As we plan for the Thanksgiving holiday, the following considerations are offered to help keep our friends, families, and community safe during COVID-19. If you host a holiday celebration, keep it small. If you are considering travel, be aware of Massachusetts travel orders. If you participate in a celebration, follow public health guidance.
Lower
Risk Celebrations
·
Limit in-person holiday gatherings
to only people you live with or limit to a small group of individuals with whom
you are regularly in contact.
·
Keep visits short – gatherings that
last longer pose more risk than short gatherings.
·
Host a virtual holiday dinner
with extended family or friends, especially if they are at higher risk for
illness from COVID-19.
·
Prepare traditional family recipes
for family and neighbors, especially those at higher risk of severe illness
from COVID-19, and deliver them in a way that doesn’t involve contact with
others.
Higher
Risk Celebrations
If
you plan to celebrate the holidays in person with people you don’t live with:
- Wear your mask when not eating or drinking and watch
your distance at all times.
- Do not share food, drink, or any utensils.
- Wear a mask while preparing or serving food to others
who don’t live in your household.
- Use single-use options or identify one person to serve
sharable items, like salad dressings.
- Avoid any self-serve food or drink options, such as
buffets, potluck dishes, or drink stations.
- Minimize contact with other people for 14 days before
and after holiday gatherings, or obtain a negative result from a molecular
(PCR) test within 72 hours of the celebration.
- Arrange small seating tables in multiple rooms with
plenty of spacing, instead of a large family table.
- Improve ventilation by opening windows and doors.
- Take extra precautions for those at higher risk of
severe illness from COVID-19, such as older adults or those with certain
medical conditions
Avoid
these activities:
- Sharing food and drinks.
- Shaking hands and hugging. Wave and verbally greet
others instead.
- Singing, dancing, and shouting (increase your chances
of catching COVID-19 through the air).
- Shopping in crowded stores just before, on, or after
Thanksgiving.
DO NOT host or participate in any in-person festivities if
you or anyone in your household:
- Has been diagnosed with COVID-19
- Has symptoms of COVID-19
- Is awaiting COVID-19 test results
- May have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days
- Is at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19, such as older adults or those with medical conditions
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