November 23, 2020  

Winter Holidays and COVID-19: Recommendations for Family Celebrations, Shopping and Entertainment

Posted at 3:15 p.m.

Many of us associate December as a time of hustle and bustle, parties and sparkle, friends and family. But December holidays this year must look different. In the words of Health Director Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu, “We must find a way to recognize our traditions without putting ourselves and others at risk.”

Recommendations shared for Thanksgiving apply to December holidays as well. Remember: the safest way to celebrate the holidays this year is with people in your household. Therefore, we recommend making the holidays more leisurely this year. Stay home, stay cozy, and keep it small and simple.

If you plan to celebrate with people outside your household, take steps to make your celebration safer. Remember, Virginia has statewide measures to contain COVID-19 in place including limiting in-person gatherings to 25 people, an expanded mask mandate, on-site alcohol curfew, and increased enforcement.

Here are some tips for a healthy, safe and enjoyable holiday.

 

FAMILY CELEBRATIONS

High Risk

  • Large family gatherings
  • Travel
    • Flights with layovers
    • Traveling on a cruise ship or river boat

Medium Risk

  • Small family gatherings that are: 
    • Outdoors 
    • Everyone wears a mask 
    • Everyone social distances 
    • Everyone washes hands frequently 
    • No one shares plates, utensils, cups or other items
  • Travel
    • Car trips with people outside your family  
    • Long distance train or bus trips 
    • Flights 

Lower Risk

  • Virtual family gatherings
  • Travel
    • Stay home 
    • Short trips by car with members of your household with no stops along the way 

SHOPPING AND ERRANDS

High Risk

  • Visiting a crowded mall, indoor or outdoor
  • Lengthy and/or multiple grocery shopping trips

Medium Risk

  • Pre-order items online, then go to store for pick-up
  • Limit shopping trips – create a strategy so you physically enter as few stores as possible
  • Always follow protocol for shopping: wear a mask, social distance in the store, and wash hands immediately when finished shopping
  • Make a concise list and plan your trip to keep your in-store shopping time as limited as possible
  • Look with your eyes, not with your hands as you select products

Low Risk

  • Shop online and have goods delivered to your house
  • Wait for the delivery person to be at least six feet from your package before retrieving

ENTERTAINMENT

High Risk

  • Indoor events such as concerts or sports
  • Crowded public tree lighting ceremonies
  • Sitting on Santa’s lap
  • Ice skating, indoors on a crowded, small rink
  • Attend large parties with people from outside your household

Medium Risk

  • Attend an outdoor event where:
    • Capacity is limited
    • Attendees social distance
    • Attendees wear masks
  • Outdoor public tree lighting ceremonies where:
    • Capacity is limited
    • Attendees social distance
    • Attendees wear masks
  • Attend a Santa visit where:
    • Capacity is limited
    • Attendees (including Santa and his elves) social distance
    • Attendees (including Santa and his elves) wear face masks
    • It is a non-contact Santa visit
  • Ice skating, outdoors or indoors on a large rink where:
    • Capacity is limited
    • Skaters and spectators social distance
    • Skaters and spectators wear masks
  • Have a small outdoor dinner with family and friends who live in your community where:
    • Everyone wears a mask
    • Everyone social distances
    • Everyone washes hands frequently
    • No one shares plates, utensils, cups or other items

Low Risk

  • Enjoy a virtual concert
  • Watch your favorite team play on television
  • Create an in-home ceremony to light your own tree
  • Watch tree lighting ceremonies on television
  • Send Santa a letter in the mail
  • Book a private session
  • Host a virtual party

Stay Informed

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