Holiday planning during the pandemic

by Cheryl Tate

The holidays are different this year. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the CDC cautions that holiday celebrations carry risk factors for getting or spreading COVID-19. But that doesn’t mean you should skip the holiday celebrations entirely. In fact, preserving holiday traditions and connecting with loved ones may be especially important this year.

After many months of physical distancing, the effects of social isolation and quarantine fatigue have taken a toll on our mental health. As early as March, a survey showed that over half of American adults said the pandemic had negatively affected their mental health and caused feelings of depression, anxiety, or both. That’s why it’s especially important to take care of our mental health this time of year. Connecting with loved ones — by phone, video chat, or in person — can help people of all ages cope with feelings of sadness or the holiday blues.

Here are 3 questions to consider when making plans, so you can share in the joy of the holidays while reducing the risk of spreading the virus.

Who will be there?

Like with any get-together right now, it’s important to limit the number of people you gather with. So, it might be tricky deciding who you’ll see this holiday season. You may choose to do smaller gatherings or virtual gatherings instead of attending multiple events.

The general rule is to stick to people in your household or your “quaranteam” — also known as a quarantine bubble or a pandemic pod. For months, the term quaranteam has been used to describe the social circle you see in person during the pandemic to help you feel supported and connected to others. It’s a way to limit the risk of infection while also maintaining the social connections that benefit our mental health. 

So, if you’re planning to see people outside of your bubble for the holidays, you’ll need to check in with your quaranteam first to make sure everyone agrees as a group. And you’ll want to take extra precautions. 

Where will you spend time, and for how long?

Indoor gatherings generally pose more risk than outdoor gatherings so, if weather permits, try to gather outdoors. If your celebration is indoors, ventilation with open windows or doors can help lower risk.

Also, shorter gatherings are lower risk. So, for example, if you’re planning to get together with your family and you usually stay overnight, you could limit your plans to a physically distanced dinner party instead.

How will you socialize safely?

It’s important for everyone to have an understanding of how they should behave when you’re together. According to the CDC, gatherings with more preventive measures like wearing a mask, physically distancing, and washing your hands pose less risk than gatherings where fewer or no preventive measures are being implemented.¹ It’s also important to keep your immune system in good shape by eating healthy and not overindulge this season.

So, whether you’re doing a small in-person gathering or video chatting with family, think about how you might adjust your traditions to lower your risk of getting or spreading COVID-19. Remember to take care of your physical health as well as your mental health throughout the holiday season. 

Excerpts from

“Holiday Celebrations,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, September 21, 2020.