Safety tips: Six tips for celebrating Thanksgiving during pandemic.

Stay at home, keep it small and keep your distance!

The holiday season is upon us and we feel the need to be close to family, but that increases the chance of spreading or getting the coronavirus. Precautions should be taken for family members and friends who may be vulnerable.

Here are six steps to help keep your holiday celebrations a little safer:

1 Celebrate at home

Holiday travelers risk COVID-19 exposure if they travel through airports, train stations and gas stations, and they could spread the virus to family members they visit.

Dr. Henry Walke, the CDC’s COVID-19 incident manager, says, “We understand that people want to see their family and relatives and do it as they’ve always done it. But this year we’re asking them to limit their travel.”

There are several options for you to connect with family for a virtual holiday dinner. Experts suggest using Zoom, Skype, Teams or Google Meet to stay connected.

2 Keep gatherings small

For those who want the traditional holiday dinner with friends or family, it’s best to keep the gathering small. In a recent study, researchers found homes are now the main source for COVID-19 transmissions. Invite only those you know in your social bubble, those who share similar pandemic-related safety behaviors. And ask if anyone has had any recent health issues before they come over. Some states have restricted the number of people who can gather in one place. Family members might assume that their loved ones are not infected simply because they know them well.

3 Mask, 6 feet & hand hygiene

If people outside your immediate family are visiting, remember these three simple steps – wear a mask, social distance and wash your hands. People without symptoms of COVID-19 may be able to spread the disease.

Mercedes Carnethon, vice chair of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, encouraged people to wear masks and maintain social distance into the holiday season. “We have to sustain this level of vigilance at this time, and it’s very hard over the holidays,” she said. “As I think about not seeing my family, it’s really hard. But that chance can be a real gamble – almost a Russian roulette.”

4 Limit people in the kitchen

Reduce the number of people preparing the holiday foods in the kitchen. Those with unwashed hands, which may contaminate surfaces, should be kept out of the kitchen. Since the virus spreads so easily from touched surfaces, limit food servers to one or two people and have them wear masks when handing out food. This limits the number of people handling plates and serving utensils. Try single-use items for salt and pepper, butter or dressings. And make sure your guests wash their hands before dinner.

5 Take it outside

Due respiratory to the fact droplets that homes or aerosol today particles don’t recirculate can land on indoor tabletops, air quickly, chairs, door handles and other objects people frequently touch. The CDC suggests having a few windows open to help cross ventilate rooms. This may raise the heating bill, but will lower the risks for those involved. If the weather permits, take the gathering outside. Space heaters or fire pits can help keep things warm and reduce the risk of transmission.

6 Shorten the visit

To reduce the amount of time people may be exposed to a possible infected person, it's best to keep your visit short.