Public Health issues Thanksgiving guidance

The Department of Public Health and Social Services provided the following guidance for Thanksgiving gatherings, noting that congregations or social gatherings of more than five individuals where individuals aren’t members of a single household are strictly prohibited.

The safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year is to limit the gathering to people who live with you in your household, Public Health stated in a Joint Information Center news release.

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The following guidelines are designed to minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection.

Wear a mask

• Face masks must be worn by all individuals, with the exception of children under the age of 2 or anyone who has difficulty breathing or a history of trouble breathing.
• Wear the mask over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin.
• Make sure the mask fits snugly against the sides of your face.
• Store your mask safely away while eating and drinking.

Maintain distance

• Stay at least six feet away from others who live outside of your household
• Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread COVID-19.
• Keeping 6 feet away from others is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.

Wash your hands

• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Keep hand sanitizer with you and use it when you are unable to wash your hands.
• Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Attending a gathering
• Bring your own food, drinks, plates, cups and utensils.
• Avoid going in and out of the areas where food is being prepared or handled, such as in the kitchen.

Hosting a gathering

• If having guests in your home, be sure that people follow the steps that everyone can take to make Thanksgiving safer, including:
• Have a small outdoor meal with no more than five people who do not live in your household.
• Have conversations with guests ahead of time to set expectations for celebrating together.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and items between use.
• If celebrating indoors, make sure to open windows to bring in fresh air.
• Limit the number of people in food preparation areas.
• If sharing food, assign one person to serve food.
• If it’s a self-serve, have an adequate number of single-use utensils for each person to use for each dish; a receptacle should also be accessible and available to hold all used utensils. 
• Use single-use articles, such as disposable containers, paper plates and plastic utensils.

Consider other activities

• Host a virtual Thanksgiving meal with friends and family who don’t live with you.
• Schedule a time to share a meal together virtually.
• Have people share recipes and show their turkey, dressing or other dishes they prepared.
• Watch movies, sports or other television shows at home.
• Find a fun game to play.
• Safely prepare traditional dishes and deliver them to family and neighbors in a way that doesn’t involve contact with others, such as leaving them on the porch.
• Participate in a gratitude activity, such as writing down things you are grateful for and sharing with your friends and family.

This article originally appeared on Pacific Daily News: Public Health issues Thanksgiving guidance