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If you are not vaccinated, you should avoid traveling for the holidays and wear a mask if you are attending Thanksgiving or Halloween parties indoors, recommends the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in their new COVID-19 guidelines.
Everyone, whether you’re vaccinated or not, should consider skipping indoor holiday events in favor of outdoor or virtual gatherings, according to the CDC’s updated advice released Friday.
“Attending gatherings to celebrate events and holidays increases your risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19. The safest way to celebrate is virtually, with people who live with you, or outside and at least 6 feet from each other, ”the guidelines say.
If you’re having an indoor party, the CDC recommends opening the windows and having a fan.
“If you’re celebrating indoors, let in some fresh air by opening windows and doors, if possible. You can use a window fan in one of the open windows to blow the air out of the window. This will draw in fresh air through other open windows, ”the guidelines say.
The new CDC advice comes as the United States prepares to enter its second holiday season from the coronavirus pandemic. Americans are again faced with tough decisions about whether to host or accept invitations to traditional Halloween parties and Thanksgiving gatherings with family and friends.
Although about 56% of the total United States population is vaccinated, cases of COVID-19 continue to increase nationwide. Children under 12 are still not eligible for the vaccine.
In New Jersey, more than 5.8 million people who live, work or study in the state have been fully immunized, state officials say. However, all New Jersey counties except Mercer and Hudson continue to have “high” rates of coronavirus transmission as the Delta variant of the virus spreads, according to the CDC data tracker.
Anyone who is not vaccinated, including children over 2 years old, should wear a mask for indoor gatherings, according to CDC guidelines.
Those attending a holiday gathering should have candid discussions about COVID-19 safety with hosts before accepting an invitation, according to advice from the CDC.
“Have conversations in advance to understand the expectations for celebrating together,” the guidelines say.
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Kelly Heyboer can be reached at [email protected].
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