Nov. 19, 2020 | The COVID-19 pandemic has proven extremely stressful as many Americans have been forced to isolate themselves from friends and family. With Thanksgiving coming this week, it’s important to consider your plans for the holidays and how you can modify them to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and keep your loved ones and your community healthy and safe. Celebrating virtually or with members of your own household, who are consistently taking measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19, poses the lowest risk for spread. This can include family members, as well as roommates or people who are unrelated to you. People who do not currently live in your housing unit, such as college students who are returning home from school for the holidays, should be considered part of different households. In-person gatherings that bring together family members or friends from different households, including college students, pose varying levels of risk.

Nov. 19, 2020 | There are a number of factors that you should take into consideration if you are planning a Thanksgiving meal with family this week. First, what is the location of your gathering? Indoor gatherings, especially those with poor ventilation, pose more risk than outdoor gatherings. If you’re planning an indoor event, open any nearby windows and turn on vent hoods to increase ventilation. Second, how many people are you planning on having at your event? The Arkansas Center for Health Improvement recommends limiting groups to 10 or fewer. And anyone with cold-like symptoms, such as fever, cough or headache, should not attend. Designate one person to serve the group while wearing a mask and gloves. For those staying overnight, spend as much time as possible outdoors, maintain social distance and wear masks throughout your visit. Be sure to wash your hands frequently and wear a mask when not eating or drinking.

Nov. 19, 2020 | If you’re planning on attending a Thanksgiving get-together tomorrow, it’s a good idea to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s considerations for events and gatherings. For instance, limit the number of attendees as much as possible to allow people from different households to remain at least six feet apart at all times. Guests should avoid direct contact, including handshakes and hugs, with others not from their household. Encourage guests to avoid singing or shouting, especially indoors. Keep music levels down so people don’t have to shout or speak loudly to be heard. If you’re the host, provide or encourage attendees to bring supplies to help everyone to stay healthy. These include extra masks, hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol, and tissues. Stock your bathrooms with enough hand soap and single use towels. And use gloves when removing garbage bags or handling and disposing of trash.

Nov. 19, 2020 | There is no evidence to suggest that handling food or eating is associated with directly spreading COVID-19. It is possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object, including food, food packaging, or utensils that have the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. However, this is not thought to be the main way that the virus is spread. With today being Thanksgiving, it is more important than ever to follow food safety practices to reduce the risk of illness from common foodborne germs. You may want to encourage guests to bring food and drinks for themselves and for members of their own household only. All attendees should have a plan for where to store their mask while eating and drinking. Keep it in a dry, breathable bag, like a paper or mesh fabric bag, to keep it clean between uses. And wash dishes in the dishwasher or with hot soapy water immediately following your gathering.

Nov. 19, 2020 | If you discover that you have been exposed to COVID-19 at a holiday gathering, there are certain steps that you should take to protect yourself and others. Stay home for 14 days after your last contact with a person who may be infected. And stay away from others, especially people who are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. This includes older adults and people with certain medical conditions. Keep an eye out for possible symptoms of the coronavirus, such as a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher, a cough or shortness of breath. Do not travel until 14 days after your last possible exposure. And consider getting tested for COVID-19.  Even if you test negative for the virus or feel healthy, you should still quarantine for 14 days after your last contact with a person who is infected. This is because symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus, and some infected people never have symptoms but are still contagious.