PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — National, state and local health officials have recommending since before Thanksgiving that people keep their holiday gatherings -- if they must have them -- as small as possible. The director of Delaware’s Division of Public Health knows that not everyone is going to follow the advisements, and she is reminding residents of some familiar COVID-19 mitigation efforts.
“We use a term in public health we call ‘harm reduction,'" Dr. Karyl Rattay said, "which is kind of like, if we give advice — don’t binge drink, but if you’re going to binge drink, which is of course not great for your health and is not safe, ... make sure you have a designated driver."
So, Rattay said, anyone gathering with friends and family for Christmas should consider several factors: masking, distancing and air circulation.
“We need to wear face coverings when we’re inside, especially when we’re spending time with people outside our households,” she said. “So that means, if you’re hanging out watching a football game, you need to be 6 feet apart and wear masks when you’re around anybody else who’s outside of your household.”
The distance rule also applies during meals. Eating is a time when COVID-19 spread can easily happen because nobody eats while wearing a mask.
"The best thing to do is have non-household members dine in separate areas, maybe separate rooms," Rattay said.
Eating outside would be the ideal situation, but December doesn't typically have the best weather for that.
"At the very least, open windows, get some ventilation, open doors, get a fan blowing outside a window to keep circulation going," she suggested.
Your responsibilities don’t stop at the end of Christmas either.
“If you have come together around other people, you need to quarantine in the days afterwards,” she said. “Act as though you’ve been exposed to somebody who is positive. Quarantine for a good seven days, get tested five to seven days after just to make sure you’re not positive so that you don’t spread it in the community.”
But again, she said, the best thing anyone can do is keep their gatherings small, as health officials have been requesting.