Healthy Hospitality Spread cheer, not germs, at your holiday gatherings BY CINDY KUZMA
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uch has changed in 2020 — including the definition of a good host or hostess. As you plan holiday soirées, aim to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19 while preserving the seasonal spirit of connection, says Shanina Knighton, an infection prevention specialist at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. It all starts by defining naughty and nice. In other words, plan your safety measures ahead of time, then clearly inform guests of your preventative protocols. Here, experts offer advice on preventing disease while maintaining social graces:
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MAKE A LIST AND CHECK IT TWICE Consult state and local guidelines on the size of gatherings and don’t exceed limits, says Angela Clendenin, assistant professor at the Texas A&M University School of Public Health. Think carefully about inviting people at high risk of developing serious complications from COVID-19, including older adults and those with pre-existing health conditions; include them virtually instead. Check in with guests a few days ahead of time to see how they’re feeling and politely restate safety measures.
KEEP PEACE ON EARTH Your guests may not all be practicing the same strategies at home, but at your gathering, your rules apply. To avoid feeling like you’re policing partygoers, communicate your principles graciously, with a touch of humor. Emphasize that you’re taking these steps to celebrate safely. Hovik Harutyunyan, an events planner and etiquette specialist in Los Angeles, suggests spelling out your wishes on your invites: “Let’s party like it’s 2020! We ask that guests please wear a mask; we will provide one if you don’t have one.”
PUT PPE UNDER THE TREE Protective gear can double as gifts or party favors, says Harutyunyan. Hand out holiday-themed hand sanitizer, festive face masks and alcohol wipes in pretty packages. Stock the bathroom with a decorated spray bottle filled with a solution of one part hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol and equal parts water. A spritz in the air will neutralize any lingering virus droplets, Knighton says.
APPOINT SOME SANTA’S HELPERS Charge family members or trusted guests with important safety-related tasks. One can periodically
wipe down doorknobs with alcohol wipes, Knighton suggests. Another could put on gloves and masks, then pre-plate individual servings of food. That’s safer than open buffets, where guests might linger and deposit droplets on the dishes. (If you’re ordering in or catering, request individually wrapped servings.)
REIN IN THOSE HOLIDAY SPIRITS ... Avoid open bars where guests can pour their own beverages, recommends Harutyunyan. Instead, offer premade, low-proof signature cocktails in recyclable, single-serve bottles. You’ll reduce the odds of guests lingering together while choosing a mixer — and also reduce the chances they’ll overserve themselves and get sloppy with safety measures, Knighton says. Also, have bottled sodas and water available.
... BUT KEEP THE MOOD MERRY AND BRIGHT Holidays often exacerbate mental health issues, and many have spent months focused on what they’ve lost, Clendenin says. By providing creative ways to spread cheer — from outdoor holiday movies to socially distanced games — you can go a long way toward truly making this the most wonderful time of a very strange year.
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