Socializing and Seeing Friends:
Getting together with others is important to our wellbeing. There are actions you can take to reduce your chances of getting COVID-19 or passing it on to your friends and family.
- Fewer faces, bigger spaces – think of this when deciding who should be in your social group and how you want to spend time together. Meeting outside in open spaces is safer than indoors.
- Physical distancing is always important when you are with people outside of your immediate “bubble.” Keeping a physical distance is the most effective way of preventing the spread of COVID-19.
- Avoid spending time in person if someone is feeling unwell – If any member of your household or social group is sick, or thinks they might be sick, they should not be spending time, in person, with others. People who have symptoms of COVID-19 should get tested and follow self-isolation guidelines.
- Wash your hands often – this is one of the best ways to stay healthy, along with not touching your face.
- Sharing food – If you share food, have people use their own serving utensils and avoid shared finger foods like chips, unless served directly from the package to each person individually (you can use small bowls to do this!)
- Disinfect things that lots of people might touch – like doorknobs, faucets, doorbells, elevator buttons (check with your building manager if you live in an apartment or condo), light switches, etc.
- Keep a record of the people you spend time with – in the event someone does get COVID-19, knowing who you spent time with and having their contact information on hand will help public health get in touch quickly to reduce the chances of spreading COVID-19 to others in your community including those who are more likely to experience severe illness.
Remember – the more space you have, and the less time you spend together, the safer you are!
Socializing After Getting Vaccinated
We know that hanging out with other queer people is important to a lot of us. Whether socially, for sex, or both, spending time with others in these ways can help make us feel sexually and socially fulfilled. Throughout the pandemic we’ve been social distancing and trying our best to minimize the likelihood of spreading the virus.
We know that everybody has experienced the consequences and pressures of social distancing differently. It’s important to be kind to ourselves and others if we or they haven’t been perfect at it, and give each other the benefit of the doubt. With the vaccine rollout and declining hospitalization, we can see light at the end of the tunnel, but we still have a bit more to go.
For now, everyone who receives the vaccine is still expected to follow the public health orders for each Reopening Step. After you get a vaccine, it will still be important to continue to practice all the preventive measures that have been recommended, including washing your hands, maintaining a safe physical distance, wearing a mask, and staying home when sick.
Why is this important?
- It takes about 2 weeks for your body to gain protection from the COVID-19 vaccine. This means that if you contracted COVID-19 before getting the vaccine, or within the 2-week period following the vaccine, you may still get sick. So, if you experience symptoms of COVID-19 after you’ve been vaccinated, use the BC self-assessment tool to determine if you need to be tested.
- The vaccine won’t stop everyone from getting COVID-19. For those who do get the virus, it is less likely you will experience severe illness.
- The available vaccines are highly effective, but you could be in the small number of people that don’t have immunity. You can still spread COVID-19 if you touch things and don’t wash your hands or interact with people in close proximity.
- After receiving your COVID-19 vaccine, be sure to keep a copy of your immunization record. By registering for Health Gateway, you will be able to access a digital copy of your COVID-19 vaccine record. The Health Gateway is a single place for BC residents to access their health records.
- Until most of the population has received the vaccine and we develop herd immunity, these measures help us control the spread (and mutation) of the virus.
- For more information, watch the video Can we get rid of Covid-19 forever?
As things change, public health measures will be updated and adjusted. It is important to keep following public health recommendations in the meantime to ensure that we keep the virus controlled.
Having Sex and Staying Safe:
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