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We are now in a very good position in Australia in our fight against COVID-19. When we wrote this, we had very few active cases and no community transmission. Plus, it’s summer and a vaccine doesn’t seem to be too far away.
After the year we have just passed through, many of us want to celebrate this festive season in style.
Of course, it’s important to respect the limits on the number of people who can congregate in your state or territory. But the easing of restrictions across the country now allows for larger gatherings with our family and friends.
As we get into the festive spirit, it’s important that we also think about how we can organize this year’s celebrations in a COVID fashion.
The basics
Before we get to a few tips, let’s recap some of the key things we know about how COVID-19 can spread.
First, we know that close contact is a major risk factor for the spread of COVID-19. This is because droplet propagation plays a key role in transmission.
So, for example, when an infected person coughs or sneezes, infectious droplets can land on you or in the environment. Then, if you touch your face or contaminated surfaces nearby, you can introduce the virus into your body by touching your mouth or rubbing your eyes.
In a confined space with poor ventilation, there is also growing evidence that COVID is spread by airborne transmission, that is, when smaller droplets (aerosols) hang around longer in the air. air.
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5 tips to reduce the risk
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If there’s one thing we’ve learned this year, it’s that it’s not heroic to fight if you’re sick. If you are not feeling well, stay home. This applies to you and your guests. If you are hosting and you are not feeling well, find another place or cancel
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Plan to gather outdoors – the risk of transmission is significantly lower outdoors. We should make the most of Christmas that falls in summer in Australia
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If you’re having a gathering indoors, have dinner in your largest room or have everyone split up into a few rooms. Open your windows and doors to let in fresh air and above all increase ventilation
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Avoid crowded seats at the table. Set up a few extra trestles or camping tables to space people out
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Encourage your guests to wash their hands frequently. Stock up on hand sanitizers and soaps and have them readily available in all rooms and outdoors, especially if people are helping themselves to food.
Read more: This video shows how easily COVID-19 can spread when people sing together
And a few other things …
Singing
If you’re feeling particularly happy, you might be tempted to turn up the music and sing a few Christmas carols. But keep in mind that singing and shouting can expel more infectious droplets than normal speech.
So if you’re going to perform a hearty rendition of Deck the Halls, maybe it’s something to do outside, not in a crowded room or near food.
Hugs and kisses
No one wants to be a curmudgeon at Christmas, but keeping close contact to a minimum – including in the form of hugs and kisses – will help reduce the risk. Under the mistletoe or otherwise.
Learn more: No, a hug is not safe against COVID. But if you have to, here’s what to keep in mind
Food and drinks
Ideally, cut down on food sharing, including things like buffets. You can ask guests to bring their own food, but this is not necessarily practical or festive. Given the low prevalence of COVID-19 in Australia, it is probably reasonable to take care of your guests, provided you are careful.
When preparing food, whether for your own gathering or to take to someone’s house, remember to maintain regular hand hygiene. And avoid preparing food if you’re not feeling well.
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With party cocktails, champagne, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks likely to feature on the day, that will mean a lot of glasses lying around. It is important that people do not share drinks. Using labels on glasses can help people remember theirs.
Backyard cricket
Time to play cricket in the backyard after lunch? The wheelie bin can be used as stumps, and over the fence there are still six and more years. But avoid the saliva on the cricket ball.
A little balance
We have endured a year of rules and recommendations to protect ourselves and others. Nothing has been normal this year and our Christmas and New Year celebrations may also require a little more thought. We may need to find reasonable and practical compromises in the way we celebrate.
Christmas gatherings pose a significant risk – close and prolonged contact with people, often in confined spaces. Time and time again in 2020, we have seen these factors contribute to the transmission of COVID-19.
We really deserve to have fun this holiday season, and with COVID so well under control in Australia, we’re in a great place to celebrate. But it’s still important that we remain vigilant during this time, so we’re starting 2021 on the right foot.
Read more: How to reduce the risk of COVID-19 at the beach or at the pool
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