CDC Recommendations To Stay Safe During The Holiday Season The pandemic is now part of our everyday life, meaning that ordinary things like knocking on many strangers' doors to get candy or merely gathering in a big group may not be possible. But you don't need to get disheartened. As the holidays are approaching, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released some recommendations to stay safe during the celebrations. These recommendations focus on many of the safety precautions suggested throughout the pandemic — staying outdoors, keeping a distance, wearing masks, and few new strategies, such as gauging your guests' behavior in recent weeks and limiting the size and duration of gatherings.
#1. Arrange your gatherings outside Plenty of evidence shows that coronavirus spreads readily indoors, especially in buildings with poor ventilation. When you arrange your parties in the open, airflow is better, and you can easily maintain a safe distance, reducing the risk of virus spread. Also, don't forget to wear a mask between drinking and eating.
#2. Limit the time-duration during gatherings How sick a person gets depends on how long the person was exposed to the coronavirus. The lesser time people are exposed to someone with COVID-19, the lower their risk of getting sick. As the virus's spread depends on various factors, including poor ventilation, airflow, viral load, and whether people are wearing masks, it's better to limit your duration during gatherings. The longer you spend indoors, the greater your risk for contracting or spreading the virus.
#3. Invite fewer people The more people you invite, the greater the risk you'll be exposed to COVID-19. So, putting a cap on invitations will keep you and your guests safe. According to the experts, the gathering limit should be 10 or fewer.
#4. Guage your guests' behavior in recent weeks If you're planning to arrange a party, don't forget to keep a check on your guests' behavior in recent weeks – whether they've attended any grand event or been in contact with a bigger group. Have an honest conversation with your guests about the situation. If you find anyone risky to invite, suggest a safer visit to them.
#5. Don't forget to wear a mask Wearing a mask and maintaining physical distance are necessary steps to reduce the risk of contracting the virus. Wearing a mask will help protect others around you, and you to stay safe from the people exposed to the virus. Wearing a mask is mandatory, whether you're inside or outside.
#6. Be attentive to sanitization If you're having an indoor gathering, focus on the proper sanitization of highly touchable surfaces, such as refrigerators, tables, remotes, doorknobs, and more. Don't forget to wash your hands with soap and water before you eat, before touching your face, after using the restroom, and anytime your hands are dirty.
With so much going on in the world, the holidays are going to be different this year. You don't need to cancel your holiday plans unless you're not feeling well. If you're feeling the holiday spirit, you can have as much fun as you want by following the CDC recommendations. Source: https://www.wiserxcard.com/cdc-recommendations-to-stay-safe-during-the-holidayseason/