As the fall approaches, so too does the holiday season. In light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources has released guidelines designed to assist West Virginians with enjoying the holidays in a safe and healthy manner. The full document, which was released on Wednesday, November 11, is available on the DHHR website.
It is recommended that holiday gatherings be held outdoors, rather than indoors, whenever possible. If the gathering must be held indoors, the area should be well ventilated. If possible, it is best to attend functions with people from your local area. If a gathering is expected to include people from multiple areas or families, guests should do their best to avoid close contact with people not in their households for 14 days prior to the gathering. Guests should bring masks, hand sanitizer and tissues to any gathering that they may attend.
Regarding food, it is highly recommended that one person do all of the serving. Buffet-style settings should be avoided whenever possible. If available, single-serve options are best. This will limit the number of people handling both the food, as well as eating utensils. Anyone attending gatherings of any kind should consider being tested for COVID-19 before and after the event.
In addition to the guidelines, a detailed list of suggestions for hosting holiday gatherings is also available on the DHHR website.
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