As colder temperatures are here and we move through holiday season, Chief Medical Officer of OSF Healthcare for the Monmouth, Galesburg, and Kewanee areas, Dr. Cliff Martin, shares the uncomfortable advice to consider in remaining safe this time of the year with COVID:
“Think hard about trying to distance yourself socially from folks as much as you can. Wear your mask when you are out in public, but also perhaps even thinking about wearing your mask when you are with family if they are not family that you see every day. It may be that one year that is best not to come from multiple states and expose yourself. There is a lot of other celebrations such as singing and things that go along with the holidays that may just have to somewhat be postponed because having a chorus without masks may lead to a spread,” Dr. Martin explains.
Meanwhile, Dr. Martin states progress with COVID vaccine trials continue to move forward, but a few have run into a temporary slowdown due to complications that have risen. Progression continues to be made and there is hope for some release of a vaccine by the end of the year, but will be very limited. Dr. Martin says it will more than likely be 2021 before a widely available vaccine is here.
