With the holiday season quickly approaching, visiting families and friends is going to be very different due the COVID-19 pandemic. Limiting exposure to family members, especially our elders, is going to have to be kept in mind for safe visitations. Video chatting is the best option, but we have some risk mitigation ideas if your gathering must be in person. It’s our responsibility to protect each other and help end the pandemic.
Video chatting is the safest way to see family and friends because there’s no exposure! There are plenty of platforms out there. Get creative. Try learning new cooking techniques on video with friends. Include family members who aren’t normally able to make it in person. Treat it as an opportunity, not a waste.
Make sure to quarantine for at least 2 weeks before visiting people or being exposed to anyone outside of your bubble.
Get a COVID virus test before you travel and upon arrival. Be aware that a negative test doesn’t mean you’re fully safe from developing COVID or infecting others depending on when you test. Make sure to follow all testing guidelines and wear a mask to and from the facility.
Remember the basics: Wear a mask when with anyone not in your bubble (outside or inside), keep at least 6 feet of space between people, and wash your hands thoroughly and often.
The best setting for a visit is outdoors - with masks still. Try opening up the garage or adding space heaters to a patio. If you have to be indoors, take the steps to ensure proper ventilation, filtration, and humidity in indoor spaces
Graphics by Sophie Becker, Design Strategist
Sophie is a design strategist at Orange Sparkle Ball. She is a recent graduate from RIT and holds a bachelor’s in industrial design and psychology. Her studies informed her interest in using design thinking to communicate abstract and complex ideas, particularly in public health.
Writing by Ryan Mathura, Public Health Innovation Analyst
Ryan is a Master of Public Health Student at Emory University studying Health Policy and Management. He has a background in immunology and worked in vaccine R&D before attending Emory.
