The Best Ways to Stay Safe During the Holidays in 2020

We get it, the holidays are a time for family. Despite the current climate in 2020, we’re craving some sense of normalcy across the board, especially regarding family-oriented holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s. 

While travel is widely discouraged unless necessary, we know people are still going to travel for the holidays. That’s why health organizations and physicians have put safety precautions and guidelines in place to stop the spread of COVID-19. We want to address both holiday safety concerning Coronavirus and touch on some general health and holiday safety tips.

General Holiday Safety Tips

Hygiene & Holiday Safety

The #1 thing to remember during the holiday season is to wash your hands often, regardless of COVID-19. The winter holidays fall right in peak flu season, and there’s typically excessive hugging and greeting going on, let alone the food and treat prep. Those signs that read: “wash with warm water for at least 20 seconds” aren’t simply for restaurant and retail employees. They’re guidelines we should all adhere to. 

Don’t Skip the Shots 

Coronavirus aside, the flu is no joke. There’s a reason every pharmacy and doctor’s office you visit will ask you if you’ve gotten your annual flu shot, and it’s because it flattens the curve of annual sickness. Whether you’re receiving healthcare from a traditional or direct primary care facility, everyone will encourage you to get the CDC and WHO recommended shots. (The CDC  specifically recommends that all people six months and older should get their flu vaccine every year.)

Holiday Safety Includes Physical Safety
Whether you’re decorating the house with lights on a ladder, lighting candles for a warm flickering dinner, or putting out a fire in the fireplace after a bedtime story, don’t be casual about protecting yourself and those around you. Make sure the children are being safe, and don’t leave potentially dangerous objects within easy reach. 

Staying safe also means getting adequate rest and exercise, as well as eating more than just decadent desserts. The U.S Department of Health and Human Services recommends eating plenty of fruits and veggies, limiting your portion sizes, as well as limiting foods high in fat, salt, or sugar. As always, remember to drink adequate water – water, not juice, soda, alcohol, or energy drinks.

2020 Holiday Safety Tips

Now, we should all consider specific precautions when traveling and spending time with those outside our own households during the holiday season this year. First and foremost, know where you’re going, know what the numbers are there, and be thoughtful about where you spend your time. 

If possible, you should actively avoid crowded places. If you are going somewhere with a lot of foot traffic, try to be there for a short amount of time. The CDC says duration matters, especially when dealing with asymptomatic people. Gathering within six feet of someone who has COVID-19 for even just 15 minutes could increase the risk of becoming sick. 

Recap:

• Avoid gathering with people generally but especially in places where groups congregate.

• Avoid gathering indoors.

• Avoid gathering for long periods.

Mask Wearing

We know this is a tough pill to swallow for some, but wearing a mask is effective in protecting yourself against germs and sickness. Masks should be worn in such a way that they cover your mouth and nose, not one or the other. Despite it being uncomfortable and unusual for most, it’s for the greater good. Not only does the CDC recommend mask-wearing, but they also recommend social distancing, attentive handwashing, and isolating if you feel unwell or if you came in contact with someone who contracted the virus. If you’re going to go out and about this holiday season, at least do so with all the recommended precautions. 

We Offer COVID-19 Testing Here at Elevated Health in Huntington Beach, CA.

We want to do our part in making sure you’re safe during the holidays. If you’re in or near Huntington Beach, we offer three different tests at this time. These tests include:

Rapid COVID-19 Test: This is a nasal swab test by Quidel that uses the Sofia SARS Antigen FIA technology and gives results in 30 minutes. It has received emergency use authorization by the FDA and has a sensitivity of 96.7% and a specificity of 100%. This test is best for those who are currently infected and symptomatic.

COVID-19 RT-PCR Test: This is a nasal swab test through LabCorp and has also received emergency use authorization. The test detects viral RNA and has had the most accurate results of the available tests but can take anywhere from 3-7 days to get results. This test is also best for those who are currently infected and symptomatic.

COVID-19 Antibody Test: This is a blood test for those who don’t currently feel sick but want to find out if they have previously been infected and recovered from COVID-19.

We sought to make the testing process as easy and seamless as possible in efforts to relieve some of the burdens that our nation’s hospitals carry almost entirely by themselves as they perform testing, treatment, and recovery from the novel Coronavirus. Not only do we offer testing to our DPC members, but we’ve opened it up to non-member friends and family, as well as small businesses. If you feel any of the symptoms, no matter how many (or few) or how severe, do yourself and those directly in contact with you a favor and get tested ASAP. 

For more on Elevated Health’s COVID-19 offerings, visit this information page.