Tips for safe gatherings

No one wants to be the host of a super-spreader event. Here are a few recommendations from Dr. Machacek to keep gatherings safe this year.

Keep it small.

Limit the number of separate households that meet together in person, and if possible, keep gatherings to solely include your own household. Remember you can safely “gather” and connect via video-based applications such as Zoom and HouseParty to get in valuable time with family and friends this holiday season.

Limit your travel and think carefully about how you are going to travel, if you choose to do so.

Wear a mask whenever you are around people who are not members of your household and avoid being within 6 feet of others. Try to avoid airline travel if you can. If you are driving, bring food with you to avoid unnecessary stops along the way.

Consider limiting the food and alcohol available at your gatherings.

Masks do help stop the spread of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, and it is much easier to keep a mask on if you are not trying to eat or drink. Alcohol affects your judgment and will make it harder to follow all safety guidelines that can help keep you healthy.

Stay home if you are sick.

This is always good practice but is especially important this year. Remember that COVID-19 may start as mild cold symptoms but can quickly become much worse. If you feel even a little bit under the weather, stay home and don’t spread your illness to others.

The importance of limiting gatherings this year

COVID-19 is a serious illness that is deadly for a small percentage of individuals. It is spread from person to person and it is often contagious before symptoms appear. Large gatherings serve as an easy way for the virus to spread to multiple people at once.

“Unfortunately, our community already has a high number of cases and it’s important to be aware that you could be spreading the virus even before you know you have it, especially if you’re traveling out of our region,” Dr. Machacek said.

Dr. Machacek, along with many other healthcare experts, said that avoiding extended contact with others helps slow the spread of COVID-19. The more contacts a given individual has, the more likely they are to become infected with the virus and can spread it to others. Wearing a mask and keeping 6 feet of distance helps, but it’s better — and safer — to avoid contact altogether.

“If we do not change our traditional gatherings, we are at high risk of overwhelming our hospital and other regional facilities with more critically ill patients than they can handle,” she said. “This may mean that you or your loved ones will not be able to get the care you need if you get sick with COVID-19 or another serious medical condition.”

Sacrifice for keeping others healthy

Sacrifices may need to be made this year in order to keep those around us safe and healthy. We understand this is not what a lot of people want to hear and that it’s not fun to have to press pause on family traditions. But it’s important to remember that everyone is sacrificing something this year, including the hundreds of thousands of healthcare professionals who have seen the first-hand effects of what this virus can do to people.

Dr. Machacek reminds herself that by limiting her regular gatherings this year, she will be able to celebrate with all of her family next year. To her, enjoying a “normal” holiday this year is not worth losing one of her loved ones to COVID-19.

“For me and my husband, our families have decided not to have large gatherings this year,” she said. “We are not traveling out of state to visit family like we usually do. Instead, we are planning on having a ‘Zoom holiday’ this year to keep everyone safe and healthy.”

Social isolation isn’t how one wants to spend their holidays. Get creative with your approach this year, whether you opt to host a virtual holiday party, take your traditional gathering outdoors or visit your loved ones from outside of their home windows.

“It’s important for everyone’s mental health to keep in touch with family and friends through avenues such as phone, video chat, emails and letters,” Dr. Machacek concluded. “Think of the time you would normally spend preparing for and enjoying large family gatherings. Spend that same amount of time reaching out and catching up with your family and friends in new, different ways.”