IDPH Alert
IDPH recommends that residents stay home as much as possible and only leave for essential activities.
12 ways to holiday safely
This year, the holidays are about adapting to keep each other safe. With some tiny safety tweaks,
many holiday traditions can be enjoyed with just as much joy.
Over the wi-fi and through the zoom to grandmother’s house we go
Keep gatherings small—ideally just your household or quaranteam. To see more friendly faces and protect your most vulnerable loved ones, invite them to join the festivities virtually.
Shy away from the bear hug, say hello with an air hug
Give the gift of safer greetings. Replace handshakes and hugs with air high-fives and “hey-o’s”.
Shop from home because it’s safer fa-la-la-la-la
Help protect one another while supporting small businesses by ordering gifts for contactless pickup or delivery. And if you do shop in-store, wear a mask.
If you’re going to jingle, jingle six feet apart
You can be social with the people in your household, just social distance and mask up around others. Let’s all stay safe together.
Mask before you mistletoe
Having guests over isn’t encouraged, but if you do, make sure everyone understands the importance of wearing a mask, especially indoors.
Crack a window please, pa-ru-pum-pum-pum
It’s best to keep celebrations outside, but when you can’t, opening windows offers extra ventilation which helps reduce the amount of airborne particles indoors.
Deck the halls with sanitizer
Carry a personal sanitizing kit with goodies like hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes and take it everywhere you go (the grocery store, a local small business, the post office, etc.).
Treats on the doorstep knock, knock knock
Drop off holiday foods, desserts, or décor at the door of friends and family and avoid entering their home.
Jingle all the way, but ride your own sleigh
Traveling isn’t encouraged, but if you do, drive your own car instead of flying or taking public transportation. Limit your exposure before heading out, check the risk of your destination and always mask up.
Protect Santa, his elves, and yourselves
Seeing Santa? Protect your kids and others. Have them wear masks and social distance.
Put the care in caroling
Sing your favorite holiday tunes by caroling virtually or as a one-person chorus. Group activities are not recommended this year.
Zoom in the new year
There’s no better resolution than protecting your family, friends and community by hosting a virtual celebration.
Know when to stay ho-ho-home
Know when to stay ho-ho-home
We all want to be together with friends and family during the holidays. But, if we want to protect the ones we love, it's best to avoid risky situations this year. You have tough choices to make, so we've outlined some more safety tips to help you make the decision.
Please don’t gather with people outside of your household if you:
When not to attend a gathering
Please don’t gather with people outside of your family/household members if you:
- Have a fever, cough, or other symptoms of COVID-19
- Recently tested positive for COVID-19
- Are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test
- Had close contact in the past 14 days with someone who tested positive or has symptoms of COVID-19
- Are going to see people at higher risk of severe COVID-19 (e.g. elderly, immunocompromised, or undergoing medical treatment for cancer, etc.)
If you have been asked to quarantine, delay your travel until after the full 14 days of quarantine, even if you don’t have symptoms.
How to prepare if you choose to gather
Gathering with others poses risks and isn’t recommended. But, if you do, follow this cheat sheet to reduce your risk:
- Keep gatherings small (just those in your household or immediate family pod)
- Self-quarantine for 2 weeks prior to minimize risk
- Consider driving instead of flying or taking public transportation
- Eat and socialize outdoors if you can
- Quarantine if you travel so you don’t bring the virus back
- Practice mask-wearing, handwashing, and social distancing
- If following guidelines isn’t possible, stay home and get a 365-day start on next year’s holiday planning
Download the healthy holidays media toolkit
Download the healthy holidays media toolkit