COVID-19 Update: Planning for a safe holiday season

Thank you for your continued effort and your dedication to our community’s COVID-19 response. Because we have pulled together, we have kept our staff healthy, and by extension our own families and the greater community. With Thanksgiving and the holiday season two weeks away, consider giving the gift of health and safety this year by thinking of ways you might adapt traditional holiday plans to protect your friends, families, and the Smithsonian community.

Recognizing recent national trends, now is the time to do the things necessary to “save the holidays.” Smithsonian’s on-site health and safety practices will also help protect you and your loved ones in the community. These include wearing a cloth face covering over your mouth and nose, practicing social distancing, and limiting face-to-face interactions. This will be extraordinarily hard when you feel the pull of family and friends you have been missing. This year especially!

If traveling for the holidays, look for information on the number of cases in the region you will be visiting by checking their local health department websites; take precautionary measures while traveling by car, plane, bus, or train; and plan ahead for overnight stays. Many states and localities have enacted measures ranging from quarantine requirements to testing requirements or self-isolation for a period before you can travel freely. Use local government websites to research the guidelines for your destination. Upon returning, abide by local quarantine regulations. However, if you are required at the workplace, you should report to work as scheduled. Please be diligent in following the Smithsonian’s health and safety policies. For more information, speak with your supervisor and HR representative prior to traveling.

The CDC provides excellent tips for how you can incorporate safety measures into an event you are hosting and gatherings hosted by others. The more of these preventative measures you put in place, the lower your risk and the risk to your loved ones. Most cases are spread between friends and family members. Know the risks for if you decide to host or attend a gathering of any size.

There are also many lower- and moderate-risk activities to enjoy this time of year. Have a small dinner with only people in your household or prepare dishes that you can deliver safely to those in need. Outdoor activities like visiting pumpkin patches and orchards or attending smaller outdoor events can help you reconnect with members of your community. If you have “Use or Lose” leave that will expire at the end of the year, consider a staycation. And remember, hosting virtual events and shopping online are safe options.

Throughout the season, closely monitor your health and encourage those around you to do the same. Just as you ask yourself the health screening questions before coming to work, ask yourself these same important questions before any gathering or outing. And remember, If you’re sick, stay home- and away from others!If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and have not yet met the criteria for safely being around others, have symptoms, are awaiting the results of test, or have been exposed to COVID-19, do not participate in any in-person gatherings and put others at risk. The CDC recommends that high risk individuals avoid gatherings with people outside of their household.

Finally, if you are exposed to COVID-19 or another illness during the holidays, while traveling, or at any other time, report your positive case and contact to the COVID-19 Response Team. Stay home and get well. Keep your friends and family healthy by maintaining distance, masking, and using a separate bathroom if possible. Of course, follow your healthcare provider’s advice and your unit’s normal sick leave procedures.

For many of us, the holidays mean gathering with family, socializing with friends, shopping or dining out, and traveling. Like so many things, the holidays will look a little different this year, but a safe and enjoyable season is still possible. It will just take a bit more planning. If you have additional questions, email the Response Team at SI-coronavirusinfo@si.edu.

Stay safe and well,

Anne McDonough MD MPH 
Public Health Officer, SI COVID-19 Response 
Associate Director Occupational Health Services, OSHEM  P.S. Schedule your flu shot if you have not already – (202

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