From traveling to visiting family and friends to personal events, the holidays during COVID-19 have raised many questions about how to party safely.
It is the time of year when families and friends usually gather to share food and gifts. But with the COVID-19 pandemic, this year will be different.
After months of separation, many families and friends consider whether to try and spend the vacation together while doing their best not to spread the coronavirus or to skip the gatherings altogether for the safety of themselves and others.
While there is nothing that can completely eliminate the risk of having people celebrate the holidays with others, the good news is that there are ways to make a gathering safer.
“This doesn’t all have to be doom and darkness,” said Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, MAS and Chairman of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at UC San Francisco.
Many health experts predict a sharp spike in coronavirus infections during the holidays, as people across the country travel to and from areas with higher COVID-19 rates. However, precautions can be taken to limit the extent of the spread, Bibbins-Domingo said. “We have opportunities to protect ourselves and our loved ones during this time when we traditionally come together.”
Bibbins-Domingo and other infectious disease experts from UCSF say that while there are some clear “prohibitions” in place this holiday season, there are a number of strategies to minimize risk. Top of the list are the things we’ve already done – wearing masks, keeping a physical distance of at least two meters, and frequent hand washing. These decisions combine well with testing, planning low-risk activities, safe travel, and creative ideas for involving people in festivities.
Gaining recognition of our desire
The first thing experts note about the holidays is that feeling like wanting to be with friends and family is normal, although we know that gatherings during a pandemic can pose a danger to ourselves or others.
“Let’s just acknowledge that this urge to be together is really strong,” said Bibbins-Domingo, noting that after such a long time, many people especially need support from those they are close to.
Unfortunately, the people for whom holiday gatherings are most risky, such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, may be most in need of social connection.
“We asked the most vulnerable in our culture to seek refuge and now they are the most isolated and neediest to see people,” said Bibbins-Domingo.
Breaking up on lockdown takes a psychological toll that can be just as dangerous to a person’s health as exposure to coronavirus, says Maria Raven, MD, MPH and head of the Emergency Medicine Department at UCSF. “You really have to weigh the risks and benefits of seeing people,” she said.
Raven said she sees an increase in the need for mental health care during a normal holiday season, and she expects it to worsen this year as people may feel more isolated due to the pandemic.
Establishing clear ground rules and testing
Establishing ground rules before each gathering is key to making sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to agreeing and following precautions, Raven said.
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Ideas for safer gatherings
As the pandemic develops during the winter season, people are advised to watch out for changes in guidelines and the availability of tests.
Here are some ideas for making gatherings safer:
Read additional guidance from the CDC
It is also important to know what is recommended regarding gatherings in the community you plan to meet in, including the group size and number of people outside your immediate household to meet with, and what local guidelines are for traveling apply. Many cities across the country have regulations based on the amount of parish transfer in the area, and you shouldn’t disregard these rules.
In addition to complying with local rules for gathering, both Raven and Bibbins-Domingo emphasized the importance of testing in preventing the virus from spreading. Testing beforehand will reduce the chances of someone bringing the virus into the group, and testing afterward is important so that someone can alert others in the unfortunate circumstances someone has tested positive for the virus.
Should you travel to see others?
When it comes to travel, Bibbins-Domingo said, “My advice is to crouch and go nowhere. Keep your vacation in a small group that you’ve already spent time with. ”
The office of California Governor Gavin Newsom agrees. Because of the increase in infections, the state is asking people not to travel outside of their district either. For those who feel like they need to travel outside of California, the state’s travel advisory strongly recommends that they quarantine for 14 days upon their return to the state. Additionally, visitors outside of the state of California should plan to quarantine for 14 days after arriving. After that, they should limit interactions to those in their immediate household.
When thinking about travel, consider the spread of COVID-19, where you are and where you want to go, as well as local restrictions and other safety precautions that other communities may or may not benefit.
For example, the low infection rates in the Bay Area compared to other areas across the country and the fact that many families and friends are already in “pods” are good safety arguments to stay there, Raven said. However, if you plan to include people outside of your “pod” on your vacation plans, it is important to know what precautions they have taken and that everyone will be tested, even if they live nearby.
For those looking to travel, sensible precautions can increase security, Bibbins-Domingo said. Driving a rental car or staying in a hotel isn’t too much of a risk, as studies show that surfaces don’t play a major role in the transmission of viruses. On the flip side, you want to make sure that every rental car company or hotel you use has clear hygiene protocols, including detergents that kill SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
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Travel advice
List of state health departments
College students should stay instead of traveling to be with family if possible, said George Rutherford, MD, Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Director of the Prevention and Public Health Group at UCSF. Those who need to leave college campus during the vacation should be tested before going home and again once they have joined the family.
“One test is not enough,” he said, noting that students may be exposed during the trip and that it may take a few days after exposure for the virus to be detectable. “Ideally, there should be an interval of about three days between these tests.”
If you consider air travel, acknowledge that your airline requires and enforces the wearing of masks and make sure you understand the airline’s efforts to allow social distancing. Rutherford suggested booking with an airline that doesn’t sell medium seats.
While air travel is fairly safe, be aware of how you are getting to and from the airport. “This is a good time to pay for a ride instead of taking the bus.” In the car, make sure everyone is wearing face covering and open the windows.
On the plane, Rutherford advised passengers to take a window seat halfway between the front and rear toilets to minimize the number of people walking past them.
“There are ‘good’ and ‘better’ ways to travel,” Bibbins-Domingo said, citing practices like testing twice to avoid false negatives and isolating them until one is traveling or attending a meeting. “If Grandma is involved, you definitely want to make sure you’re doing better.”
“Remember, the most vulnerable people on our networks pay the highest price for our decisions,” she said.
How to Eat Safer
One of the main attractions of many holidays is of course eating together. It will also be the main source of risk as everyone at the table will take off their masks and most likely will be sitting and talking within six feet of someone else.
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UCSF tour guide
Faculty, staff and students can find UCSF-specific tour guides.
Staying outdoors is the best plan, Raven said, though she recognizes that weather conditions can challenge it.
“If you’ve decided that you absolutely have to eat together and do it indoors, do it in a room where you can keep the windows open for ventilation,” she said.
In addition, Raven said, keep your paraphernalia to yourself and choose someone to prepare the holiday dinner for others to minimize the number of people around and to handle the food. Another option is to order groceries that arrive as individual servings so that there is no need to cook or process food.
When it comes to seating arrangements, use separate tables for separate families or groups that are already in a “bubble,” Rutherford said. Arrange the tables so they are at least three feet apart and remind people not to go from table to table to chat. “Your tables are separated for a reason,” Rutherford said.
And when you’re at your tables, only remove your masks when you’re eating.
Is it safe to visit indoors?
Visiting with guests is safest outdoors, if at all possible. When conditions dictate that you absolutely must be indoors, think creatively about how to be together, the doctors say. For example, you can have several small groups brought together in person and then have a larger online video chat between those groups to bring more people together.
If you choose to have a personal indoor visit, be sure to keep it short and exchange prepared groceries or other gifts instead of sitting down all together for a meal.
Overall, any gathering outside of your own household carries an increased risk. However, if you remain vigilant about our decisions, you, your family and friends can be safe.
“We have to recognize that the risk is ours,” said Bibbins-Domingo, “but it is just as important to recognize that we have the power to protect ourselves and others by making wise decisions.”
