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If you’re hoping to celebrate the holidays this year in the midst of a pandemic, you still can. But in order to do it safely and to minimize risk, it will look very different than the holiday celebrations you’re used to. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that small household gatherings are an important contributor to the rise in COVID-19 cases.
With the COVID-19 pandemic still surging, you’re going to have to flip the script on your typical holiday plans. You may even have to make some tough decisions, like inviting fewer people to keep your gathering as small as possible. You may even have to try a few different ways to celebrate this year.
Let’s take a look at some ways you can celebrate the holidays this year while minimizing the spread of COVID-19.
In order to celebrate safely, you’ll need a lot of ventilation. A few ways to do this include:
The safest indoor space is one that constantly has lots of outside air replacing the stale air inside.
Your best option is to go outside (if the weather permits), and if you’re fortunate enough to get outside, there are a few additional precautions you can take.
Remember that the smaller your gathering, the easier it will be for everyone to spread out.
If you’re not willing to take the risk of inviting family members (and friends) into your home, you can always set up a virtual table. Host a Zoom call for your family.
Once everyone agrees on a time, try placing your laptop either at the head of the table or on a lazy Susan in the middle of the table so that it can rotate and face the person speaking.
Host a practice call with everyone before your celebration to work out any technical kinks.
The CDC shares some additional tips on their website. They include:
Here are more safe ways to celebrate Thanksgiving from the CDC. Researchers at the Ohio Department of Public Health and the CDC are doing everything in their power to keep coronavirus from spreading any further in the United States.
The bottom line is to be smart. Taking a few extra precautions may seem a little out of sorts, but it’s the best way to keep you and your family safe.
By practicing these safety guidelines, you can still have a happy holiday season.
And now that flu season is here, if you’d like to learn more about the characteristics of both influenza and COVID-19, visit our new interactive webpage. You’ll find all of the similarities and differences between the viruses and other ways to protect yourself this flu season.