COVID-19 Update: Safety and wellness during the holidays
With news of the country’s first federally approved COVID-19 vaccine, this holiday season is a time to feel optimistic about the future. It is also a time to renew our commitment to safeguarding one another. Give the gift of health and wellness this year by protecting yourself, your colleagues, and, by extension, your families and our greater community. Below are some of the ways you can help now and into the new year.
- Stay the course. Our most beneficial and proven strategies for preventing the spread of the virus continue to be wearing face coverings over your mouth and nose, practicing social distancing, and staying home if you are sick, even if just mildly so. Closely monitor your health and ask those in your household to do the same. The Smithsonian’s health screening questions, which are now featured on Smithsonian log-on pages and lanyards that on-site employees have received, provide a daily reminder to check your health.
You are expected to follow these strategies in the workplace, and you are also encouraged to utilize them off site when you may be gathering with others, shopping, dining, or traveling. These practices along with travel and holiday tips from the CDC can help keep you from becoming ill or unknowingly passing the virus to someone else. Your loved ones, colleagues, and everyone you encounter will benefit from the efforts you take.
- Stop the spread. No one intends to get sick or spread illness, but you can take measures to keep those around you safe should you be exposed to the virus. If you become ill, stay home and follow advice from your healthcare provider. Report your positive case to the COVID-19 Response Team and be sure to include your phone number in your email to the team. Smithsonian Occupational Health Services will begin anonymous contact tracing to further limit exposure in the workplace.
Keep your friends and family healthy by maintaining distance, masking, and using a separate bathroom if possible. Remember, if you have not yet met the criteria for safely being around others, have symptoms, are awaiting test results, or have been exposed to COVID-19, do not put others at risk by participating in in-person gatherings.
- Look out for each other. The holidays can be stressful for anyone dealing with illness or hardship. Many of us feel like we do not have enough time or resources this time of year. The ongoing impact of the pandemic, isolation, and navigating and maintaining connections with one another compound these feelings. Please seek balance for yourself and check in on one another. Support your colleagues by expressing gratitude or making a year-end donation of annual leave to the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program.
Supervisors, please take time to understand your employees’ needs and circumstances when it comes to work and provide individualized support. Recognize the individual and collective contributions of your team members and find opportunities for your employees to the do the same. Against all odds, we have achieved so much, and these accomplishments should be celebrated.
Focusing on the needs of others and taking care of yourself is no easy feat. Should you find you need more support, the Employee Assistance Program provides free, confidential support by phone. The Smithsonian has partnered with Inova Employee Assistance to provide additional, around the clock services. More information may be found here. Your username is Smithsonian, and password is EAP.
Though we have faced challenges and made sacrifices, there is so much to look forward to in the year ahead. Now, we must remain diligent and continue to practice the strategies that have kept us safe. Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do to care for and safeguard our community.
Stay safe and be well,
COVID-19 Response Team
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Posted: 16 December 2020
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