As cases of flu, RSV, and COVID-19 rise, use simple tools to protect yourself, others for the holidays

Take advantage of the skills you learned and new medical tools gained through this pandemic to protect you from surging cases of three different viruses: COVID-19, the flu, and RSV.

Use vaccines or boosters that strongly protect you against severe cases of flu or COVID-19. If you get sick, medications are available to protect you from each of those two illnesses.

Combine those with everyday skills like masking in indoor public places, staying home when sick, washing hands, and testing when symptomatic, exposed, or before a gathering. Each of those strategies can help protect you and others from a range of illnesses, including these three viruses.

These recommendations from the City of Berkeley’s Health Officer and 11 other Bay Area Health jurisdictions come as infections continue to rise for each of these viruses and holiday gatherings pose a risk for even greater spread.

“We each hold power to lower our risks by using everyday tools,” said Dr. Lisa B. Hernandez, the City of Berkeley Health Officer. “We not only protect ourselves but help protect our entire community when we use them.”

Free vaccines, boosters reduce chances of severe illness

All viruses evolve. Getting effective and safe vaccines and updates when eligible gives you the latest protection. Get a flu vaccine annually. For COVID-19, get your primary series and then, at least two months later, get boosted.

You don’t need to pay or have health insurance to get these vaccines. Immigration status is not considered. These vaccines are available at a wide number of locations through MyTurn, a statewide vaccination portal. You can also use your health care provider.

The next City of Berkeley COVID-19 vaccination clinic is on Saturday, December 17. It’s open to anyone at least 6 months old. Walk-ins are possible, but please register to save time for everyone.

If you’ve never received a COVID-19 vaccine, getting a primary series at the Rosa Parks clinic on Dec. 17 will get you a $25 gift card to Target.

Don’t worry about spacing your COVID-19 or flu vaccines. You can get them both at the same time.

Test quickly, get treated quickly

If you do start to have the sniffles or the symptoms of a common cold, test quickly for COVID-19. Doing so can help you or a doctor more quickly identify free COVID-19 treatments – which work best right after symptoms begin and within 5 days of that start.

See our COVID-19 testing page to see a range of testing sites coordinated by the City and learn how to interpret results. Everyone can order free at-home COVID-19 tests through the postal service.

Learn more about treatments by talking to your doctor or by visiting a test-to-treat location near you.

Mask in indoor, public places

While vaccines powerfully protect you from many variants, masks provide additional protection from COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. Effective masking also limits you from unknowingly spreading illnesses to others.

Everyone should consider masking indoors in public places, based on state masking guidelines for the current countywide “medium” level of spread. If you have household or social contact with a vulnerable person, wearing a mask is recommended when indoors with them.

An N95, KN95, or KF94 mask is best. Otherwise, use your cloth mask over a surgical mask to improve the seal. Your cloth mask should be three layers.

“As we’ve moved through the pandemic, we’ve continually improved our everyday strategies while gaining new medical tools,” said Dr. Hernandez, the City of Berkeley Health Officer. “We have more resources than ever to protect ourselves from both new and familiar illnesses. Our path toward staying healthy depends on how much we use them.”

Links:

• City of Berkeley COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics
• Dec. 17 City of Berkeley Vaccination Clinic Registration & Appointments
• MyTurn (Statewide Flu and COVID-19 Vaccination Site Locator)
• City of Berkeley Testing Sites
• Face Masks (City of Berkeley)
• State Masking Guidance (California Department of Public Health)
• RSV (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Flu (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• With Respiratory Viruses Circulating, 12 Bay Area Health Officials Recommend Actions to Stay Healthy for the Holidays (Regional Joint Statement)