Holiday breaks often include large gatherings of families and friends, crowded parties, and travel that may put people at increased risk for COVID-19. These times together are important, but in an ongoing pandemic with widespread transmission, a few extra precautions will help us enjoy the holidays while protecting the health of our family, friends, and communities.
How do you gather in-person in a way that slows transmission? It is all about layers, just like staying warm in winter!
- Get vaccinated (or get your booster shot). Getting vaccinated now will help protect you from getting COVID-19 and slow the transmission to others over the winter holidays. You are fully vaccinated when it has been two weeks since the final dose of your initial vaccine series. More information on vaccine can be found here: About COVID-19 Vaccine – Minnesota Dept. of Health (state.mn.us)
- Ask people who have symptoms of COVID-19 to stay home. Have a back-up plan for family and friends to join virtually if someone gets sick.
- Gather outdoors as much as possible; the fewer the guests the better.
- Space out your furniture so it is easy for people to gather without being right next to each other.
- Avoid gathering in high-risk places like bars, events, parties, or other crowded situations that would put you and your loved ones at risk of contracting COVID-19.
If you have loved ones who are at higher risk and attending your gathering (grandparents or someone with an underlying condition), you should consider taking extra precautions regardless of your vaccination status:
- Get tested, and encourage other guests to get tested, 1-3 days before the gathering.
- Mask as much as possible, especially when you are not able to physically distance or if it is crowded.
- Don’t let people come if they are sick.
- Wear well-fitting masks over your nose and mouth if you are in public indoor settings if you are not fully vaccinated and even if you are fully vaccinated if the community is experiencing substantial or high levels of COVID-19 transmission.
Why are we still worried about COVID-19?
Our hospitalization numbers are increasing rapidly, and we want to keep our loved ones out of the hospital and in our homes this holiday season!
From the Minnesota Department of Health
Protect Yourself and Others: Traveling
Institutes of Higher Education (IHE): COVID-19
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
