Episode 32: Keeping Safe During Omicron Pt. 2

Additional resources

Reminders about health, safety and cleaning guidance

Q1 COVID-19 cases are at record levels worldwide, and in Oregon. Why is this happening?

We’re seeing a sharp increase in breakthrough cases among the vaccinated – That’s when a person becomes infected despite having been vaccinated. Previously infected unvaccinated people are also being infected for a second time. This is for two reasons:

This is why getting fully vaccinated and boosted is important. But the virus is still spreading widely, so you still might become infected.

Q2: For those who are worried that they will get COVID-19 even if they’re vaccinated, what are other ways we can protect ourselves?

It’s still important to do the things we have done throughout the pandemic to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:

If you think you were exposed to someone who has COVID-19, or that you may have COVID-19 symptoms, test to prevent spread to others.

Q3: Is it safe to go out in public and interact socially?

If you are taking the precautions we’ve talked about and aren’t feeling sick, it can be safe. If you want to spend time with people who don’t live with you, outdoors is the safer choice. You are less likely to be exposed to COVID-19 during outdoor activities, even without the use of masks.

In general, you do not need to wear a mask in outdoor settings. But since Omicron is so contagious, consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings and for activities with close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated.

it’s smart to also mask up whenever you’re with people from different households. And, if you participate in carpools with others, it’s safest for everyone to wear face coverings and roll the windows down for good air circulation.

Q4: What about staying safe at school?

The best tools to protect students, families and staff are vaccination for those eligible, face coverings, physical distancing, staying home if ill or exposed to someone with COVID-19, ventilation and airflow, and hand hygiene. This is part of Oregon’s Ready Schools, Safe Learners guidance to help continue in-person learning throughout the school year.

Because schools are managed settings, with layered health and safety measures in place, the risk of COVID-19 transmission can be lower than in general community settings without such protocols in place.  

It’s important to know that most student-age COVID-19 transmission happens outside of school – Carpools, sports, community gatherings, parties, sleepovers, etc. Then students bring the virus into school. So, the more we can keep safety measures in place in school, the more we can reduce the spread of the virus and ensure more kids stay in school.  

Think of COVID-19 protection measures like layering up with extra coats, gloves and hats for winter weather. The more you layer up, the more protected you are.

Q5: At schools, cleaning and disinfecting is part of that layering. Is that something we should also do at home?

In most situations, cleaning with soap or detergent removes most virus particles on surfaces. So, you probably wouldn’t need to disinfect at home, except when someone in your home is sick or if someone who has COVID-19 has been in your home.

Clean high-touch surfaces regularly, such as doorknobs, tables, handles, light switches, and countertops.

People with certain medical conditions are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19. To better protect them, you could clean surfaces more frequently, or also disinfect.

You can also prevent contaminating high-touch surfaces by:

Q6: Another layer is good air circulation. How can we put that in place?

If a visitor needs to be in your home, improving ventilation (air flow) can help prevent COVID-19 virus particles from building up in the air in your home. Like we mentioned before, this can be opening the windows of your car when you are driving with people who don’t live with you. 

It can be opening a window while people visit, using fans, using HEPA filters. The CDC now has an online tool to help people understand what kind of ventilation their home might need during or after such a visit.

Q7: The CDC updated their mask guidance. Should we be upping our mask game?

The CDC has updated their mask guidance to include respirators such as N95s and KN95s. Respirators fit closely on the face to filter out particles, including the virus that causes COVID-19. They can also contain droplets and particles you breathe, cough, or sneeze out so you do not spread them to others. 

The CDC recommends wearing the most protective mask you can that fits well and that you will wear consistently.

Some masks and respirators offer higher levels of protection, and some may be harder to tolerate or wear consistently. It is most important to wear a well-fitted mask or respirator correctly that is comfortable for you and that provides good protection.

Q8: What if we have concerns about whether our schools or local businesses are doing what they can to keep us safe?

All Oregon school districts have posted their current COVID-19 safety protocols, which explain how they are following Oregon’s Ready Schools, Safe Learners guidance. You can find links to information for your school district on Oregon’s Ready Schools, Safe Learners website at Oregon.gov/readyschools. 

If you have concerns about safety in your workplace, you can find resources on the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries website. Consumers and employees can also report concerns on the Oregon OSHA website. 

Another way to alleviate concern about your safety during COVID-19 is to get vaccinated and get a booster dose if you are eligible.

Local vaccine events

Date
Time
Location
AddressSaturday, Jan. 29 | 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Rosewood Initiative | 16126 SE Stark StPortland, OR
Tuesday, Feb. 8 | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Highland Haven | 7600 NE Glisan St Portland, OR
Tuesday, Feb. 22 | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Highland Haven | 7600 NE Glisan St Portland, OR

You can find more vaccine events at multco.us/vaccineclinics.

Document accessibility: For individuals with disabilities or individuals who speak a language other than English, OHA can provide information in alternate formats such as translations, large print, or braille. Contact the Health Information Center at 1-971-673-2411, 711 TTY or COVID19.LanguageAccess@dhsoha.state.or.us.