Holiday Gatherings During COVID-19

The holidays are a time to be with loved ones, celebrate and relax. But what about the holidays during the COVID-19 pandemic?

The safest way to celebrate the holidays this year is at home only with people who live with you, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But there are other ways to make your holiday safer if you will not be celebrating at home.

Check out the following tips from the CDC.

Consider a Virtual Gathering

Video calls have become a way of life in 2020, and there's a great reason for that: You can't transmit the coronavirus over the internet. Hosting a virtual holiday gathering with the people you would normally invite to your home for the holidays can be a great way to see everyone and catch up while still maintaining as many COVID-19 safety recommendations as possible.

You can even coordinate so everyone can sit down and (virtually) eat, open gifts and celebrate together.

Be Outdoors if Possible

If you are hosting or attending a holiday gathering and the weather permits, be outside if at all possible. Outdoor gatherings make it much easier for guests to maintain social distance. And viruses are not as easily transferred through the air outside as they are inside.

If the gathering cannot be outside, ensure that it is in a well-ventilated home or building and consider opening windows.

Wear Masks

Wear your mask when you are around people who you don't live with — even at a holiday gathering with your extended family members. This is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Socially Distance

Maintain a distance of six feet between yourself and others as much as possible. Avoid crowded areas during the holidays, and make sure the place you intend to celebrate with family and friends offers enough room for everyone to spread out.

Wash Your Hands Frequently

Inside, outside, with extended family or with only your household members, washing your hands is as important as ever. Doing so not only reduces the risk of the spread of COVID-19, it also reduces the risk of many other infections and illnesses, including those related to handling raw meats like turkey and ham.

Get Tested

If you must attend a gathering for the holidays, one safety measure you can take is to get tested for COVID-19 before you go. This is not a perfect way to make sure you are not COVID-positive, but it can certainly help.

Don't Go if You Are Sick or Were Exposed

One of the best ways to slow the spread of COVID-19 over the holidays is to make sure you do not attend a gathering when you are ill. According to the CDC, the following people should not go to any sort of in-person holiday gathering:

• Anyone who faces an increased risk of illness from COVID-19
• Anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and has not yet been cleared to be around others
• Anyone who might have been exposed to someone who had the virus within the last two weeks
• Anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms
• Anyone who is awaiting COVID-19 viral test results

If you are concerned about your risk for COVID-19 over the holidays, it is best to avoid exposing yourself to the risk. If you have any questions, speak with your health care provider.