As families begin to plan for the holidays, please consider the following safety precautions to protect your family and prevent the spread of COVID-19 this holiday season.

The best way to safely celebrate the holiday season is by being vaccinated against coronavirus to protect your own health as well as the health of family and friends.

• Limit attendance and allow for social distancing.
• Advise attendees to stay home if they have tested positive, are showing symptoms, or have been in close contact with a person who has symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 14 days. 
• Strongly encourage attendees to get vaccinated and wear masks. 
• Consider disposable/single use serving utensils.
• Host the event outdoors or in a large, well-ventilated room (open windows to allow for more air circulation).
• Make hand hygiene a priority.
• Discourage hugs, handshakes, fist bumps, and high-fives. 
• Avoid touching your face, eyes, and nose.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces often.

Events and Gatherings
The risk of COVID-19 spreading at events and gatherings increases as follows:

• Lowest risk: Virtual-only activities, events, and gatherings.
• More risk: Smaller in-person gatherings in which individuals are vaccinated and masked and remain spaced at least 6 feet apart when eating or drinking.
• Higher risk: Medium-sized in-person gatherings that include unvaccinated individuals that remain spaced at least 6 feet apart when eating or drinking.
• Highest risk: Large in-person gatherings where it is difficult for individuals to remain spaced at least 6 feet apart that include unvaccinated and unmasked attendees. 
  

Travel
Travel increases the chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. 

• Get Your COVID-19 and flu shots as soon as you can. 
• Wear a mask at all times when traveling and in public places.
• The higher the level of community transmission in the area that the gathering is being held, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spreading during a gathering.