In 2021, there are four ways to prevent COVID from spoiling Christmas once more.

The UK has seen between 30,000 and 50,000 new COVID cases each day this autumn, and worldwide, instances are rising again after months of steady reduction - to the point that several governments are renewing measures to combat the virus. Austria has resumed its state of emergency, with other European countries mulling similar steps.

So, like last year, this winter is shaping up to be a season of discontent. In Northern Ireland, the government is advising people to work from home once more, while England's winter strategy mentions mask wearing, working from home, and vaccine passports as possibilities. If necessary, the administration has refused to rule out taking even tougher measures.

But, if we want to avoid the disappointments of last Christmas, there is a lot we can do on our own to keep us out of lockdown. Here are four ways we can help limit the virus during the winter, prevent cases from spiraling out of control, and keep ourselves and others around us safe as we prepare for the holiday season.

Vaccinations, vaccines, vaccines, vaccines, vaccines, vaccines, vaccines, vaccines, vaccine

First jabs, second jabs, and booster jabs should all be on everyone's Christmas wish list. Vaccines have been shown to reduce the severity of COVID as well as its transmission. According to a recent study from England, having received both vaccine doses reduces the chance of transmitting COVID within your household by around 27%.

Those who have not yet been vaccinated, or who have not yet had their second dose — for example, most 16- to 17-year-olds, who are now eligible to do so – should do so in order to make socializing safer over Christmas, especially with vulnerable relatives or friends.

Also, don't forget to get your flu shot. Because of the recent 18 months of lockdowns and social isolation, many of us are under-exposed to flu viruses and risk being sicker than usual if we acquire the flu this winter. According to research, catching the flu when already infected with COVID increases your chances of dying. Reintroducing stronger restrictions would be a primary factor for reducing flu cases and reducing the likelihood of the NHS becoming overwhelmed.

It's not simply for squirrels to hibernate.

A little voluntary pre-Christmas hibernation would also be a good idea. The single most important thing we can do in the next months after becoming vaccinated is to limit our interaction with others.

Less is more when it comes to combining. If we all made little changes, even if it was just a few fewer close interactions per week, it would build up to a significant reduction in virus transmission.

In practice, how might this look? Perhaps we keep the office Christmas party but not the office – at least for the time being. According to the evidence, persons who work have twice as many close contacts as those who do not. As a result, encouraging people to work from home can assist to decrease interaction.

According to data, the number of people working entirely from home is less than half of what it was last winter, implying that the overall amount of contact now occurring might be drastically reduced. Working from home is, of course, simpler for some than for others, and the government and companies both have a role to play in making flexible working more popular.

We can minimize our connections outside of the job by embarking on a pre-Christmas social diet, for example, by attending only one or two parties instead of several. A calm December will assist ensure that we can not only enjoy a relatively stress-free Christmas, but also that we can begin to make up for lost socializing in spring 2022.

Getting a smaller turkey is a good idea.

After missing last Christmas, it may seem difficult, but huge holiday parties should be postponed until 2022. That doesn't imply the turkey needs to be exactly the same size as last year - but it should be smaller than usual.

According to research, restricting the number of people who can meet indoors, such as the "rule of six," is another efficient strategy to reduce our number of interactions and so limit the virus's spread.

Of course, no one wants these kinds of laws to return, so perhaps by intentionally keeping parties a little smaller this year, we won't need them, especially in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Increasing the airflow

Socks and woolen sweaters are typically thought of as stocking stuffers or last-minute purchases, but they make excellent gifts this year. We need to pay attention to ventilation. Because the virus is airborne, increasing air circulation at home or at the office is another strategy to reduce transmission.

When the temperature drops, though, this is easier said than done. Mechanical ventilation is rare in households, yet it is often insufficient in offices and public spaces. The good news is that the colder the outside temperature, the greater the air movement and thus the smaller the opening we require - so even a small crack in a window on a cold or windy day is preferable than leaving it shut.

So, whether by having windows open (for at least ten minutes each hour) at home or by spending more time in enclosed outdoor places, clothing warmly to get fresh air without freezing can substantially help lower the chance of transmission.

If we all take some little but major efforts to decrease our own and others' risk this winter, we can really help relieve pressure on the NHS, avoid the kinds of restrictions we're seeing in other countries, and, most importantly, save lives and prevent illness. Without them, we risk a rerun of last year, with significant limitations on what we can achieve starting in 2022.