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Former CDC Director Dr Tom Frieden and Yahoo News medical contributor Dr Kavita Patel explain some of the ways you can safely celebrate the holidays amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Video transcript
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KAVITA PATEL: Many people are wondering how they can stay safe while on vacation, as we are seeing an increase in coronavirus cases almost all over the country.
TOM PEACE: Unfortunately, we are heading into a period of more cases, unfortunately more hospitalizations and unfortunately more deaths. And that’s bad timing. Because we are entering the holiday season and death is not going to take a vacation this season. And it will be a question of, what are the risks? And what are the advantages?
KAVITA PATEL: First and foremost, try to do what you can to rethink your plans and potentially stay home with just your close household members. But if you’re determined to go to someone else’s house or invite other people over to your house, I would recommend what is considered the Swiss cheese approach to try and stay safe.
First of all, make sure, if possible, that you can celebrate outdoors or at least with windows open to promote the best possible air circulation environment. Second, if you plan to invite people who are traveling from another part of the country or are going to another part of the country, consider having your own quarantine. At least 14 days you stay home and avoid other people and places so that you can ensure you are infection free.
Then, if you have to drive or take a plane, be sure to take as many precautions as possible. Avoid using the toilet. Avoid touching the handles without washing your hands. And wear protective masks. And make sure they’re okay.
TOM PEACE: If you are going to see an elderly relative, you must be very careful. Because you could be contagious, not know it, and pass this infection on to them, and they could die. We don’t want that to happen. You don’t want to think about it for the rest of your life.
KAVITA PATEL: If you’re inviting people over to your house or going to have a meal at someone else’s, avoid buffets. Try to think of having meals that you can serve individually or if, even feasible, think of meals that can be kind of take out. And that you share while eating, but keeping a distance.
And when you’re not eating, consider wearing a mask inside. And just make it part of your habit. Keep in mind that all of these tips are really if you are inviting people from outside your household or going to the household of another person that you haven’t spent time with in the past few months.
TOM PEACE: I think we have to understand and really accept the fact that COVID is here to stay for a while.
KAVITA PATEL: We got some amazing news this week. Developments on the vaccine front, which are incredibly promising from the first results. But make no mistake, some of these things won’t be available to all Americans anytime soon.
TOM PEACE: A vaccine will not end a fairytale in this pandemic. But there is a lot we can do to keep the coming months from being so deadly and to get more of our economy and our jobs back.
KAVITA PATEL: The best thing we can do today is continue with mitigation measures. It means wearing a mask. It means staying aloof when possible. And wash your hands.
TOM PEACE: The numbers are not set in stone. We determine what happens. And for proof, look around the United States. You have differences in COVID rates that are 10 times or even 50 times greater in some places than in others.
Politics matters. Public health is important. Keeping up with science matters.
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