Everyone Can Make New Year’s Eve Celebrations Safer

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We found some great resources to help us stay healthy and safe as we celebrate the end of 2020.
The CDC has released these guidelines:

Wear a mask

  • Wear a mask with two or more layers to stop the spread of COVID-19 to protect others and yourself.
  • Wear your mask over your nose and mouth, secure it under your chin, and make sure it fits snugly against the sides of your face.
  • Wear a mask indoors and outdoors.
  • In cold weather, wear your mask under your scarf, ski mask, or balaclava.
  • Keep a spare mask in case your mask becomes wet from the moisture in your breath or from snow or rain.

Stay at least 6 feet apart

  • Stay 6 feet away from others who do not live with you.
  • Indoors or outdoors, you are more likely to get or spread COVID-19 when you are in close contact with others for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.
  • It is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick to stay 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths) from other people.

Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces

  • The more people you are in contact with, the more likely you are to be exposed to COVID-19.
  • Avoid gatherings and celebrations with a lot of people that make staying 6 feet apart from those who don’t live with you difficult.
  • Avoid indoor spaces as much as possible, especially ones that aren’t well ventilated.
  • If indoors, open windows and doors. Use a window fan to blow air out, which will pull fresh air in through the open windows.

Wash your hands

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, and before eating.
    • Make sure to dry your hands completely using a clean towel or by air drying.
  • If soap and water aren’t available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid touching your mask, eyes, nose, and mouth.

Stay home if you are sick

  • Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care.
  • Isolate yourself from other members of your family and wear a mask.
  • Even if you don’t feel sick, you can still spread COVID-19 to others.