The weather is changing, and as we are nearing the end of
2020, many people's favorite season is here. New Orleans is full of festivals
that have gone digital this year to help keep you and your family safe. Not
only are there great things to enjoy, but there are plenty of ways to enjoy the
holidays safely. Good planning, awareness, and stress management are always the
keys to enjoying your holidays, but now, it's good to put yourself in even
safer positions than you would have before.
Plan Ahead
With any holiday or trip, it is always a good idea to have a
plan for where you are going and what you plan on doing. Whether you choose to
attend one of the many virtual festivals in New Orleans from the comfort of
your living room, or plan on visiting family, it is important to follow some
simple rules when it comes to being safe around your family. You should allow
yourself a quarantine period of 14 days before major travel to make sure that
you aren't sick and spreading it to your family members. While being around
family is important, it is also important to know your limits when it comes to
interacting with high-risk individuals.
If you plan on taking a road trip somewhere, don't forget
your new essentials such as hand sanitizer and a plethora of masks, and lots of
cleaning supplies in case you stay at a hotel. It is easy to forget that there
is a world burning outside when you're having fun with your family, but you
should still try to be aware of your surroundings and your safety while getting
to your destination.
There are a lot of people who are worried about catching
COVID-19 during air travel, but thankfully, it might be safer than you think.
According to thehealthnexus.org, the ventilation systems on airplanes
help recycle clean air incredibly frequently, so the biggest risks only come
from people who might be carriers around you. They believe that people should
be more concerned about waiting in the line to get on the plane than they
should about being on the plane itself.
As long as you wear your mask, practice social distancing,
and wash your hands after touching public surfaces, your risk stays pretty low.
Just Because the Holidays are Here Doesn't Mean the Virus Isn't
While the idea of washing your hands and wearing a mask has
been hammered in for the past eight months, it is still important to recognize
that those things are helping stop the spread of COVID-19. Staying up to date
on both vaccines and getting flu shots can help keep you from spreading more
viruses to your friends and family. Children should also be monitored,
especially because they are more likely to be carriers for lots of illnesses.
Washing your hands and keeping things clean not only
protects you against stray viruses, but it helps prevent cross contamination
with food dishes as well. As good as your Thanksgiving dinner may be, side
dishes of food poisoning really put a damper on things.
If you and your family have all been careful to limit your
exposure to the public, small private groups should be safer, but large family
gatherings and weddings aren't as safe. It is important to recognize if you
feel sick that you should stay home, no matter what.
Have Fun
The holidays should be a time for you to enjoy spending time
with your family, especially even if this is the only time of year that you get
to see them. Try not to start arguments about politics with your uncles, and
don't criticize any of your nieces for their relationship problems. Although
there is a pandemic going on, family issues should be set aside for Black
Friday brawls and the day after Christmas; it's only polite.
In times like these, we need as much support as we can get,
so relish the time with your family before you must go back home and
quarantine. One of the best ways to enjoy the holidays is to be present with
your family, even if it's just a video call or a big group chat. Sing carols
with your grandma, take pictures of your nieces and nephews who are growing up
way too fast, or help your mom with dinner.
This year, above all, family and safety are what is
important because we are not promised next year.
