Even though there is a surge of coronavirus cases in the U.S. and vaccinations are falling well below expectations, it’s possible to mitigate our risk of infection, says Dr. Deborah Lee, a leading physician and contributor to Eat This, Not That!

She offers these tips:

1. Get the COVID-19 vaccine. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines appear to have 95% efficacy against the disease, so roll up your sleeve and get inoculated when you are able, says Lee. “The virus is deadly and dangerous,” she adds. “While the overall death rate of COVID-19 is 0.5-1%, the risk of death increases with age.” For people over 80, the mortality rate is 10%.
2. Wear a face mask. If 80% of Americans wore masks, there would be more success in reducing viral transmission than an entire U.S., lockdown. According to CNN, Dr. Sandro Cinti, an infectious disease expert at the University of Michigan, said that even people who are vaccinated may still infect others. “You have to wear your mask,” he told CNN. The clinical trials of the vaccine candidates only tracked those individuals who developed COVID-19 symptoms, but since up to 40% of people are asymptomatic, you could still have the virus in your nose and infect others, said Cinti. “Wearing a mask can save your life, or the life of someone you love,” says Lee.
3. Stay at home. You do not want to unwittingly spread the disease to others. Even Santa infected 75 people in a Belgium nursing home after visiting at Christmas. Lee advises against making any unnecessary trips outside the home, according to Eat This, Not That! Have your groceries delivered to the home and enjoy Zoom chats with friends, she said, while avoiding large gatherings.
4. Get healthy. Taking this time to lose weight and increase your exercise can not only reduce your risk of COVID-19 but also your risk of heart disease and diabetes, says the expert. Obesity is a leading risk factor for COVID-19 complications and may also hinder immune response to a vaccine. Recent studies have shown that carrying excess weight increases the severity of the disease and causes a 50% increased risk of dying from COVID-19. The rate of obesity has been skyrocketing in America, prompting healthcare experts to refer to its juxtaposition with the coronavirus as an “epidemic within an epidemic.” According to Forbes, statistically, obesity is the most common risk factor for severe disease with over 30% of the population affected. Obesity causes several health issues that predispose people to COVID-19 complications. One of fat’s most powerful effects is suppressing the immune system’s response to the virus.
5. Improve your mental health. According to a recent Gallup poll, America’s mental health has deteriorated to the worst point it has been in two decades. Only 34% of U.S. adults say their mental health is excellent, down from 43% last year. The National Health Service in the U.K., says that it’s important to connect with other people even if you use technology to do so during the pandemic. Exercise and stay physically active, says the NHS, and learn new skills. Many people have taken up cooking as a hobby and a passion during COVID-19 lockdown, according to Supermarket News.