As we enter this holiday season, Salem residents are urged to follow the public health guidance that will help keep people safe.
• Limit in-person celebrations to household members only.
• Postpone or cancel travel this holiday season. If you do choose to travel, be aware of and comply with Massachusetts travel order requirements.
• Follow the current state gathering size limits and sector-specific workplace safety standards.
Lower-Risk Celebrations and Activities
• Limit in-person holiday gatherings to only people you live with.
• Host a virtual holiday dinner with extended family or friends.
• Prepare foods for family and neighbors and deliver them in a no-contact way.
• Virtually attend your traditional holiday activities, such as a visit with Santa.
• Consider virtual caroling or reciting. Provide a link to your virtual caroling to the people you want to sing to.
• View holiday lights from your car with those you live with.
Higher-Risk Celebrations and Activities
• Any time you gather with others outside of your household, you increase the risk of contracting or spreading illness. All residents are discouraged from gathering. Gatherings in Massachusetts are subject to gathering size limits.
• You are risking your health and others health if you host or participate in in-person festivities.
• Do not share food, drink, or any utensils, including serving utensils.
• Seat people with plenty of space (at least six feet) from one another while dining.
• Consider seating people at smaller tables in multiple rooms instead of around a large family table.
• Improve ventilation by opening windows and doors.
Other Recommendations and Guidance
• Always wear your mask and watch your distance. (Remove your mask only for eating and drinking.)
• For 10 days before and after holiday gatherings, monitor yourself closely for fever and other symptoms of COVID-19, minimize contact with other people, and leave home only for essential services like going to work, buying groceries, and appointments with doctors; OR, obtain a negative result from a COVID-19 test, on a sample obtained within 72 hours of the celebration. Even with a negative test you must be vigilant about masking and distancing when you are around individuals you do not live with.
• Testing only indicates whether a person may have COVID-19 at the moment of the test. You can still become sick with COVID-19 after your test and before your celebration.
• Testing information can be found at www.mass.gov/GetTested.
In the words of North Shore Medical Center President David Roberts, M.D., “The greatest gift you can give to an at-risk relative is celebrating the holidays remotely.
