Thanksgiving is over. Christmas is here. What now?

As U.S. is seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases this month, soon after the Thanksgiving holidays were over, there is an increasing concern amongst the public health officials about the forthcoming spike that may result from Christmas this weekend.

Thanksgiving is over, but the aftereffects linger on. Sadly, all the warning alerts and recommendations against traveling this Thanksgiving fell on deaf ears. According to the Transportation Security Administration data, around 3 million travelers went through TSA checkpoints to celebrate the occasion with family and friends. And just as was expected, one million people tested positive for COVID-19 in the U.S. within one week after the holidays, further straining the already overwhelmed hospitals.

Now with Christmas upon us and Santa Claus is just about to knock on our doors, Americans who have recently witnessed a post-Thanksgiving surge are being warned again about the next possible surge after Christmas festivities kick in this weekend.

"What we expect, unfortunately, as we go for the next couple of weeks into December, is that we might see a surge superimposed on the surge we are already in"

— Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

How to Plan for The Christmas Eve Amid The COVID-19 Pandemic?

This year Christmas is seemingly going to be a quiet affair. This is at least how the public health officials are preparing Americans for. Many states are limiting the gatherings to not more than ten people.

Dr. Fauci told Californian officials they "really don't have any choice" in imposing some of the strictest measures in the U.S., including bans on restaurant dining and private gatherings."

'Unfortunately, the COVID-19 epidemic is worsening, and small household gatherings are an important contributor to the rise in COVID-19 cases.'

— The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

According to CDC guidelines, the safest option is to celebrate the holidays virtually or just with your household members. These recommendations aren't easy for people to follow. Christmas is the occasion when people are longing to celebrate the festivities with their loved ones. But the harsh reality of this modern time threat outweighs the desire to keep up with the tradition. In light of the guidelines and safety recommendations from the public health officials, we need to take a vow to save ourselves and our loved ones from this life-threatening menace. Here are some tips which we can follow to enjoy the holiday season without any guilt of putting other's life at risk.

Let's postpone our travel plans and reach out to our near and dear ones virtually by video chat on this Christmas Eve.
Make it an outdoor affair at the backyard or patio of our house, feasting in a gathering of not more than ten people and maintaining the required physical distance.
Let's be transparent with our family and friends and tell them clearly why we won't be able to join them this Christmas.
As per the CDC recommendation, we should get tested for COVID after the event to ensure we did not contract the disease.

Takeaway:

No doubt, nothing has been as stressful in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic, which has changed many aspects of our lives. While Christmas has always been a beautiful reason to reconnect with family and friends, it's going to be a little different this time from what we have previously known.

However, rather than feeling grieved over the holidays lost, we can think of those millions of people who lost their lives at the hand of COVID-19, and of our own near and dear ones whose life is at stake. A little care shown today can make us find our way back to the vibrant celebrations in the years to come. Let's modify our holiday plans this Christmas to keep the menace of COVID-19 at bay.

Truecare24 is making sure you and the people around you stay safe and protected when you return from the holidays. Book an appointment today with our consultant and know how you can cope with the pandemic's challenging time.

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