December 21st, 2021
With Delta raging throughout Pennsylvania and across the nation, Omicron gaining traction towards its inevitable rise to become the pandemic’s dominant strain, and Christmas just a few days away, families are wondering how they can celebrate the holidays together with friends and loved ones and still stay safe and healthy.
In Allegheny County over the weekend, 1,595 new cases of COVID-19 were reported by COVID testing sites to the county’s health department. 21% of new cases were in children 18 and under, 40% occurred in 25 to 49-year-olds (ie. parents), and 26% in the 50-and-older age group (grandparents), according to Allegheny Alerts. Undoubtedly, many more cases detected by home testing went unreported to ACHD.
Breakthrough cases in vaccinated people are rising, most likely due to the Omicron “tidal wave”, “blizzard”, “wildfire”, or any other disaster metaphor you choose to use to describe the growing anxiety felt by many about the never-ending pandemic. It’s hard to imagine the anxiety unvaccinated people must be feeling — should be feeling — as Christmas Eve approaches.
Pediatrician Jennifer Chu offers a few tips for the holidays when children under 5 years old who are not eligible for a COVID vaccine and others at high risk are planning to be part of the celebration:
Celebrate with fully vaccinated family and friends. Limiting gatherings to fully vaccinated guests is the best way to protect young children who are not yet vaccinated, or individuals who have weakened immune systems.
Urge guests to stay home if they have symptoms of COVID-19. They should get tested if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or have a close contact with someone who has COVID-19.
Consider using COVID-19 at-home self-tests before gatherings of families from different households […] done no more than a day before the gathering.
For families with vaccinated and unvaccinated members, the safest way to prevent the spread of highly contagious COVID-19 variants is to wear masks at all indoor gatherings with others.
Keep the gathering small and short. Keep your guest list as small as possible and reduce the amount of time you would usually visit.
Open windows and celebrate outside when possible. Open windows for better ventilation. If weather permits, gather outdoors.
Find more ideas on celebrating the holidays safely from the CDC here.
