Dinner with the family? Make sure you BYOT (bring your own turkey)
FESTIVE visitors should consider taking their own food to Christmas dinner as sharing dishes could cause a spike in Covid cases, health chiefs warn.
Many families are preparing to meet and share a turkey and trimmings during the f i ve- day ‘ amnesty’, when three households and a maximum of eight over-12s are allowed to form a bubble.
But relatives and friends are urged to take their own provisions with them in a bid to curb a possible third wave of coronavirus cases in the new year.
Experts warn that sharing food, plates, cutlery and other dishes could lead to the virus spreading – even among those households allowed to meet under the relaxed rules.
Jillian Evans, head of health intelligence at NHS Grampian, said: ‘If people choose to meet up with family and friends at Christmas, it will help to limit what they do now.
‘If you can, keep your distance when meeting up, think how large your room would need to be f or everyone to socially distance, and bring your own food and drink.
‘I know it runs kind of counter to Christmas, but anything you can do to limit sharing with people is good because passing plates, glasses and food around is really something to be mindful of. Christmas is a time of eating and drinking, so i f you are together, get one person dishing out the food, wear a mask when you’re doing it and, better still, bring your own stuff with you.’
She added: ‘The typical “bring your own” fashion might just help ease the worries we all have if we’re all in together indoors in one room with our families.’
The advice came as the 18 local authority areas already in Level 3 were told they face at least another week of the second toughest restrictions.
Rising case numbers in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and East Lothian also meant the regions moved from Level 2 to Level 3 – bringing an end to any restaurant and bar alcohol sales. People have been told to travel only if it is an essential journey.
The changes, which take effect on Friday, were met with dismay by hospitality businesses.
However, Mrs Evans cited a high level of community transmission and said no one discernible event or location linked to a spike was a cause for alarm.
She added: ‘What a difference the last nine days has made.
‘The increase in the number of cases – particularly in Aberdeen – is really marked.
‘A third of our cases, approximately, can’t be linked to any known event, so it does suggest to us that transmission is widespread in the community.
‘Some of the areas that have been picked up by our Test and Protect colleagues are eating out, shopping, using transport – particularly car-sharing – along with schools in Aberdeen, and leisure such as gyms where there are face-to-face classes.
‘So there are quite a few areas, and those could be sources of transmission.’
Mrs Evans said: ‘If you visit these places, you’re putting yourself at risk by going there.’
Extra curbs in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire leave pubs and restaurants able to open only until 6pm without the sale of alcohol. Leisure and entertainment venues are to close and non-essential travel to and from the area is not allowed.
Adrian Watson, chairman of business improvement group Aberdeen Inspired, said: ‘We will still be able to offer retail and some degree of hospitality.’
‘It runs counter to Christmas’