The Thanksgiving Holiday
Despite guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as pleas from health officials to celebrate virtually, large crowds and lines formed for several days at airports over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s leading infectious disease expert, stated, “what we expect, unfortunately, as we go into the next couple of weeks of December is that we might see a surge superimposed on the surge we are already in. He further explained that it can take two weeks for infected people to develop symptoms, and asymptomatic people can spread the virus without knowing they have it.
With all of this in mind, it is incredibly important to follow the CDC holiday celebration guidelines for staying safe and healthy during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
CDC Recommendation for Upcoming Holiday Celebrations
This holiday season, the CDC urges you to consider how your holiday plans can be modified to reduce the spread of COVID-19 to keep your friends, families, and communities healthy and safe. Celebrating virtually or with members of your own household (who are consistently taking measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19) poses the lowest risk for spread. This is how the CDC and health officials are advising us to spend the holiday season. While it seems like a big sacrifice, keep in mind it is one holiday season spent apart to ensure many more can be celebrated together in the future. To help lower the risk of other holiday activities, such as hosting or attending small gatherings, check out these CDC’s guidelines.
Additional Tips for the 2020 Holiday Season
- Avoid crowded areas, especially if they are indoors.
- Shop online as much as possible. When you need to go out, make a shopping list so you can be as efficient as possible.
- Wash your hands often and use hand sanitizer when water and soap aren’t readily available.
- Skip caroling. Instead, have an indoor singing and/or dancing party with those in your household.
- Look for prerecorded or live streaming church services.
- Have friends and family members from different households participate in Christmas activities, such a decorating the tree, baking, opening presents, etc., over Zoom or FaceTime.
- Stay positive and use this holiday season to take a break from the usual holiday stressors. Spend quality time with those in your household, enjoy the little moments and practice gratitude.
For more tips, visit OSF HealthCare.
