5 Things to Know About COVID-19 Before the Holiday Season

The holidays come each year and often bring with them seasonal sickness, whether it’s driven by seeing family for the holiday, traveling, or the cold weather. COVID-19 remains a prevalent health issue in the US, with the rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations reaching 16.5 per 100,000 persons in the current 2024-2025 season.¹ With this number expected to increase as the season goes on, here are 5 things that you need to know about COVID-19 as we approach the holiday season.

1. COVID-19 is most often caught after close contact

As the holiday season approaches and close contact with friends or family is almost guaranteed, individuals should be aware of the likelihood of catching COVID-19 in close quarters.² This is especially true when in close quarters with strangers. The spread of COVID-19 primarily comes from droplets carrying the SARS-CoV-2 virus that spread in the air through either a cough, a sneeze, breathing, or talking. These droplets can be inhaled by individuals who are in close contact to the infected individual and infect them in turn.³

Although it is possible for the virus to spread through poorly ventilated areas containing the droplets for hours or even touching a surface with COVID-19 on it, these routes are less common.³ However, individuals may want to keep these routes in mind as they shop for Christmas presents, especially as clothing, toys, and bath and body products are bought and sold after exchanging hands throughout the day. Individuals can also wear masks in public areas to lower the chances of COVID-19 putting a wrench in their holiday plans.

2. COVID-19 can spread quickly, even without symptoms

Health experts have concluded that COVID-19 can spread among asymptomatic people, making it hard to tell how many people have been or could be infected. Individuals with COVID-19 are most contagious about 2 days before they feel sick,⁴ and the virus can spread up to 10 days after initial infection.

This can be especially dangerous around the holidays, as individuals throughout the country look to spend the holidays with their family. Those infected with COVID-19 may visit several different family members before realizing that they have been infected with the virus, leading to the illness spreading without their knowledge. The highest risks of severe COVID-19 are seen in those of older age and those with comorbidities like immunodeficiency, obesity, and diabetes,⁵ so these family members could be particularly at risk.

Individuals who know they have COVID-19 should avoid close contact as much as possible to avoid the further spread of the virus.

Knowing how to protect yourself from COVID-19 can make for a more enjoyable holiday season | Image credit: blvdone - stock.adobe.com

3. At-home treatments for COVID-19 can help alleviate symptoms

Individuals who contract COVID-19 can now receive at-home treatments that can help to alleviate some of the symptoms of the virus. Nirmatrelvir with ritonavir (Paxlovid), an antiviral medication, can be taken at home, orally, once per day by individuals 12 years and older. Molnupiravir (Lagevrio) is another form of antiviral medication that can be taken at home once per day by adults. These medications work to prevent the virus from spreading further throughout the body and help stop the illness from becoming more severe and leading to death. These medications are among the factors helping to lower the overall rate of hospitalizations for COVID-19 in the US.¹

Although there are some very effective treatments for COVID-19, individuals suspecting they have COVID-19 should talk to their doctor to confirm the best option for them. Treatments that are not approved by the FDA should not be used to treat COVID-19. This includes ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, both of which were not proven to effectively treat COVID-19.⁶ Antibiotics should also not be used to treat COVID-19, as antibiotics are primarily used to treat bacterial infections.

4. The easiest way to prevent severe COVID-19 is to remain up to date on your vaccinations

The COVID-19 vaccine and its boosters remain the easiest method of preventing serious disease and death in the country. However, uptake was still only 70% nationwide and only 1 in 5 adults have reported getting the updated COVID-19 vaccine as of May 2023.⁷ In adults who were not immunocompromised, the updated vaccine was able to provide 54% more protection against symptoms of COVID-19 compared with those who did not receive the vaccine.⁸ Children also saw a benefit from getting the COVID-19 vaccine, as the vaccine developed by Pfizer boasted a 65% protection rate for children aged 5 to 17 years, which could prevent up to 111,000 visits to the emergency department or urgent care visits.⁹

Although the vaccines will not completely prevent the virus, research has proven that they can help to prevent long-term effects of the virus as well as hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and urgent care visits while infected. Staying up to date on vaccinations is the easiest way to ensure your holiday isn’t affected by the severe symptoms of COVID-19.

5. COVID-19 can be deadly, especially in the winter

COVID-19 is responsible for approximately 918 deaths each week in the US, with approximately 44,000 deaths due to COVID-19 in 2024 alone.¹⁰ COVID-19 is also more likely to peak in incidence during the winter due to both environmental conditions and changes in behavior related to the weather.¹¹ The dry and cold weather during the winter months can help to prolong the life of the virus in the air as well as contribute to the longer distances it can travel. The winter months also feature more time spent indoors with little ventilation, as well as several holidays that are associated with gatherings and travel. Sweeping viruses out of the upper respiratory tract is also harder in the winter due to the cold and dry air, which also contributes to the increased incidence of COVID-19.

Being aware of those around you, whether family and friends or other individuals in public spaces, can help to not only protect yourself but also others from experiencing the severity of COVID-19 during the holidays. Taking precautions seriously can help to keep the majority of the country healthy as the year draws to a close.

References

1. COVID-NET laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations. Updated December 9, 2024. Accessed December 12, 2024. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#covidnet-hospitalization-network
2. How it spreads. State of Hawaii Department of Health. 2024. Accessed December 12, 2024. https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/what-you-should-know/how-it-spreads/
3. Collins S, Starkman E. How long is the COVID-19 incubation period? WebMD. January 7, 2024. Accessed December 12, 2024. https://www.webmd.com/covid/coronavirus-incubation-period
4. How to stop the spread of COVID-19. Mount Sinai. August 2024. Accessed Decmeber 12, 2024. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/special-topic/how-to-stop-the-spread-of-covid-19
5. People with certain medical conditions and COVID-19 risk factors. CDC. Accessed December 12, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/risk-factors/index.html
6. Treating COVID. University of Maryland Medical System. Updated April 14, 2022. Accessed December 12, 2024. https://www.umms.org/health-services/covid-19/treating-covid
7. US coronavirus vaccine tracker. USA Facts. Updated May 10, 2024. Accessed December 12, 2024. https://usafacts.org/visualizations/covid-vaccine-tracker-states/
8. COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness update. CDC. May 10, 2024. Accessed December 12, 2024. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccine-effectiveness
9. Bonavitacola J. Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine effective in children aged 5 to 17 years. AJMC^®. December 12, 2024. Accessed December 12, 2024. https://www.ajmc.com/view/pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-effective-in-children-aged-5-to-17-years
10. Provisional COVID-19 mortality surveillance. CDC. Updated December 12, 2024. Accessed December 12, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid19/index.htm
11. COVID-19 can surge throughout the year. CDC. 2024. Accessed December 12, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/ncird/whats-new/covid-19-can-surge-throughout-the-year.html