Should COVID-19 affect your holiday plans?
The countdown has reached single digits until Christmas arrives and Kwanzaa commences, and there’s only so much you can get done.
You can go last-minute shopping, prepare feasts and plan gatherings for families and friends, get the kids to see Santa, and hit up that office party. You can, with luck anyway. But with omicron around and the delta variant still in the air, the question may be, should you?
The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, infectious disease specialists say, and it’s important to stay protected.
So we went to some of our wellknown experts in the Cincinnati region and asked about their plans for the holiday season. We wanted to know, ‘What would you do, doc?’
Here’s who replied:
● Dr. Jennifer Forrester, associate professor of infectious diseases at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and associate chief medical officer at UC Health.
● Dr. Robert Frenck, professor of pediatrics for the division of infectious diseases and director of the Gamble Center for Vaccine Research at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
● Dr. Dheeraj Goyal, infectious disease specialist, Mercy Health-infectious Disease, Fairfield.
Here’s what we asked, and what they said.
Would you take a child to see Santa?
Forrester: Given the increase in cases we are seeing right now (especially in kids), unfortunately not. Waiting in line with others whom we don’t know if they are vaccinated or not, and who are likely not masked just doesn’t make sense right now. We are thankful for the mail carriers getting our letters to the North Pole since we know the postal service is so busy!
Frenck: Going to see Santa, you won’t be having appropriate distancing so if the child is unvaccinated, I would recommend they wear a mask. My guess is that Santa will be required to wear masks.
Goyal: Yes. My 5-year-old is now fully vaccinated against COVID 19 and is more than two weeks out of his second dose of COVID-19 vaccines. Me and my wife are also fully vaccinated and boosted. So, I will allow my son to meet Santa, although we might have him skip sitting in Santa’s lap for a picture to maintain social distancing norms. We, of course, will be wearing our face masks – and I hope Santa is too!
Would you attend holiday plays, concerts?
Forrester: Many places have been great about masking and distancing. Since my family is all vaccinated, we have attended shows and concerts where masking is required and vaccine requirements are in place, like at the Aronoff and Falcon theaters.
Frenck: If you are unsure of vaccine status of those around you and you have an indoor event, masks are recommended, even if you’re vaccinated. And maintain a distance from others. My biggest plea is that everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated, please go get vaccinated.
Goyal: With rising cases of COVID-19 throughout the country and particularly in Ohio, we will try to avoid indoor crowded places like plays or concerts at this time. If, however, it is a smaller concert where the organizers have made sure that everyone is wearing masks and is maintaining adequate social distance, I think we might attend for a short period, like half an hour or so.
Would you let your children go caroling?
Forrester: Yes, as long as it is outside and with a group of family or people we know are vaccinated. I’d probably wear a festive mask, too.
Frenck: Singing generates a lot of aerosol – spit! So if in a group, I would have people wear masks. Indoor singing may have more risk than outdoor caroling.
Goyal: COVID-19 or any other respiratory pathogen for that matter, does not spread easily in an open well-ventilated environment. I would be OK with letting children go caroling in outdoor settings with adequate social distancing and masks. Indoors, I would be more careful. If all attendees are wearing masks covering their mouths and noses at all times and are adequately socially distanced, I would be OK attending indoor events for a short period of time, like half an hour.
Would you sing in a choir?
Forrester: Not inside where I don’t know if others are vaccinated. Singing can create a lot of aerosols and droplets even from asymptomatic people. While I and my family are vaccinated, I know some others can’t or are still at risk for severe disease, and COVID is not what I want to give them for the holidays. (Plus, no one wants to hear me sing.)
Frenck: See my previous answer about caroling outside or indoors.
Goyal: I would be OK with singing in choir outdoors; however, I may not be as comfortable indoors unless everyone is fully masked and socially distanced – and preferably fully vaccinated and boosted.
Would you visit friends?
Forrester: We were looking forward to a lot more social gatherings this year, but are not doing as much as we would have hoped. Certainly, our family bubble has expanded since the beginning of the pandemic to include some extended family. We will visit with those that we know are vaccinated.
Frenck: If you are vaccinated and know everyone else in your group is vaccinated, you can meet without masks. To be the safest for everyone, in our hospital, even if we know people have been vaccinated, we continue to have everyone wear masks.
Goyal: If the families or friends we meet outside are fully vaccinated and boosted, I will be comfortable meeting with them. Wearing masks would still be advisable, except when people are actively eating or drinking. Adequate social distancing is still recommended at all times.
Would you go to an office party?
Forrester: It depends. I feel comfortable in a small group of co-workers where we know we are all vaccinated and protect ourselves at work and outside of work.
Frenck: For gatherings, I still would try to limit the size of the gathering, maybe to under 20. That gives you a better chance to keep some distancing. Again, if everyone is vaccinated, you can meet without masks.
Goyal: If it is a small office party with less than 20 people or so, and everyone is fully vaccinated and boosted and is maintaining adequate social distancing, I would be OK attending such an office party. Wearing masks at all times except when actively eating or drinking is still recommended.
Would you shop at a crowded store or mall?
Forrester: I still do most of my shopping online or use curbside pick-up for convenience. But I have gone to stores, avoiding peak times. Of course, I always wear a mask, too.
Frenck: I wouldn’t go to a crowded mall, but that is because I don’t like crowded malls. I would call this a highdensity indoor event so would recommend a mask, even if you are vaccinated.
Goyal: Due to rising cases of COVID-19 throughout the country, emergence of variants like omicron, which may potentially evade immunity from vaccination and prior COVID infections to some extent and cold weather which helps the virus to spread easily, I would definitely avoid going to a crowded store or mall.
Would you fly to see relatives?
Forrester: We have done this. The airlines that we used have required masking, and air exchange in an airplane is reasonable. The airport itself can be risky if crowded, but we are masked and stay socially distanced from everyone else. Again, we are all vaccinated as well, adding a big additional layer of safety.
Frenck: Holidays are one of the busiest travel times of the year. While COVID still is among us, one thing different from last year is that we now have vaccines for COVID for everyone 5 years of age and above. So, I think we have a safe way to travel this year: go get your vaccine.
Goyal: Maintaining both physical and mental health is equally important for all human beings, especially in stressful times like the pandemic. Meeting family and friends during holiday season is OK if everyone is fully vaccinated and boosted and is taking adequate precautions. Almost all modern airplanes have HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters and the air is constantly circulated and exchanged with fresh air several times an hour. … I think it is OK to fly if you are fully vaccinated and boosted.