Holidays and COVID-19

A practical guide for a safe holiday season
Avoiding ‘superspreader’ gatherings with family and friends

‘Tis the season for planning holiday parties and potlucks. This year, your ‘ohana’s heath and safety is the top priority. We hope you can enjoy the holidays with the help of some precautions from the Hawai’i Department of Health.

In Hawai‘i, the holidays typically are a time to welcome home family members who have been away at school or host visiting friends. Unfortunately, the holiday merriment and festivities we crave are among the highest-risk scenarios for transmitting COVID-19. It’s important to keep everyone safe, especially vulnerable family members, and avoid overburdening healthcare professionals and hospitals during the flu season.

“If we celebrate as we always have, Hawaii will see another dangerous rise in cases,” said Dr. Elizabeth Char, director of health. “We must avoid  ‘superspreader’ events, especially if infection rates and case counts surge in our state. We all need to remain vigilant to protect our island home by avoiding large indoor gatherings, dinners or parties.”

The Hawai’i Department of Health recommends you and your families pay close attention to the number and rate of COVID-19 cases on your island or in your community to determine whether you should hold a holiday gathering.

Guidance for in-person holiday gatherings
The following guidance will help Hawai‘i residents determine whether to postpone, cancel, or limit the number of attendees at in-person gatherings.

• Be responsible: First of all, it is important to not host or participate in any in-person festivities if you or anyone in your household has COVID-19 symptoms, is waiting on test results, may have been exposed (basically anyone subject to quarantine), has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and has not met the criteria for when it is safe to be around others, or is at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
• Location: Indoor gatherings generally pose more risk than outdoor gatherings. Indoor gatherings with poor ventilation pose more risk than those with good ventilation. Plan for outdoor events or leave doors and windows open.
• Duration: The longer the event, the more risk of exposure. Consider having shorter celebrations.
• Number of invitees: Gatherings with more people pose more risk than those with fewer people. The size of a holiday gathering should be based on the ability to reduce or limit contact between attendees and the risk of spread between attendees. Keep a distance of at least six feet apart from those who are not from the same household.
• Out-of-state guests: A negative pre-travel COVID-19 test from trusted testing and travel partners or an FDA-approved test after arrival with the required quarantine helps reduce spread in the islands. Still, gatherings with attendees from outside Hawai‘i may pose a higher risk than gatherings with attendees who live in the same area.
• Behaviors: Gatherings with attendees who do not engage in preventive behaviors such as maintaining a physical distance of least six feet, wearing masks, or washing hands often pose more risk than gatherings with attendees who follow preventive behaviors.

You may want to opt for smaller holiday gatherings, limited to people who live in the same household.

Virtual Holiday Celebrations
Hosting a virtual gathering poses a low risk of spreading the virus while allowing you to stay connected with each other. “Opting for virtual gatherings, saying ‘no’ to invites to in-person parties, and finding creative alternatives to show we care about our loved ones is a must,” says Dr. Char. “It is everyone’s kuleana to celebrate safely with family, friends and community.”

Instead of in-person gatherings, consider preparing favorite recipes for non-household family members and neighbors – and delivering them without contact. Shop online rather than in person. Watch sports events, parades, and movies from home.