Advice on limiting indoor gatherings, travel, and public events
Washington, DC, November 25, 2020 (PAHO) – Holiday season gatherings and travel carry risks. People should follow directions from national and local health authorities to make the holidays as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. Assistant to the Pan American Health Organization director Jarbas Barbosa said today.
“There is no risk-free holiday season during a pandemic. Every meeting, shopping trip, and travel plan increases the likelihood that the virus will spread, ”Barbosa said at a press conference in Washington. “It is important that everyone continue to apply public health measures that we know are effective in controlling the spread of the virus,” e. B. wearing a mask in public, even in the presence of people from other households, and maintaining a safe distance from others.
People should also avoid the 3Cs: rooms that are closed, overcrowded, or in close contact with others should wash their hands frequently. “These measures are especially important as we enter the holiday season,” when communities gather to celebrate religious festivals and generations of families come together to say thanks, “Barbosa said.
“PAHO and WHO recommend that countries experiencing widespread transmission of the virus seriously consider postponing or reducing mass gatherings. This is NOT the time to host large gatherings. Every country, city, and municipality should base its decisions about hosting public events on the latest available data – particularly data showing where the virus is spreading and whether health systems have the capacity to keep up with the cases hold, ”he added.
Even smaller indoor gatherings can be particularly risky as they bring together groups of young and old from different households who may not all follow the same infection prevention measures, Barbosa warned. “They should be kept outside whenever possible, and participants should wear masks and keep social distance. Indoors, limiting group sizes and choosing well-ventilated areas can help reduce exposure, ”he noted.
When it comes to travel, people should be careful and the safest option is to stay at home, he said. “PAHO recommends NOT relying on laboratory testing for travelers. However, we’ve seen countries in our region and around the world put testing at the center of their travel policies. This cannot guarantee safe travel or eliminate the risks associated with infected travelers, and resources can be used in other ways to have a greater public health impact, “Barbosa said.
Barbosa investigated the situation in the Americas and said there had been more than 25 million cases and over 700,000 deaths. There were 1.5 million cases in the last week alone, which is the highest weekly number since the pandemic began. “While a rapid surge in infections in the US has been a major driver, cases continue to accelerate in some countries in North, Central and South America as part of a mosaic of different epidemiological patterns that we are seeing,” Barbosa said.
Noticing news of vaccine effectiveness reported by various drug companies, he added, “Many people are understandably encouraged by recent developments in finding an effective COVID-19 vaccine, but we must continue to be patient and careful because it will be months before a vaccine is widely available. “
Barbosa said, “The individual choices we make this holiday season will affect not only the people closest to us, but our communities as well.” During the pandemic, countries changed the way people work, go to school and participate in civil life “so we can keep our friends and families as safe and healthy as possible. The holidays shouldn’t be any different. People are planning virtual dinners, sending virtual parties, and opting for smaller ceremonies, even if it means making personal sacrifices, ”he added.
contacts
Sebastian Oliel
Daniel Epstein
mediateam@paho.org
