When you think of the holiday season, what do you imagine? Many people think of Christmas and Thanksgiving, sitting at the dinner table with friends and family, and watching a movie after dinner with your loved ones. Others may think back to opening wrapped presents with family on Christmas morning. All of these things and more make many feel the warmth of the holiday season.
While this may be what many of us have been used to in the past, things will definitely change this year. We have already been through Thanksgiving during the pandemic, which was much different than in previous years, and now there are several major holidays lined during this month, such as Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Years. A few weeks after Thanksgiving, we are seeing a surge in the coronavirus due to all of the traveling and physical contact that happened. After seeing the results of this Thanksgiving, experts are urging people to stay at home during Christmas and New Years. Several states, including California, are going back into lockdown and tightening restrictions due to the Thanksgiving surge. However, it has the potential to be much worse in the next few months, as there are several major holidays that people may be traveling for.
If someone does insist on traveling to meet their family for this holiday season, there are many things they can do to maximize safety, although in the end not traveling is the only way to surely keep everyone safe. Instead of traveling, one could host holiday gatherings over Zoom or Facetime, to see friends and family. If staying home does not seem like an option, then some of the things you can do to stay safe are, as recommended by experts, are; wearing a mask when you are not eating, making sure to quarantine before and after traveling, take a COVID test before and after traveling, and staying a distance of six feet while at the dinner table. If you do not feel well at any point leading up to the trip, please consider quarantining, and avoiding other people. These precautions are not just for your safety, but for the safety of others.
Now that the vaccine has been officially approved for use, the end of the pandemic is in sight. If we are careful this holiday season, hopefully we can lessen the speak, and the pandemic will end soon.
