The holiday season is a wonderful time of the year when we all come together with family and friends. As the weather gets frightful, we all find warmth in the company of our loved ones, but this year is no ordinary one. With the pandemic ravaging the world, we all need to pay extra attention to our health. Most parts of the world have been hit with a second wave of infection. The infection rate is surging, and so is the death toll. Sadly, the US has been on the top of the list, with a total number of over 12 million cases. Our hospitals are filled to the maximum capacity, and healthcare workers are at the brink of collapse. PPE is in short supply, so is the food for many. The lines are getting longer not only at the COVID testing sites but also outside the food banks. The unemployment rate is at a record high, leaving many Americans without health insurance in the middle of an unprecedented pandemic. The experts say that the darker days are still ahead of us.
All of us have to take personal responsibility to protect ourselves and our loved ones from this deadly virus. There should not be a debate on wearing a mask. Health experts strongly recommend wearing a mask to prevent the virus’s spread since an infected person can be asymptomatic but still be contagious. Health and safety take precedence over celebration this year. As much as everyone longs to maintain normalcy, there should be a commitment to do one’s part in curbing this pandemic, at least during the holidays. If we want to enjoy a joyous Christmas with family and friends next year, we all need to curtail our celebrations this year.
This Holiday season, let’s make it a priority to :
- Avoid indoor gatherings and parties.
- Avoid holiday travel/vacation.
- Wear mask always when exposed to others.
- Maintain social distance.
- Wash hands with soap and water often.
- Self- quarantine if sick or exposed to anyone who is sick or tested positive for COVID.
- Get tested if you have had recent travel, attended any gathering, exposed to an infected person or COVID positive person even if you are asymptomatic.
These safety measures are paramount to put a brake on this pandemic that has already taken millions of lives worldwide. Adversities teach one to be resilient; it also allows discovering new things in life. So let’s convert these COVID-induced difficulties into opportunities to hone our creative skills and start a new tradition of celebrating Christmas virtually.
- Arrange a family Zoom meet on Christmas day to open the gifts together
- Record your favorite holiday song with your family in Smule
- Face time with your friend and dance together on New Year’s eve.
- Share your holiday recipes with a Youtube cooking demo.
- Start the countdown to Christmas with a theme each day for some Whatsapp fun.
We all need to spread the holiday cheers this year without spreading the infection. This year more than ever, we all need to believe in the magic of holidays to instill hope, optimism, and joy around the world. Wishing you all a very joyous and safe holiday season.