Holiday Hosting Guide

It’s hard not to be drawn to Vermont in the fall. Our landscape is made for this time of year. Showing it off to our friends and family is something we look forward to all year long. Unfortunately, cases in Vermont and nationwide are increasing. By mid-November, our case counts in Vermont are expected to rise to more than 20 cases per day. Along with our own health experts and those across the country, I have to recommend that we reset our expectations this year and make the choices we need to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.

Guest from out of state. Before you invite people from out of state, consult Vermont’s travel map. Only those from the  teal-colored counties can come to Vermont without a 2-week quarantine. The Vermont map is updated weekly on Tuesday. If the county from which your guests are coming changes from teal to yellow or red, you may need to cancel at the last minute. A similar map showing risk level by county nationwide is available here.

Coming from a place with few cases does not mean your guests are not infected. Just as you cannot assure them that you are not. For this reason, all of the ordinary recommendations still apply. You should keep your in-person socializing short, mostly outdoors, and 6 feet apart. Wear your masks, and wash hands frequently.

Returning college students. The quarantines required for out-of-town guests from highly affected areas also apply to college students returning home for winter break. For the first 14 days your student is home from a yellow or green county, socialize outdoors or during short amounts of time. Mask and keep 6 feet apart. Use separate bathrooms, if possible. Wash your hands frequently and disinfect commonly touched surfaces often. Check with your primary care provider if there is asymptomatic testing available. If so, you may want to get tested after 7 days and stop quarantining after your student receives a negative test result.

Like travelers, students and families should observe basic guidelines for the first 14 days, even if the student is coming from a green zone. After that point, the student can fold into the household and socialize with other household members without restrictions.

Neighbors and friends from close by. The same basic restrictions apply to those who live close by. So if you have typically had a large dinner of 20 neighbors and family for Thanksgiving, it may be time to rethink your plan. It should be held with fewer guests, outside, and over a shorter time. Wear your masks and stay 6 feet apart. Avoid buffet-style meals, and have everyone wash or sanitize their hands before touching objects that others may touch. Avoid alcohol, as it can make it more difficult to follow precautions.

So what can I do? It’s definitely time to get creative. Meeting virtually is certainly the safest way. Set up your laptop or phone on one end of the table, and Zoom while you enjoy your meals. (There’s lots of playful conversation to be had about whose table setting and turkey looks the best!) Eat with the members of your household and invite others for a masked and distanced walk or hike afterwards. Or choose the warmest part of the day for an outdoor meal or include a well-managed campfire and some hot beverages as a part of the event.

You’re right. It’s all weird. And that might be a little sad. But pretending it’s 2019 is not safe. Why not embrace the weirdness and turn this holiday season into one we will never forget?

Donna Barron, RN, is the infection preventionist at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.