CDC recommendations for holiday gatherings: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html.
As the holiday season approaches, the CDC reminds us that in-person gatherings pose varying levels of virus spread risk.
The CDC reports (11/24/20): More than 1 million COVID-19 cases were reported in the United States over the last 7 days.
“As cases continue to increase rapidly across the United States, the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to celebrate at home with the people you live with. Gatherings with family and friends who do not live with you can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19 or the flu.”
AL.com reports (11/23/20): State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said the rise in COVID-19 cases in Alabama can be turned around and called on people to refrain from their usual Thanksgiving gatherings to avert what has the potential to be a dire situation as the year draws to a close.
Harris and Dr. Mary McIntyre, chief medical officer for the Alabama Department of Public Health, held a news conference Nov. 23 to urge caution as the holiday season arrives with coronavirus cases increasing faster than at any time since the pandemic started more than eight months ago.
Additional caregiver resources:
In addition to limiting outings, wearing face masks, maintaining social distancing, and frequent hand washing, the CDC recommends using the following items to help minimize exposure and virus spread risks:
- Face masks
- Face shields
- Disposable gloves
- Hand soap
- Hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol
- Facial tissue
- EPA-approved cleaning products
- Disposable or non-contact (temporal) thermometers
Find out your county’s risk category using the Alabama Department of Public Health COVID-19 Risk Indicator Dashboard.
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