Holiday celebrations may look a little different this year, but the spirit of the season remains the same.

​Embracing gratefulness, connection, resiliency and hope are more important than ever, as is protecting the ones you care about and are thankful for. As you plan for and enjoy the holidays, take steps to keep yourself and others safe while enjoying traditions with a twist.

Key Actions to Lower Your Risk

The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads very easily between people. In general, the more closely a person interacts with others and the longer the interaction, the higher the risk. People can spread the virus without even knowing that they are sick.

The best ways to protect yourself from COVID-19:

• Wear a face covering

• Keep six feet apart from others

• Wash your hands often

• Stay home if you are sick

Avoid or limit your time where COVID-19 spreads more easily:

• Crowded places

• Close-contact settings, especially with close-range conversations

• Confined spaces with poor airflow

   

Safer Celebrations

While celebrating with only members of your household is the safest option this year, here are some ways to reduce the risk of getting sick if you do choose to host or attend in-person gatherings:
 

Before Celebrating In-Person:

• Reduce risk by isolating as much as possible the week before your gathering

• Get tested three to seven days before your gathering. Click here to schedule an appointment and to check the current average test processing time.

• Stay home if you receive a positive test result, if you are awaiting COVID-19 test results or if you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19
   

Attending an In-Person Celebration:​

• Wear a face covering the entire time, except when eating or drinking.

• Maintain six feet of distance from people who are not members of your household.

• Greet others verbally or by waving, instead of hugging, kissing, shaking hands or giving elbow bumps.

• Dress comfortably for outdoor gatherings.

• ​Avoid participating in multiple gatherings with many different households.

• Wash your hands frequently, especially before eating or drinking.

• If you think you may have been exposed, schedule a testing appointment for five to seven days after your celebration.
   

Hosting an In-Person Celebration:

• Remind guests to stay home if they feel sick, wear face coverings, practice social distancing and dress for an outdoor gathering.

• Keep the gathering small (3 households maximum) and short (2 hours or less).

• Outdoors is safer than indoors, but face coverings and social distancing are still important. Try to plan your gathering during the warmest part of the day, have blankets available or use patio heaters to make it more comfortable.

• If you have to move indoors, open windows and doors to improve airflow.

• Plan activities to minimize contact between guests. Avoid sharing toys, bats, balls or objects passed back and forth.

• Limit the number of people preparing and serving food. Avoid serving food buffet-style or passing serving dishes around the table.

• Arrange tables and chairs to allow for social distancing between guests from different households.

• Encourage frequent hand washing and provide single-use hand towels or paper towels to avoid sharing towels or hand sanitizer

• Regularly clean high-touch surfaces and spaces, including counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures and toilets

• Avoid gestures and actions that promote close contact. Greet guests verbally or by waving, instead of hugging, shaking hands or giving elbow bumps.

• Avoid activities involving singing, chanting, and shouting.

• Consider keeping a list of guests who attended for potential future contact tracing needs.