2021 Winter Holidays: Safer Ways to Celebrate the Season

Holiday traditions are important for families and children. There are several ways to enjoy holiday traditions and protect your health. Because many generations tend to gather to celebrate holidays, the best way to minimize COVID-19 risk and keep your family and friends safer is to get vaccinated if you're eligible.

People who are over the age of 65 or anyone with chronic kidney disease (CKD) at any stage, patients on dialysis, and kidney transplant recipients, may not be fully protected even if they are fully vaccinated and have received an additional dose.

Since you may not be fully protected, the recommendation is to follow all precautions that are required for people who are not vaccinated.

Here are a few tips for safer ways to celebrate and enjoy the holiday season.

Postpone holiday travel

Travel may increase your chance of spreading and getting COVID-19, so the safest choice is to postpone travel and stay home.

If you must travel, follow CDC's domestic travel or international travel recommendations for unvaccinated people and include:

• Get tested with a viral test 1-3 days before your trip.
• Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
• Avoid crowds and stay at least 6 feet from anyone who is not traveling with you.
• Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol.) If you will be traveling in a group or family with unvaccinated people, choose safer travel options.

Wear your face masks

Everyone, even people who are fully vaccinated, is required to wear a mask on public transportation and follow international travel recommendations.

Stay at least 6 feet away from others who do not live with you.

• Wear the mask over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin
• Make sure the mask fits snugly against the sides of your face
• Keep a spare mask handy in case your mask becomes wet from moisture in your breath or from snow or rain.

Avoid crowded, poorly ventilated areas

As much as possible, avoid crowds and indoors spaces that do not offer fresh air from the outdoors. If indoors, bring in fresh air by opening windows and doors.

Wash your hands

• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Keep hand sanitizer with you and use it when you are unable to wash your hands
• Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol

Bring holiday events online

The safest way to celebrate winter holidays is at home with the people you live with. Here are some ideas for celebrating the winter holidays safely

Host a virtual celebration with friends and family

• Schedule a time to eat a meal together virtually and have people show their main dish, vegetable, or dessert
• Host a virtual ugly holiday sweater contest

Gather virtually for a gift exchange or activity

• Schedule a time to meet virtually to open gifts together
• Build gingerbread houses, decorate cookies, or make holiday crafts and decorations

Enjoy seasonal decorations

• Decorate or create a winter holiday scene and take family photos at home
• Drive or walk around your community to look at decorations from a safe distance or drive through a local holiday light display
• Make holiday crafts and cards deliver to family, friends, and neighbors in a way that does not involve contact with others, such as leaving them at the door

Throw a virtual dance party

• For winter holidays that traditionally include music and dance, set aside time with loved ones to meet online to share music and dance – especially fun for the kids!
• Collaborate with friends and family on a holiday playlist

Enjoy the winter weather if you live somewhere with snow

• Hold a snowman or snow angel contest with neighbors or friends in your community
• Build a snow fort or other snow structure

While you need avoid activities that place you and others at risk, it is still important to stay connected – even virtually – with friends and loved ones. By working together, we can enjoy safer holidays, travel, and protect our own health as well as the health of our family and friends.

Source: CDC