Written by Rhiana Bilderaya
While 2020 has been a very long year for all of us, it still isn’t over. With the holiday break beginning this week and many people planning to gather with their loved ones, it’s important to keep social distancing in mind. We still have months before the vaccine for COVID-19 is distributed to the general public, so in the meantime, we need to be vigilant about not spreading the virus to the immunocompromised and elderly. There are still ways to enjoy the holiday season safely! Here are a few.
You can try a meal train approach, where everyone picks an entree or side dish off a list then does a socially distanced swap. This way, you get to try a variety of foods, but don’t have to gather to do so. If you feel up to it, you can eat all the different dishes with your family and friends over Zoom.
If you plan on seeing family, quarantining for 10-14 days before and getting a negative test prior is likely the safest approach. It isn’t foolproof, as traveling incurs risk, but choosing to drive rather than fly may be a better option this year.
You can also use this holiday as an opportunity to get all the chores you didn’t have a chance to tackle over the semester out of the way. That way you start the new year with a cleaned out closet, which is never a bad thing. It can also be fun to plan for next year’s festivities, knowing that next year you will be able to safely celebrate in person.
There has been a lot of good news over the last month, including FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19. We should all be celebrating (just not at a party!). If you made it through this semester, or even if you took a break and plan to come back at a later point, you can be proud of your progress and determination this year. 2021 should be a year of positive changes and hopefully, safe holiday gatherings.
