(Following the helpful advice below through the coming celebrations of Christmas and New Year’s Eve can save lives. Don’t let Covid-fatigue make you get careless as we help our friends and families bring the year of 2020 to a happy close.)
By Noelia Gonzalez
For several families, Thanksgiving is about gathering the whole family and enjoying a nice home-cooked meal with relatives and friends. Though as COVID-19 the pandemic continues in our lives, reunions, parties, and other social-get-togethers are risky during this holiday season. Such that, public health experts stated small gatherings are one of the key reasons COVID-19 cases are rising again. The CDC continues to update its guidance on events during this season, recommending that people only gather with the ones who live in their households. But that doesn’t mean our annual day of thanks is going to be a bummer, there are various ways to celebrate without putting yourself or others in danger. However, with meticulous planning and lower risk activities, your family can create lasting memories while taking care of yourself and of others.
The CDC’S guidelines for a safe celebration
“Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others,” stated the CDC.
Being that Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel holidays of the year, numerous people look forward to this holiday. This is a time where families come together to enjoy delicious food and the company of their loved ones. Yet, this year experts say to avoid travel if possible, to avoid spreading or contracting the virus.
How to help avoid getting and spreading COVID-19 this Thanksgiving according to the CDC
- Celebrate only with the people in your household
The lowest-risk option, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), is to restrict in-person gatherings to people who live in your household. Planning a special meal, such as helping your parents or siblings cook, decorate, or set the table for the holidays are exciting ways to enjoy each other’s company while staying safe and keeping others safe.
- A virtual dinner with relatives and friends
Due to the complete transition of in-person activities being switched to remote, it has helped improve video conferencing platforms. There are many video conferencing platforms for celebrations this year. In fact, here are some tips for a virtual Thanksgiving dinner with the elders. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association(ASHA) suggests figuring out different ways to communicate with older adults who may struggle with their vision, hearing, or technical difficulty. Try using closed captioning or a larger screen, and make sure to be close to the device you are using to better hear and see facial expressions or hand signals meant for you.
- Open windows
If you are indoors, open windows to allow for a flow of ventilation to pass through wherever you are. If possible, if weather permits, gather outdoors if you have your own backyard where you will be at a certain distance from your neighbors.
- Safe serving
One person or two should be permitted to handle and serve the food to the others, if the server and handler are constantly switched the possibility of transmitting the virus to one another becomes higher. Remind everyone to wash their hands often, especially children as they often forget to. Have a hand sanitizer easily available in different parts of your home in case soap and water may not be available at the moment.
If you are traveling keep in mind:
Traveling during a pandemic is dangerous as it increases the chance of spreading COVID-19 very easily to people. The CDC recommends rescheduling your trip and remaining where you are for Thanksgiving however if you do deceit to travel remember these tips to keep yourself and everyone safe:
- Drive with people who you have been with for a long period of time in a private vehicle to avoid exposing yourself and others to the virus.
- Wear a mask at all times, in the car if you have your windows down, entering a gas station, or at rest stops.
- Prepare food for the ride from home to avoid making stops at restaurants where you could easily contract the disease or pass it on to someone else.
- If traveling by plane, remember to sanitize your seat and armrests, keep your masks on at all times, and distance yourself from other passengers if possible.
Remember:
Do not host any large gatherings or parties with people who do not live in your household. If you believe you may have contracted the virus by gathering with the people who live in your household, go to the doctor immediately and get tested.
Stay Safe during this year’s Thanksgiving, there will be many more Thanksgivings to come that are covid free later on. Enjoy this one as safely as you can.