The big holiday season is on its way, and that means it’s time to start making plans with your friends and family to figure out where you’re going and who’s going to be there. Even though the pandemic is slightly better than it was at this time last year, that doesn’t mean you should make any reckless decisions. There are certain things you’ll want to do to ensure everyone’s safety. That’s why we’ve put together a guide on how to have safe holiday gatherings during COVID this year.
Get Vaccinated
Let’s get the controversial one out of the way first. We’re not here to try to convince you one way or the other. All we want to say is that, according to the CDC, the best way to stay safe this holiday season is to get a vaccination. If you or a family member can’t get one due to medical reasons, they recommend staying with other people who are vaccinated to achieve herd immunity.
Take a Test Before Going
To ensure your loved ones’ safety, you should at the very least get a COVID-19 test before you leave to visit them. That way, you can assure them that you were virus-free when you last checked before seeing them. Even if you are vaccinated, it won’t hurt to check so that you don’t pass it along without knowing.
Keep Your Distance When You Can
Once everybody is there, you should still try to keep your distance. Obviously, that’s not always going to be possible, so it’s a good idea to keep a mask on you in case you are stuck in close proximity for an extended period. A great way to avoid this is to plan the gathering at the largest house in your family or friend group. That way, you can spread out if you need to.
Wash Your Hands Regularly
Everyone is probably an expert at washing their hands by now, but it never hurts to have a reminder on the best times to do it. Of course, you should wash up after coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose, or going to the bathroom. Another ideal time is before or after eating since your hands will be in and around your mouth.
Stay At Home If You Have To
Depending on your circumstance, the best tip we can offer for how to have safe holiday gatherings during COVID is to stay home. Unfortunately, this will be the case for many older folks since they are more prone to the adverse side effects of the disease.
However, that doesn’t mean they have to be alone this year. There are plenty of ways to keep older family members connected while everyone else is meeting up during the pandemic. The best way is to have a live chat with them during the festivities. Bring the device to the dinner table to help them feel like they’re still there, even though they’re eating their holiday meal back at home.