Tips to stay healthy during the festive season
You must adhere to the limitations on the number of people who can gather within your state or territorial boundaries. There are now fewer restrictions in place around Australia, allowing us to have larger gatherings of family and friends.
While we are in the holiday spirit, we should also consider how to conduct this year’s festivities in a safe COVID manner.
Basics
Let’s review a few key facts about COVID-19 and how it can spread.
First, we are aware that close personal contact can be a significant risk factor in the spread of COVID-19. Droplet spread is a major factor in transmission.
When an infected individual coughs or sneezes, the infectious droplets may land on you or even in your environment. If you touch your face or surfaces that are contaminated, the virus could enter your body if you rub your eyes or your mouth.
There is increasing evidence that COVID-19 can be spread by airborne transmission. This is when smaller droplets (aerosols), which are larger, hang in the air for longer.
The COVID risks are lower when we’re outdoors. Shutterstock
Five tips to reduce risk
- This year, we have learned that staying at home when you are sick is not heroic. Stay at home if you’re feeling sick. You and your guests are both affected by this. If you’re ill and hosting, you should find another venue or cancel.
- The risk is lower outside. Make the most of the fact that Christmas in Australia falls in summer.
- Open your windows and doors to let in fresh air, as well as increase ventilation. Open windows and doors and increase ventilation by letting in fresh air.
- Avoid overcrowding at the table. To space out people, set up extra tables or trestles.
- Encourage your guests’ frequent hand washing. Hand sanitizers, soaps, and other items should be readily available throughout the house.
Read more: This video shows just how easily COVID-19 could spread when people sing together.
And a few other things …
Singing
You may feel like singing some carols if you are feeling particularly festive. But remember that singing or screaming will cause more droplets to be expelled than normal speech.
If you want to sing Deck the Halls loudly, it’s best to do this outside. Avoid crowded rooms and food.
Hugs & kisses
Everyone wants to avoid being a Grinch during Christmas. However, keeping contact with each other to a minimum – including hugs and kisses – will reduce the risk. Suppose you’re under the mistletoe or not.
Read more: No, a hug isn’t COVID-safe. But if you have to do it, here’s what to keep in mind.
Food and drinks
Reduce the amount of food that is shared, even at buffets. It is possible to ask your guests to bring food, but it’s not practical or festive. As long as you are careful, and given the low COVID-19 prevalence in Australia, it is reasonable to cater to your guests.
Remember to maintain good hand hygiene when you prepare food for yourself or others. Avoid preparing food when you are feeling unwell.
When you are preparing food, hand hygiene is especially important. Shutterstock
There will be plenty of glasses left over, as champagne, beer, and wine, along with soft drinks, are likely to be included in the celebration. People should not share drinks. Tags on glasses help people to remember their own.
Backyard Cricket
After lunch, how about a backyard cricket game? It’s OK to use wheelie bins as stumps. And over the fence still counts as six and out. Avoid putting saliva on the ball.
Balance is important
This year has been full of rules and suggestions to keep us and others safe. This year has not been a normal one, and we may need to give our celebrations of Christmas and New Year a little more thought. We may need to make some practical and sensible compromises about how we celebrate.
Christmas parties can be a risky event, as they involve prolonged, close contact with other people in small spaces. These factors have contributed to COVID-19 spread in 2020.
We deserve to enjoy the holiday season, and with COVID under control, Australia is in a great position to do so. It’s important to stay vigilant in this period so that we can start 2021 off on the right track.
