Have you got your face mask ready for Christmas

Anyone visiting relatives over the Christmas period should urgently consider self-isolating in the run-up to Christmas to reduce the risk of infection ". This is especially true in cases where relatives are at increased risk of COVID-19, such as older people or those with chronic underlying conditions.

The time from infection to first symptoms is typically five to six days, and up to 45% of cases have no symptoms. Therefore, "the ideal isolation period should be ten days or more," Wendner suggests. Because the viral load, and the risk of infection from it, is highest until symptoms appear. Even without any symptoms, the risk of someone else getting infected after two weeks is greatly reduced.

If you cannot stay in isolation for ten days, try not to see other people. "Self-isolation on a daily basis brings more security," said Michael Schwabin, chief infectious disease specialist at the Munich clinic Schwabin Hospital. "The day before going to Grandma and Grandpa, all family members should be checked again to see if they have no symptoms -- i.e. : no cough, no high temperature, no headache or diarrhea, and the smell of Christmas cookies can be smelled.

From an infectious point of view, the car is undoubtedly the preferred means of transport for Christmas.However, the following rules should also be observed:

Do not contact other family members in the car

Don't carpool, it breaks the isolation.

All family members should minimize contact in advance before driving.

All family members in the car should be asymptomatic.

If a high-risk patient is on the bus, be sure to wear a mask and ventilate regularly.

How to protect yourself on the train?

The risk of infection increases if many people are together for a long time without ventilation.In this case, it's worth investing in quality protective equipment.Because you can't always keep a minimum distance on a train.

Recommends using a certified mask rather than a homemade mask or scarf: "At least a surgical disposable mask is recommended.The mask gets wet quickly, so its protection is limited.For longer train journeys, FFP2 masks are definitely a better choice, filtering out at least 94 percent of aerosols in the air, thus providing maximum protection for the wearer and passengers.At the end of the journey, masks should be discarded and hands should be washed and disinfected."