It's December, which means you're probably already counting down the days until your holiday celebrations. Everyone has their own traditions, but it's important to acknowledge that this year, celebrations will and should be very different to keep both individuals and entire communities safe amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated their holiday guidelines so you can be aware of how you should adjust your holiday plans.
Keep in mind that the CDC's recommendations are all meant to supplement the local health and safety regulations in your area. Similar to the regulations announced ahead of Thanksgiving, the main suggested best practice is that holiday celebrations should only include groups of people that belong to the same household (see: family members who live in the same home and roommates). College students who are coming home from school for the holidays should be considered a different household.
Some of the factors that affect the risk level of holiday gatherings include the community's COVID-19 levels, travel, the location of the gathering, the duration of the gathering, social distancing, and behaviors of the attendees both prior to and during the gathering. Traveling—especially to and from high risk areas—is not advised as the virus can be spread while on public transportation. The safest way to gather is outside where there is consistent air flow, as well as with consistent social distancing and masks worn properly when individuals are not eating.
Since the holidays are often times people get together to enjoy food, the CDC also recommends offering single-use plates and utensils, designating one person to serve items, and limiting how many people are in the area that the food is being prepared. It's important to remember that you can still feel close to loved ones during this time of year through Zoom or other virtual gatherings. You can read the CDC's full report of holiday guidelines here.
