Tips for Celebrating the Holidays Safely During the Pandemic

2 minute read

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its holiday guidelines to stay safe while celebrating the upcoming holiday season. The best way to minimize COVID-19 risks and keep your family and friends safe is to get vaccinated if you’re eligible. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the CDC’s recommendations to plan safer gatherings.

The biggest difference between last year’s holidays and the upcoming season is that COVID-19 vaccines are readily available in the U.S. Here are some CDC recommendations for keeping yourself and your loved ones safe this holiday season:

• Wear a mask over your mouth and nose indoors if you’re not fully vaccinated. Kids under 2 years old should not wear masks.
• Consider the location of your gathering. Celebrating outdoors is safer than indoors, and you should avoid crowded, poorly ventilated spaces.
• Get vaccinated if you’re eligible. Vaccination offers the best protection for those not yet eligible for vaccination, such as young children.
• Stay home if you’re sick or have COVID-19 symptoms.
• Get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms or have close contact with someone who has COVID-19.

If you gather with a group of people from multiple households and potentially from different parts of the country, you may want to take additional precautions (taking a test, avoiding crowded indoor spaces before travel, etc.) in advance of gathering to reduce risk further.

The CDC also recommends delaying holiday travel unless you are fully vaccinated. Here are some tips for those unvaccinated and traveling.

Holidays are important to many families. By working together, Americans can enjoy safer holidays, travel, and protect their health as well as their loved ones.

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This blog is intended to be a compilation of information and resources pulled from federal, state, and local agencies. This is not intended to be legal advice. For up to the minute information and guidance on COVID-19, please follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and your local health organizations.