COVID-19 and Christmas; How to celebrate safely.

  Celebrate Safely Christmas.                                         

                                                                                                                                                                 The winter holidays are upon us, but this year, the pandemic has made family gatherings more difficult and potentially unsafe. How can we celebrate without increasing our or other people’s risk of COVID-19?

This time of year is 

typically  filled with

 holiday parties, 

family get togethers

 and lots of time 

spent with loved 

ones. However, COVID-19 makes many of 

these activities high

 risk for spreading 

the virus. Just like 

with everything 

else this year, 

holiday plans need 

to be adjusted to 

protect ourselves, 

our families, and 

our communities. 

Though new 

vaccines have many

of us feeling 

hopeful, now is not 

the time to let our 

guard down.

Considerations for Small Gatherings of Family and Friends

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. Your household is anyone who currently lives and shares common spaces in your housing unit (such as your house or apartment). This can include family members, as well as roommates or people who are unrelated to you. People who do not currently live in your housing unit, such as college students who are returning home from school for the holidays, should be considered part of different households. In-person gatherings that bring together family members or friends from different households, including college students returning home, pose varying levels of risk.

Food and drinks at small holiday gatherings

Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that handling food or eating is associated with directly spreading COVID-19. It is possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object, including food, food packaging, or utensils that have the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. However, this is not thought to be the main way that the virus is spread. Remember, it is always important to follow food safety practices to reduce the risk of illness from common foodborne germs.

• Encourage guests to bring food and drinks for themselves and for members of their own household only; avoid potluck-style gatherings.
• Wear a mask while preparing food for or serving food to others who don’t live in your household.
• All attendees should have a plan for where to store their mask while eating and drinking. Keep it in a dry, breathable bag (like a paper or mesh fabric bag) to keep it clean between uses.
• Limit people going in and out of the areas where food is being prepared or handled, such as in the kitchen or around the grill, if possible.