading coronavirus. Don’t let that happen
While St. Patrick’s Day parties may happen, infections don’t have to. Here’s what you should know before you think about toasting green beer with strangers:
The most troubling is the B.1.1.7 strain, said Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.
That variant was first detected in the UK but has already spread to at least 48 US states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.
Some states have dropped mask mandates — which could increase spread
Despite warnings from health experts, some governors have let go of their mask mandates.
Hotez, who lives in Houston, said the ditching of a mask mandate in his state will have a ripple effect across the country.
“It’s going to accelerate Covid-19 nationally,” he said.
You can’t count on a negative test result to be safe
If you have the foresight to get tested (or ask your guests to get tested), you might end up with a false sense of security.
Young people definitely aren’t immune
But even young, previously healthy adults have suffered long-lasting Covid-19 complications.
In one survey, 35% of Covid-19 survivors still had symptoms two to three weeks after their tests, according to a CDC study.
Alcohol plus parties often equal zero protection
Attempts to physically distance and wear masks typically go out the window at parties where alcohol is involved.
It’s not just that drinking makes people take off their masks (if they’re wearing one at all). Alcohol can cause people to get closer to one another than usual, Hotez said.
“So this is not the time to have a superspreader event for that UK variant,,” Hotez said.
Pandemic fatigue is real — but totally defeatable
Not celebrating St. Patrick’s Day the way you want to can seem like another letdown after a year of sacrifices. But there will be plenty more chances to party after everyone gets vaccinated.
“The best thing to do right now is to avoid big travel unless you’ve been vaccinated or unless you’ve been recently infected,” Hotez said. “Just try to keep a lid on everything we can until we can fully vaccinate.”
Unfortunately, the vast majority of young people haven’t been vaccinated against Covid-19. But there’s some great news on the horizon:
— If enough people get vaccinated, this will likely be the last year of major Covid-19 disruptions.
— The current vaccines “work really well” against the troubling B.1.1.7 variant, Hotez said.
— The faster we vaccinate and get Covid-19 under control, the faster we can return to normal life.
