BA.5 invades the community! Are you afraid of being diagnosed with a Mid-Autumn Festival barbecue? Intensivist: Remember "3 things are okay and 4 things are not"
BA.5 Can we have a barbecue and get together during the epidemic? Intensivist: Remember “3 are OK and 4 are not”
The BA.5 epidemic in Taiwan is gradually heating up. The Epidemic Command Center stated that during the epidemic at the end of August, about 60% of those diagnosed were infected with BA.4 or BA.5, indicating that the epidemic has gradually developed to the next stage. It’s the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday recently. Can I go back to my hometown to reunite with my family? What should you pay attention to when celebrating a barbecue with relatives and friends? Dr. Huang Xuan, an expert in critical care medicine, pointed out that when having a Mid-Autumn Festival barbecue, you should keep in mind the “3 do’s and 4 don’ts” to avoid the risk of diagnosis.
Dr. Huang Xuan said that according to the guidelines of the Epidemic Command Center, you can still barbecue or reunite with relatives and friends during the Mid-Autumn Festival. However, the community is being invaded by the BA.5 virus, so you should still follow the “3 yes and 4 no” rules when grilling. in principle:
3 things you can do
You can have a barbecue with someone you know well.
You can have barbecues with people who have received the second/third dose of the vaccine.
You can barbecue with people who wear masks/wash hands frequently.
4 Don’ts:
Don’t barbecue with unspecified people. If you must barbecue with them, you must maintain social distance to avoid the continued expansion of the chain of transmission.
Do not barbecue with unvaccinated high-risk groups (elderly people, children, chronically ill people) to avoid concerns about “asymptomatic infection.”
Do not barbecue with people who have symptoms (such as cough, fever, severe sore throat and other upper respiratory symptoms).
You are not allowed to barbecue with people who are foaming at the mouth, who are not wearing masks, and who are not washing hands frequently.
In addition, the command center also recently announced the “Reminder of Epidemic Prevention Regulations for Mid-Autumn Festival, Double Ninth Festival and other gatherings”. In addition to calling on the public to wash hands frequently, wear masks, and maintain social distance from unspecified people, they must also abide by the following regulations to prevent themselves or their relatives and friends from contracting the virus:
Please abide by the current mask wearing regulations. Masks are not required except for exceptions (such as dietary needs, photography, etc.). Masks should be worn at all times when going out. If you have symptoms, please do not participate.
Carry hand-washing supplies with you, and it is recommended to download the Taiwan Social Distancing APP.
Unvaccinated elders and young children are not recommended to attend gatherings.
In addition, business premises/public areas/catering establishments should strictly abide by body temperature measurement, employee health management, and strengthen environmental cleaning. Catering establishments should also provide hand-washing equipment and disinfection supplies, and tea and wine toasts are not allowed on a table-by-table basis.
The health of Mid-Autumn Barbecue should be considered from the “intestine”! In order to prevent the epidemic, you must also understand the “5 tips for protecting the intestines”
It is important to have meals with relatives and friends during the Mid-Autumn Festival and to have emotional connections with family members. However, even if you have delicious food, don’t overindulge in eating and drinking, which will affect your intestinal health. Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare, Health Promotion Administration calls on the public to remember to master the following 5 tips to protect the intestines, so as to balance epidemic prevention and gastrointestinal health during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday:
Eat more fruits and vegetables: Choose vegetables that are fresh in season, rich in color, and rich in fiber, such as cauliflower, king oyster mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, etc., which can not only promote gastrointestinal motility and increase the feeling of satiety, but also avoid overeating.
Exercise more: The risk of obese people suffering from colorectal cancer is 1-2 times higher than that of the average person, and 21-25% of colorectal cancer can be attributed to lack of physical activity. It is necessary to maintain regular exercise habits. Make an appointment with relatives and friends to take a walk and admire the moon, connect emotionally and avoid obesity.
Less red meat: The International Agency for Cancer points out that consuming more than 50 grams of processed meat or 100 grams of red meat (pig, sheep, cattle) per day will increase the risk of colorectal cancer by 17%.
Grill less: According to the National Cancer Research Institute, when meat slices or gravy grilled on a high-temperature surface drip onto a high-temperature surface or fall into a fire to produce flames and smoke, it will form carcinogens – polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. (PAHs), which then adhere to food surfaces. Therefore, for the sake of good health, the intake of barbecue food should be reduced as much as possible.
Get screened: Colorectal cancer is more likely to occur in people over 50 years old, and the incidence rate increases as age increases. Research has proven that regular fecal occult blood testing every 2 years can effectively reduce colorectal cancer mortality by 20% to 30%.
Source:
“Can we have barbecue during Taiwan’s Mid-Autumn Festival?” - Dr. Huang Xuan’s
Further reading:
