Health and safety guidelines if you’re planning to organise or attend a small gathering.

The holiday season is finally here!

You might be wondering about how to celebrate and keep yourself and your loved ones safe from the spread of COVID-19. Without a doubt, these holidays will look different this year but as a Chinese proverb says, “misfortune may be a blessing in disguise”. By following the tips below issued by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you and your family can remain safe and turn the COVID-19 epidemic into an opportunity to grow closer and build emotional resilience among all the members.

First and foremost people with or exposed to COVID-19 are discouraged from hosting or participating in any in-person gatherings. Also, if you are an older adult and/or have any chronic medical condition or live or work with someone at increased risk of severe illness, you should avoid in-person gatherings with people who do not live in your household.

Factors to consider about hosting gatherings.

If you’re planning a holiday gathering or considering attending one, it’s important to carefully review several factors that create various levels of risk for spreading the virus:

• Community levels of COVID-19: If you are travelling to or attending gatherings in areas with high levels of COVID-19 cases, the risk of contracting the virus is high.
• Location: Avoid holding gatherings in crowded, poorly ventilated spaces with persons who are not in your household. When you organise an event, ensure that you have pop-up open-air tents or increase ventilation by opening windows and doors. Limit indoor gatherings as much as possible as they pose a greater threat than outdoor gatherings.
• The number of people attending: Limit the number of attendees to allow people or guests from different households to remain at least 6 feet apart at all times.
• Behaviours of attendees before the gathering: Inform attendees to bring supplies to stay healthy such as extra masks and hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol and tissues. Also, encourage them to wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• The behaviour of attendees during the gathering: Encourage guests to stay at least 6 feet away from each other and wear masks that cover both mouth and nose except when eating or drinking.
• Travelling upcountry for the celebrations: We are encouraged to avoid this to minimise transmission of the virus from the urban centres to rural areas. Secondly, the population in rural areas mainly has elderly people who are at a greater risk of severe illness should they get exposed to the virus.

Remember the basics

• Wear a mask in public settings and anywhere you will be around people outside of your household.
• Avoid close contact by staying at least 6 feet apart from anyone who is not from your household.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid contact with anyone who is sick.
• Avoid touching your face mask, eyes, nose, and mouth.

When exposed to COVID-19 at a gathering while travelling, or at any time, the best way to protect yourself and others is to stay home for 14 days. If you develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19 within the 14 days such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath, or if you test positive for COVID-19, immediately notify the host and others who attended.

If you need to do a COVID-19 test, call toll-free 0800277015 or order online.

If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, contact Rocket Health and receive home-based care and treatment.