Thanksgiving 2020 is going to be extremely complex due to the revised travel health and safety guidelines established by public health agencies, in response to COVID-19. Specifically, the CDC suggests that families take several precautions to ensure that they are safe this holiday season:

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 epidemic is worsening, and small household gatherings are an important contributor to the rise in COVID-19 cases. CDC offers the following considerations to slow the spread of COVID-19 during small gatherings. These considerations are meant to supplement—not replace—any state, local, territorial, or tribal health and safety laws, rules, and regulations with which all gatherings must comply.

SOURCE: CDC

Below, our team will dive into the main safety guidelines to help patients evaluate the risk of travel and holiday gatherings this year. While small gatherings may be ok, it is crucial for families to properly evaluate health risks to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Public health guidelines by the CDC for holidays

The CDC suggests that the following guidelines are the most important for public health and safety reasons:

• Evaluate community levels of COVID-19: COVID-19 community levels may put travelers and family members at risk during a large gathering. Check any public health advisory information to see if you community, or a community you travel to, puts family members at risk.
  
• Minimize the number of family members at gatherings: This is one of the more challenging guidelines for families that want to reconnect and normalize holiday traditions of large family gatherings. However, the CDC says that large gatherings of 10 or more people, and some small gatherings in high-risk communities, can lead to extreme COVID risks and spread. Try to minimize the size of family gatherings to just your immediate family/household.
  
• Enforcing social distancing and preventive behaviors at gatherings: If you have family members visit, it is crucial that you ensure everyone stays as safe as possible with effective infection control procedures. Visitors should always social distance physically indoors, wash hands frequently, avoid contact with vulnerable families, and ensure that all family members are conscious of mask wearing when needed.

What should I do to prepare for the holidays?

Safety and preventive healthcare services are paramount to staying safe this fall season. At AFC Urgent Care Arlington, our team is equipped to ensure that patients can get Rapid COVID-19 testing, flu shots, and preventive care whenever they can.

Getting tested before any travel and ensure if you are safe to travel and if your risk level is low. Additionally, seasonal illness risks can lead to other health complications so getting a flu shot is the best way to ensure that you are protected from flu-related symptoms.