Everyone has their own holiday traditions, but it’s important to acknowledge that this year, celebrations should be conducted a little differently to keep both individuals and our fellow co-workers safe amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

This holiday season, consider how your holiday plans can be modified to reduce the spread of COVID-19 to keep your friends, families, and communities healthy and safe. Some of the factors that affect the risk level of holiday gatherings include the community’s COVID-19 levels, travel, the location of the gathering, the duration of the gathering, social distancing, and the behavior of attendees both prior to and during the gathering.

Since the holidays are a time people often get together to enjoy food, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends offering single-use plates and utensils, designating one person to serve items, and limiting how many people are in the area where the food is being prepared.

Lastly, it’s important to remember that you can still feel close to loved ones during this time of year through virtual gatherings.