Recommendations for Celebrating the Holidays Safely in 2020

“Given the current surge in COVID-19 cases, everyone should only celebrate Thanksgiving with members of their household. Indoor gatherings are particularly dangerous places for COVID-19 to spread.”

As we all wait impatiently for the distribution process of a vaccine to deliver us safely from the scourge of the pandemic, the end of year holidays are upon us.  Thanksgiving is just two days away with the December holidays soon to follow.  How cruel that when we most want and need to be with our families, COVID-19 cases are surging across the nation, and medical professionals are recommending that we hold on just a bit longer and celebrate only with the members of our immediate households. 

Here in New Jersey where, after a painful spring, we had gotten our case numbers down, the numbers are also beginning to climb.  In Ewing, since the beginning of October, we have seen the daily new case numbers go from the low single digits to the teens, with the total number of cases rising from approximately 700 to over 1100+.[2]   And now, with Thanksgiving just two days away, we are faced with the question: how to celebrate the holidays safely?

Keeping in mind that indoor gatherings are particularly dangerous places for COVID-19 to spread, we share these recommendations from the CDC, the NJ DOH, and remind you of Governor Murphy’s Executive Order 183, effective November 17th, that for your safety, indoor gatherings are limited to 10 individuals, and effective November 23rd, outdoor gatherings are limited to 150 individuals.[3]

Travel

Travel may increase your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others this year.

If you are considering traveling for Thanksgiving, here are some important questions to ask yourself and your loved ones beforehand. These questions can help you decide what is best for you and your family.

• Are you, someone in your household, or someone you will be visiting at increased risk for getting very sick from COVID-19?
• Are cases high or increasing in your community or your destination? Check CDC’s COVID Data Tracker for the latest number of cases.
• Are hospitals in your community or your destination overwhelmed with patients who have COVID-19? To find out, check state and local public health department websites.
• Does your home or destination have requirements or restrictions for travelers? Check state and local requirements before you travel.
• During the 14 days before your travel, have you or those you are visiting had close contact with people they don’t live with?
• Do your plans include traveling by bus, train, or air which might make staying 6 feet apart difficult?
• Are you traveling with people who don’t live with you?

If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” you should consider making other plans, such as hosting a virtual gathering or delaying your travel.

It’s important to talk with the people you live with and your family and friends about the risks of traveling for Thanksgiving.

If you do travel

• Check travel restrictions before you go.
• Get your flu shot before you travel.
• Always wear a mask in public settings, when using public transportation, and when around people who you don’t live with.
• Stay at least 6 feet apart from anyone who does not live with you.
• Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your mask, eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Bring extra supplies, such as masks and hand sanitizer.
• Know when to delay your travel.

Everyone Can Make Thanksgiving Safer

Wear a mask

• Wear a mask with two or more layers to help protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
• Wear the mask over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin.
• Make sure the mask fits snugly against the sides of your face.

Stay at least 6 feet away from others who do not live with you

• Remember that people without symptoms may be able to spread COVID-19 or flu.
• Keeping 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths) from others is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.

Wash your hands

• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Keep hand sanitizer with you and use it when you are unable to wash your hands.
• Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

If you do gather with other households

• Keep Thanksgiving plans as small as possible. The smaller the gathering is the less likely it is that someone is infected and putting loved ones at risk.
• Limit the number of attendees to allow people from different households to remain at least 6 feet apart.
• Plan ahead and ask guests to avoid contact with people outside of their households for 14 days before the gathering.
• Guests should avoid direct contact, including handshakes and hugs, with others outside their household.
• Require guests to wear masks when not eating, whether indoors or outdoors.
• Indoor gatherings pose more risk than outdoor gatherings. Host outdoor activities rather than indoor activities as much as possible.
• If you do host indoors, increase ventilation by opening windows and doors or by placing central air and heating on continuous circulation.
• Gatherings that last longer pose more risk than shorter gatherings.
• Provide attendees with supplies to help everyone stay healthy, including extra masks, hand sanitizer, and tissues. Stock bathrooms with enough hand soap and single use towels.
• Remind attendees to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Limit contact with commonly touched surfaces or shared items such as serving utensils. Use single-use options or identify one person to serve shareable items like salad dressings, food containers, plates and utensils, and condiments.
• Encourage guests to avoid singing or shouting, especially indoors. Keep music levels down so people don't have to shout or speak loudly to be heard.
• Remind invited guests to stay home if they have been exposed to the virus in the last 14 days, are showing COVID-19 symptoms, or recently travelled to an area or a state with high COVID-19 infection rates.
• Bring your own food, drinks, plates, cups, and utensils.
• Avoid going in and out of the areas where food is being prepared or handled, such as in the kitchen.
• Use single-use options, like salad dressing and condiment packets, and disposable items like food containers, plates, and utensils.

College Students

Students going home for the holidays are at risk of bringing COVID-19 infection with them, especially if there is an outbreak at their college or university. Even if they are asymptomatic (have no symptoms), students could unknowingly transmit the virus to vulnerable and at-risk individuals and contribute to widespread community transmission.

To protect your loved ones, the NJ Department of Health has released guidance for students travelling home for the holidays.

Before Going Home

• Students should quarantine away from their families for 14 days before interacting with family members.
• Students who have family members at high risk of complications from COVID-19 infection (over 60 or with chronic medical conditions) should complete their quarantine somewhere other than in the same household with those high-risk family members.
• Students should consider getting tested before leaving campus and 5-7 days after any potentially high-risk activity (e.g., attendance at a party or gathering). Complete a 14-day quarantine even if the test(s) is (are) negative, as symptoms may occur at any time within that period.
• If a student tests positive, they should have an isolation plan. The isolation period can generally end 10 days after symptom onset and resolution of fever for at least 24 hours, and with improvement of other symptoms. If a person tests positive and has no symptoms, they should stay home for 10 days.
• Anyone with symptoms or a positive test should avoid traveling home if possible.
• Get a flu shot before you travel.

Consider Other Thanksgiving Activities

Host a virtual Thanksgiving meal with friends and family who don’t live with you

• Schedule a time to share a meal together virtually.
• Have people share recipes and show their turkey, dressing, or other dishes they prepared.

Shopping

• Shop online sales the day after Thanksgiving and days leading up to the winter holidays.
• Use contactless services for purchased items, like curbside pick-up.
• Shop in open air markets staying 6 feet away from others and wear a mask.

Other Activities

• Safely prepare traditional dishes and deliver them to family and neighbors in a way that does not involve contact with others (for example, leave them on the porch).
• Participate in a gratitude activity, like writing down things you are grateful for and sharing with your friends and family.

[1] https://covid19.nj.gov/faqs/nj-information/slowing-the-spread/how-can-i-safely-host-or-attend-thanksgiving-or-other-holiday-celebrations

[2] Mercer County NJ Confirmed Covid-19 Cases - https://mercernj.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/6a9746e0df254b7bb56083d827972321

[3] Executive Order 183  https://d31hzlhk6di2h5.cloudfront.net/20200901/b6/95/ec/8f/90b112055ff7f57a987fa4e7/EO-183.pdf