The Christmas seasons present us with something to look forward to, like getting together with family as we reminisce on the many mountains we would have crossed throughout the year.
Celebrating Christmas 2020 – Photo Credit: https://www.wsj.com/articles/european-authorities-prepare-to-ease-covid-19-lockdowns-for-christmas-11606158715
But this year, the holidays will be different due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). But we will help you enjoy your favourite customs while keeping you and your loved ones safe.
Send Gifts
Even though the pandemic has changed our lives in many ways that we can think of, sending gifts is a great way to show our loved ones that we still care for them.
Make videos
As customarily, you would head over to our family and be entertained in music – piano, guitars, and singing Christmas carols. But this time around, you can record a short video of you singing or even cooking and send it to them.
Share a meal remotely
It is a tradition that during the holidays, families would usually have a family dinner. But with the various video conferencing platforms available, it is easy to share a meal and a good conversation remotely.
Curfew
In the updated measures issued by the Ministry of Health (MoH), the COVID-19 curfew is set between 04:00 am to 10:30 pm. The curfew took effect from December 1 and will conclude on December 31.
Who should avoid holiday celebrations?
The following persons should not host or attend in-person holiday celebrations.
- Those who might have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
- Displaying signs owing to COVID-19.
- Awaiting COVID-19 test results.
- Diagnosed with COVID-19 and has not been cleared by the Ministry of Health.
- Older adults, especially those who have an underlying medical condition.
Hosting a holiday celebration
As it is now under the Official Gazette, no person is allowed to host a private party. But if you invite your family over to have a Christmas launch, ensure you select outdoor dining instead of indoor.
If outdoor dining is not available, ensure that there is an ample amount of space and ensure the building is well ventilated.
Ensure that everyone at your house adheres to COVID-19 guidelines: social distancing, mask-wearing, and hand-washing. Besides, ensure that there is clean masks, hand sanitizer, and clean running water.
As it relates to food, ensure a limited number of persons are handling or serving food. This can be done by allowing one person to share the mouth-watering dishes that will be available.
Holiday travel
Travelling increases your risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19. As such, kindly ensure that you wear a mask, practice social distancing, wash or sanitize your hands as often as possible, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
If you or anyone you know develop COVID-19 symptoms, contact the Ministry of Health hotline on 227 – 4986 ext 215 or 624 – 3067.
The Regional Hotlines are: Region One – 674 – 8047; Region Two – 682-4210; Region Three – 254 – 1261, 254 – 0313; Region Four – 231 – 1166/226 – 7480, 624 – 6674, 624 – 3067/ 180/181; Region Five – 624 – 90000, 624 – 2000, 640 – 3000; Region Six – 682 – 3055, 668 – 4449; Region Seven – 675 – 913, 654 – 0405, 697 – 0656; Region Eight – 608 – 7517; Region Nine – 772 – 2206; Region Ten – 444 – 3007; 444 – 6127; 444 – 6137.
Article Reference
- https://officialgazette.gov.gy/images/gazette2020/nov/Extra_30NOV2020.pdf
- https://health.gov.gy/index.php/component/k2/item/161-hotlines
- https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2020/11/12/planning-your-holidays-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/
