The holiday season has started! Regardless of what you celebrate, here are some guidelines from the CDC on how to spend the holidays safely.

First and foremost, more than 2 million COVID-19 cases were reported in the last two weeks (today being 11/25).  Therefore, the safest way to celebrate the holidays is with the people you live with, or with a virtual gathering. If this is not possible, we will provide travel and gathering guidelines.   

First and foremost, wear a mask, stay 6 feet apart and wash your hands frequently with soap and water for twenty seconds.

Traveling

• Check to see if your destination has high levels of COVID-19
• Check the COVID-19 restrictions for your destination, and for the trip along the way. Ex: Check if there are mask mandates outdoors in the state you are in if you are getting out of the car along the way
• Get the flu shot before you travel
• Avoid touching your mask, eyes, nose, and mouth
• Bring extra masks and sanitizers

 Gathering and Food Precautions

• Ask guests to avoid contact with other people for 14 days before gathering

• Limit attendance based on the state/local guidelines
• Avoid direct contact with anyone outside your household. Ex: hugs and handshakes
• Have your gatherings outside
• Avoid singing and shouting, especially indoors. And to further avoid shouting avoid playing loud music so the guests won’t have to shout over the music
• Increase ventilation by opening windows and doors if the gathering is inside
• Provide extra masks, stock bathrooms with single-use hand towels/paper towels, and plenty of hand soap

                                                                   …

• If it is possible, everyone can bring their own food. If not…
  • Limit people around areas of food preparation and handling
  • Use disposable plates and utensils, and use individually packaged condiments 
  • Before making, serving, and eating food, encourage people to wash their hands
  • Also, make sure to wear a mask while serving and preparing food
  • Limit contact with shared items. Ex: Have one person serve everyone so everyone won’t have to touch the serving utensils 

 We hope you have a wonderful holiday season; have fun and be safe!