"Hi everyone. This is Dr. Stephanie Camaglia Reznick. I'm a board-certified internist and one of the medical directors for virtual care here at Oscar.
In today's video, I'm going to be talking about ways to celebrate the holidays safely (opens in new tab) during COVID-19 with Thanksgiving coming up. We know that Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa won't be too far behind.
When it comes to celebrating safely, remember the same tenets that kept us safe so far through the pandemic. You want to:
Wear a mask when you're around people who are not part of your household
Remember to be socially distant from those who are not part of your household which means staying at least six feet or two arm lengths away
Remember to wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Don't forget to bring your hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% of alcohol in it.
For a gathering for the holidays, if the weather permits, outdoors is better. The better ventilation makes it harder for the virus to spread
You want to make sure that each party, meaning each household brings their own food and utensils. If you can use single use items, that's also a good idea.
When taking your mask on and off for eating, remember to use good technique and to store your mask safely.
For gatherings, also try to limit the number of people involved in food preparation or the number of people who are going to be around the food or food preparation areas.
Here are some ideas of virtual or alternative ways to celebrate the holidays:
Have virtual meals together using video conferencing applications
Host all other types of virtual parties including virtual movie-watching events or virtual game nights within your household
Have fun decorating for the holidays
When it comes to exchanging gifts in the household, you can even do a scavenger hunt to make it a little extra fun for the kids
For Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, if you're celebrating outdoors, consider using LED lights for the candles so the flame doesn't blow out by accident.
Being grateful for the blessings you do have is an important part of well-being and plays an important role in both Thanksgiving and the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
There are a variety of gratitude activities you can do whether it's as simple as going around the table and saying what you're grateful for, to writing them down, to keeping a diary of what you're grateful for every day.
For Christmas, you can still go caroling as long as you wear masks and stay six feet apart from members outside of your household.
Don't forget about virtual services at your congregation so you can still participate in any religious ceremonies that you wish to be involved in. Also, don't be afraid to jump into the car with other household members and drive around looking at the Christmas lights.
I hope this information was helpful for you. I wish you a healthy and happy holiday season."
Video published 2020-11-18
This content does not constitute medical advice and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, including diagnosis or treatment. Contact your physician with any questions you may have regarding COVID-19 or your personal health. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, dial 911 for immediate assistance.
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