How to Stay Safe and Enjoy Holidays during Corona Crisis
Everything has changed. The new normal is something we all would never have dreamt of living in our lifetime. One tiny little virus has wreaked havoc and affected almost everything around us.
From socializing to going to work, from a simple mere handshake to hugging a loved one, visiting stores, being at crowd gatherings, traveling, and even partying with family and friends. The pandemic has made us think about our safety first rather than these activities.
Humans are the most intelligent species on the planet and until the permanent cure is found and administered to every single person, here are some of the best possible ways to ensure safety while performing routine tasks and activities.
The holiday season of 2020 will be special one. It will be celebrated in the most unique and different ways, all because of the novel Coronavirus.
We have to go out shopping.
We will have guests coming to our home.
We will be going to parties.
How can we stay safe and enjoy holidays in such critical times?
How can we ensure that our loved ones are safe while celebrating the holidays?
It’s not a difficult task to make this possible. We just have to follow certain guidelines, take appropriate measures, and stick to protocols while doing our best to avoid any possible risks of infection.
[A fact: It’s now acknowledged that the transmission of the virus is 10 times easier inside as compared to outdoors. During the holidays, family members and friends sit elbow-to-elbow and that might put everyone at potential risk, thereby witnessing an increased number of cases.]
If you are hosting or attending a holiday gathering, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends:
· To choose outdoor gatherings over indoors
· Keeping the time of the gathering short
· Keeping the gathering small
· Consider if guests arrive after traveling
· Washing only self-used dishes will avoid cross-contamination
· It is better to use paper plates than regular dishes
· Avoid using serving utensils or passing on the dishes
· Ensure to disinfect or clean up common areas
A good read: Holiday Celebration 2020-What CDC Recommends
CDC has also shared guidelines for those who need to travel during the holidays. You can check these from the links below:
- Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Know Your Travel Risk
- Know When to Delay Your Travel to Avoid Spreading COVID-19
- Considerations for traveling overnight
Here’s the bottom line: Whether it is Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year, people are making intelligent decisions. They are celebrating with close family members within their home and connecting virtually for the celebration with members of their extended family as well as friends.
Always remember, the pandemic is not over yet and you would never know if the person standing next to you is infected with the novel virus or not. It is very important to adhere to the safety precautions during the holidays and thereafter.
Other guidelines and preventive measures suggested by the experts say:
· If travel cannot be avoided, it’s better to drive than fly
· Always wear a mask even if there are just a few people around
· Bring your own food when you travel
· Keep at least 6 feet distance from people outside your family
· Wash hands frequently
· At least 2 weeks before travel, keep a check on any Covid symptoms
· After arriving, if possible, quarantine yourself for 48 hours before meeting family and friends
Research shows that people with mild to moderate Covid infection don’t spread coronavirus infected respiratory droplets in the air. The risk of infection from them tends to be low.
However, a person with a severe viral infection who is continuously coughing, talking, or shouting can disperse up to 7.4 million Covid-19 viruses in every cubic meter of air in a closed or inadequately ventilated room.
If you are attending an event that is organized in a small indoor space with a lot of people, you will be at a higher risk of infection if there is someone already infected.
The good news is you don’t have to cancel the holiday celebrations, just follow these guidelines and you will be able to enjoy the holiday season safely together with family and friends.
