Holiday Safety During COVID: It’s that time of year and many families are beginning to make holiday travel plans, however COVID-19 is raising questions about the risk that poses for senior loved ones. Now is the time to gather information about travel guidelines and begin conversations with family members about what to expect this holiday season.
COVID-19 And The Holiday Season
COVID-19 might put a damper in holiday plans, but families can still find many ways to promote holiday safety during COVID. You can maintain connections and traditions while keeping everyone as safe as possible! It may be safest to skip this year’s family holiday gathering, public-health experts say — but the decision is a personal one, and there are ways to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission if you choose to get together.
Helpful Tips – In Person Gatherings
Here are some general tips to follow if you choose to gather in person:
- Making sure you have no COVID-like symptoms for at least 2 weeks prior to travel.
- If possible, get tested before you travel and drive.
- Visiting with your friends and family outdoors, when possible. If this is not doable, make sure the room or space is well-ventilated (for example, open windows or doors) and large enough to accommodate social distancing.
- Wearing masks and arrange tables and chairs to allow for social distancing.
- Consider activities where social distancing is maintained, like sidewalk chalk art or yard games.
- Try to avoid close contact with your visitors. For example, don’t shake hands or hug. Instead wave and verbally greet them.
Limit contact with commonly touched surfaces or shared items:
- Encourage your visitors to bring their own food and drinks.
- Clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces and any shared items between use.
- The fewer people touching food, the better. Avoid platters and serving dishes that are commonly shared. Try to keep servings as separate as possible.
- Minimize cross-contamination. Do not eat directly from shared pots, sharing glasses of liquid.
Washing your hands:
- Everyone should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds at the beginning and end of the visit and whenever you think your hands may have become contaminated.
- If soap and water are not available, such as with outdoor activities, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Remind guests to wash or sanitize their hands before serving or eating food.
- Use single-use hand towels or paper towels for drying hands so visitors do not share towels. Have a no-touch trash can available for guests to use.
