WHO: How to stay safe during end-of-year celebrations

WHO: How to stay safe during end-of-year celebrations

Health officials have released extra precautions that can be taken during celebrations to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

New year 2022
New year 2022/ iStock

As the world continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic, health officials have released extra precautions that can be taken during celebrations to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

To date, there have been more than 276-million positive cases of coronavirus throughout the world. South Africa has lost over 90,000 people to the deadly virus.

One of the ways that the virus spreads is through gatherings.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged those who will be attending gatherings this festive season to be cautious.

“End-of-year parties and matric year-end raves as well as other celebrations should ideally be postponed, and every person should think twice before attending or organising a gathering. Where gatherings do take place, all the necessary COVID protocols must be closely observed. Every additional contact we have increases our risk of becoming infected or infecting someone else,” he said during his address in November.

READ: Tips to help you keep your vehicle safe this festive season

The World Health Organisation has also released seven precautionary measures that people should take in order to stay safe.

Here they are below:

Stay at home if you feel unwell or have COVID-19 symptoms.

Keep a physical distance of at least 1 metre from others.

Open windows to improve ventilation.

Cough or sneeze into a bent elbow or tissue.

Wash hands frequently.

When indoors, avoid crowded or poorly ventilated areas.

Follow the advice on masks.

READ: New Year’s resolution ideas

Image courtesy of iStock/ @jacoblund

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