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COVID & The Holidays

As many families begin to plan for the upcoming holidays, the CDC offers the following considerations to help protect you and your children from the threat of COVID-19. Note that these considerations are meant to supplement- not replace- any state or local health and safety laws, rules, and regulations.

When planning to host a holiday celebration, Kids First recommends assessing current COVID-19 Levels in our Raleigh and Clayton communities to determine whether to postpone, cancel or limit the number of attendees.

There are several factors that contribute to the risk of getting infected or infecting others with the virus. In combination, these factors create various amounts of risk, so it is important to consider them individually and together:

  1. Community levels of COVID-19

  2. The location of the gathering- Outdoor gathering pose less of a risk than indoor

  3. The duration of the gathering- Longer gatherings pose more risk

  4. Number of people at the gathering- More people pose more risk

  5. Locations attendees are traveling from- Attendees who are traveling from different places pose a risk.

  6. Behaviors of guests prior to gathering- People who haven’t been social distancing and wearing a mask may pose a risk to others

  7. Behavior of attendees during the gathering- Gatherings with preventative measures (masks, social distancing and washing hands) pose less risk than a gathering without preventative measures.

People who should not attend in-person holiday celebrations:

  1. People with or exposed to COVID-19

  2. People at increased risk for severe illness

Holiday travel

Traveling increases the chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others. Use information from the following webpages to decide whether to go on holiday travel:

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time when many families travel long distances to celebrate together. Travel increases the chance of getting and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others. If you must travel, be informed of the risks involved.

Lower risk activities

  1. Having a small dinner with only people who live in your household

  2. Preparing traditional family recipes for family and neighbors, especially those at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and delivering them in a way that doesn’t involve contact with others

  3. Having a virtual dinner and sharing recipes with friends and family

  4. Shopping online rather than in person on the day after Thanksgiving or the next Monday

  5. Watching sports events, parades, and movies from home

Moderate risk activities

  1. Having a small outdoor dinner with family and friends who live in your community

  2. Lower your risk by following CDC’s recommendations on hosting gatherings or cook-outs.

  3. Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, wearing masks is encouraged or enforced, and people are able to maintain social distancing

  4. Attending a small outdoor sports events with safety precautions in place

Higher risk activities

Avoid these higher risk activities to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19:

  1. Going shopping in crowded stores just before, on, or after Thanksgiving

  2. Participating or being a spectator at a crowded race

  3. Attending crowded parades

  4. Attending large indoor gatherings with people from outside of your household

Article Source:

*This article is informational but is not a substitute for medical attention or information from your provider.

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