Celebrate Safely this Holiday Season

‘Tis the season for family reunions and friends to typically gather for the holidays. But this year will be different. We are facing a holiday season with escalating COVID-19 rates throughout the country and in our own communities. The reality is the pandemic is not fading during this classically festive time.

After being apart from family and friends for so long the urge to be together is stronger than it has ever been even though we know it may pose a danger to ourselves and others. To keep you and our community healthy and safe, UHA Health Insurance encourages you to consider how you can modify your holiday plans to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

We acknowledge the desire to connect with one another. Therefore, we want to highlight the importance of knowing what’s recommended regarding gatherings in our community, including group size and the number of people outside of your immediate household you can meet with and Hawaii travel guidelines.

Along with following the local rules for gatherings, the CDC provides the following risk assessment that will help you determine how safe an activity, event or gathering may be:

• Lowest risk: Virtual-only activities, events, and gatherings.
• More risk: Smaller outdoor and in-person gatherings in which individuals from different households remain spaced at least 6 feet apart, wear masks, do not share objects, and come from the same local area (e.g., community, town, city, or county).
• Higher risk: Medium-sized in-person gatherings that are adapted to allow individuals to remain spaced at least 6 feet apart and with attendees coming from outside the local area.
• Highest risk: Large in-person gatherings where it is difficult for individuals to remain spaced at least 6 feet apart and attendees travel from outside the local area.

While the safety precautions this season may suggest a dispirited holiday season, it doesn’t have to be. UHA wants everyone to enjoy the holidays, safely! Here are some suggestions to help you celebrate the holiday season in joyful, meaningful ways.

• How to gather with ‘ohana and friends. For real.
• CDC – Holiday Celebrations
• Five tips for celebrating safely