The winter holidays are upon us, but this year, the pandemic has made family gatherings more difficult and potentially unsafe. How can we celebrate without increasing our or other people’s risk of COVID-19?
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” However, this holiday season, some of the magic has been compromised by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Safety ‘on the go’
“The safest way to celebrate winter holidays is at home with the people who live with you.”
Research has suggested that almost half of those who contract the new coronavirus do not experience any telltale symptoms. That being the case, they may unwittingly spread it further.
That is why the main piece of advice this season continues to be to avoid social gatherings and only celebrate with people from one’s own household.
The CDC advise that people who may need to travel at this time should:
- avoid seeing people who may already face a heightened risk of COVID-19
- refrain from traveling to areas where the number of COVID-19 cases is on the rise
- avoid traveling outside their town if cases in the region where they live have been on the rise, so as to stop the virus from spreading further
- drive rather than using public transportation, where possible, to avoid close contact with other travelers
- avoid traveling with people from other households to minimize the risk of exposure
‘Yes’ to loving care; ‘no’ to peer pressure
If you are planning to attend a small gathering, the CDC recommend making sure that you and the host are on the same page when it comes to health and safety measures.
Furthermore, it may be best to use single-use plates and cutlery and individual condiment packets. People may also wish to consider bringing their own food instead of sharing food with other guests.
To prevent the spread of viral particles, wearing face masks — both indoors and outdoors — for as long as possible remains best practice, as well as washing or sanitizing the hands before and after having contact with high-touch surfaces or commonly used utensils.
“Sometimes, balancing the needs of others with our own needs can be tricky, and it can take a while to work out what feels like the right thing to do. So the first piece of advice may be not to rush into decision making. Open discussion among family members about what they would like, and what feels safe and appropriate, will help.”
