When the weather begins to get cold people tend to head indoors for activities, which can make it more difficult to limit the spread of viruses. 

Dallas County Health Department Public Information Officer Ann Cochran says the colder months make it more difficult to mitigate the spread of different viruses because people are indoors more for things like basketball games, but she encourages the same mitigation practices.

“Dallas County (Health Department) encourages you to wear a mask at indoor, public spaces. Please continue to reduce the circulation of viruses including COVID, influenza and colds by using the numerous weapons in our arsenal.”

Cochran tells Raccoon Valley Radio these practices include wearing a mask, washing hands frequently, avoiding touching your face and getting vaccinated. Cochran says these practices are proven to work.

“It’s important to realize that last winter we had fewer cases of flu than we had for a long time. Much of that is related to the fact that people were social distancing, they were washing their hands way more than they usually did and they were doing things like trying to avoid touching surfaces.”

Cochran says these things can go a long way in mitigating the spread of any virus, not just COVID-19.