How to Make Holiday Gatherings Safer: 6 Things to Keep in Mind

Last year’s holiday season occurred during a raging pandemic and no vaccines in our toolbox. This year’s holiday season has two clear advantages: (1) we have safe and effective vaccines against COVID-19 and (2) we’re much more attuned to risk reduction measures like the availability of at-home testing, ventilation, and better masks that can make any type of gathering safer.

While it can be tricky to try to calibrate individual and family risk given lots of variability in situations like living with someone who is immunocompromised, unvaccinated children or in an area with substantial community transmission, it is clear we can make any gathering safer by applying risk reduction measures.

Now, with the 2021 holiday season approaching, we’re all looking forward to Halloween trick or treating, that Thanksgiving meal with loved ones, Christmas and Hanukah get-togethers and other holiday celebrations. Here are 6 things to keep in mind during your get together.