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This Holiday Season, Doctors Urge Public to Make Safety a
Top Priority
Special to The Truth
With COVID-19 infections
at an all-time high, medical experts urge the public to make
safety their number one priority throughout the holiday
season.
“Nearly a year into this
pandemic, people are yearning for a return to normalcy.
However, COVID-19 cases are surging and with flu season
already upon us, bringing together people from different
households during the holidays is far too great a safety
risk,” says Susan R. Bailey, M.D., president of the American
Medical Association (AMA).
During this unusual year,
the AMA is sharing top tips for a safe and healthy holiday
season:
1. It may not be the way
you’re used to celebrating, but consider limiting this
year’s gatherings to just the people who live in your
household.
2. If you live somewhere
warm, you may be able to add a few people to your plans, but
only if your get together is outdoors and safely physically
distant.
3. Take advantage of the
video conferencing technologies available at your fingertips
to bridge the distance between you and family or friends.
Whether it’s watching holiday movies, unwrapping gifts or
sharing recipes together, many of these traditions can still
happen virtually.
4. Interested in holiday
deals and discounts? Shop for bargains from home. And if you
must go to the store in person and you’re at-risk, check
ahead of time to see if there are special hours for you.
5. Consider additional
outdoor activities that can bring together other people in
your circle without the dangers of dining inside. Go apple
picking, leaf peeping or hiking. Think beyond the
traditional holiday activities and start new traditions.
6. Disappointed that your
usual large dinner is for a smaller group? You can still
cook a large meal and share a portion with neighbors or
friends. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
recommends “delivering them in a way that doesn’t involve
contact with others.”
7. Continue to follow
everyday safety guidelines to prevent the spread of
COVID-19: wash your hands, maintain physical distancing and
#MaskUp.
More health resources,
along with tips to prevent the spread of COVID-19, are
available at ama-assn.org.
“Missing holiday
traditions is difficult, but with top scientists and
researchers working round the clock to combat this virus,
I’m hopeful that by this time next year, friends and family
will be together again, one way or another,” says Dr.
Bailey.
Courtesy StatePoint
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