Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years certainly aren’t canceled this year, but they might look a little different than what you are used to.
Thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and colder winter weather, virus rates across the US are surging. As more people spend more time together indoors, the cold and flu season picks up and the novel coronavirus tags along for the ride.
Nobody is arguing that any holidays should be canceled, but how can we celebrate them safely this year? A big part of the holiday season is seeing extended family and old friends. How can we rectify seeing friends and family when we are not supposed to congregate?
COVID-19 Note
The novel coronavirus, currently causing a worldwide pandemic has been named COVID-19. It is a respiratory virus which infects the heart and lungs, although it can leave lasting damage throughout the whole body. It is known for it’s high level of infectiousness but low level of mortality. It is spread mostly through tiny water droplets in the air, that often come from breathing. Typically people with other comorbidities are the most at threat. These include diabetes, hypertension, existing lung/respiratory problems, and obesity.
Fortunately there are several ways of combating the virus spread that anyone is capable of:
- Frequent hand washing/disinfection.
- Staying away from crowded public areas unless absolutely necessary.
- Wearing a face mask to prevent droplet transmission.
- Maintaining a 6+foot distance when in public.
- Avoid large public gatherings – especially if they are indoors.
- Avoiding touching the face/eyes/nose ears.
How to celebrate the holidays in COVID times
As you no doubt noticed, the things we should be doing to prevent disease transmission are pretty much the opposite of what we want to be doing during the holidays. A lot of families won’t be having big group meetings in order to protect the elderly and those with comorbidities. Fortunately, we have some methods to keep you connected with your family and in the holiday spirit.
Use technology
You may not be able to smell grandma’s cooking over a video call, but it’s still a great way to talk to your family and for everyone to meet up on holidays. Just about every social media allows video calls, and numerous ones allow group calls. Some of them include: Zoom, Facebook, WhatsApp, Microsoft Teams, and Skype. Most of these are free too…so why not use them? It’s the next best thing to actually going and seeing your family.
Volunteer
Mask up, take your portable hand sanitizer, and go to a shelter. Thanks to the pandemic there is mass unemployment and people need help more than ever. Volunteering will benefit your community just as well as your soul. It’s the season of giving, after all. There are many ways to volunteer, many people right now are struggling with job loss, isolation, and of course, illness. Visit United Way to find local volunteering positions nearby your location.
Do your own thing
Since you may not be able to visit your family for the holidays this year think of something new to do with your free time. You can try cooking dinners for groups to give to people for free. Write thank you emails to your friends and family, even if you can’t see them. Come up with your own holiday tradition this year- what’s stopping you?
Outdoor activities
Lot’s of cities will still be going ahead with their Christmas and New Years Plans this year. Many of them (similar to 4th of July celebrations) will be held outdoors so people can safely distance. Feel free to check the Carrollton city website for a whole list of activities and events.
Have a great holiday season, and stay safe!
At Josey Lane Dentistry, health is our main concern, and Texas is the leader in COVID19 infections in the nation. We want you to have a great Christmas, New Years, and holiday season, and to stay healthy too. If you are worried about how your holiday diet has affected your teeth, schedule an appointment with us. Best wishes, and we hope you have plenty of reasons to smile over the holidays this year!
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