Community Talking Points November 18, 2020
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Community Talking Points November 18, 2020 COVID-19 cases are high across Ohio, including Fulton County. This will impact the safety of traditional plans for Thanksgiving and other holidays. o Continued high levels of cases make gathering with other people less safe this year. As of November 12th, Fulton County is at a Level 2 (Orange) in the state’s Public Health Advisory System. o The safest gathering will include only people in your own household. If you will host guests, talk ahead of time about ways to keep the group safe, and make sure everyone understands why it’s important. The risk increases when masks aren’t worn and when distancing and hygiene aren’t strictly prioritized. You can protect your friends and family and make your traditions safer by taking every precaution you can. Don’t gather with more than 10 people, and always wear masks and maintain 6 feet or more between groups from different households. There are resources available to help people evaluate their Thanksgiving plans and make them safer. o CDC has provided two guides for a safe Thanksgiving. Everyone Can Make Thanksgiving Safer Consider Other Thanksgiving Activities o ODH has provided a guide for all holidays that will be celebrated November – January Holiday Celebrations Guide Please share this information with your family and friends so that we can all stay safe and enjoy our holidays. If we don’t do everything we can now to reduce it, increased spread of COVID-19 will have an even greater impact than it already has. o Schools or businesses may not have enough staff to operate if more people are getting sick or having contact with people who are sick. o With smart actions like masks, social distancing, limiting the size and number of social gatherings, and good hygiene, the activities we want to do are safer and less likely to be impacted by COVID-19. By taking these steps, we can protect our schools, businesses and health care facilities as we continue to fight COVID-19 during this pandemic. Celebrating Thanksgiving Accessible version: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays/thanksgiving.html Consider Other Thanksgiving Activities Host a virtual Thanksgiving meal with friends and family who don’t live with you • Schedule a time to share a meal together virtually. • Have people share recipes and show their turkey, dressing, or other dishes they prepared. Watch television and play games with people in your household • Watch Thanksgiving Day parades, sports, and movies at home. • Find a fun game to play. Shopping • Shop online sales the day after Thanksgiving and days leading up to the winter holidays. • Use contactless services for purchased items, like curbside pick-up. • Shop in open air markets staying 6 feet away from others. Other Activities • Safely prepare traditional dishes and deliver them to family and neighbors in a way that does not involve contact with others (for example, leave them on the porch). • Participate in a gratitude activity, like writing down things you are grateful for and sharing with your friends and family. cdc.gov/coronavirus CS 321210-B 11/12/2020 Celebrating Thanksgiving Accessible version: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays/thanksgiving.html Traditional Thanksgiving gatherings with family and friends are fun but can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19 or the flu. Follow these tips to make your Thanksgiving holiday safer. The safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year is to celebrate with people in your household. If you do plan to spend Thanksgiving with people outside your household, take steps to make your celebration safer. Everyone Can Make Thanksgiving Safer Wear a mask • Wear a mask with two or more layers to stop the spread of COVID-19. • Wear the mask over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin. • Make sure the mask fits snugly against the sides of your face. Stay at least 6 feet away from others who do not live with you 6 ft • Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread COVID-19 or flu. • Keeping 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths) from others is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick. Wash your hands • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. • Keep hand sanitizer with you and use it when you are unable to wash your hands. • Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. cdc.gov/coronavirus CS 321210-A 11/12/2020 Attending a Gathering Make your celebration safer. In addition to following the steps that everyone can take to make Thanksgiving safer, take these additional steps while attending a Thanksgiving gathering. • Bring your own food, drinks, plates, cups, and utensils. • Wear a mask, and safely store your mask while eating and drinking. • Avoid going in and out of the areas where food is being prepared or handled, such as in the kitchen. • Use single-use options, like salad dressing and condiment packets, and disposable items like food containers, plates, and utensils. Hosting a Thanksgiving Gathering If having guests to your home, be sure that people follow the steps that everyone can take to make Thanksgiving safer. Other steps you can take include: • Have a small outdoor meal with family and friends who live in your community. • Limit the number of guests. • Have conversations with guests ahead of time to set expectations for celebrating together. • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and items between use. • If celebrating indoors, make sure to open windows. • Limit the number of people in food preparation areas. • Have guests bring their own food and drink. • If sharing food, have one person serve food and use single-use options, like plastic utensils. Thanksgiving Travel Travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others. If you do travel • Check travel restrictions before you go. • Get your flu shot before you travel. • Always wear a mask in public settings and on public transportation. • Stay at least 6 feet apart from anyone who is not in your household. • Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer. • Avoid touching your mask, eyes, nose, and mouth. • Bring extra supplies, such as masks and hand sanitizer. cdc.gov/coronavirus Safely celebrate the holiday season A guide to help you protect your loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic A BIG SPECIAL HOWEVER YOU CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY SEASON, Thank Remember Many more of our friends and neighbors are in need due to the financial you hardships of the pandemic. Donate to food banks and shelters if you are able to do so. to the Stark County Health Department for generously More Ohioans are lonely and isolated this year due to distancing measures. sharing the content and Find ways to reach out with virtual or drive-by visits, or send cards, packages, template of its holiday or video messages. guidance to help us create this guide for the safety Don’t forget to thank those who have been serving us all so well during of all Ohioans. the pandemic, such as mail carriers and delivery drivers, grocery workers and bus drivers, healthcare workers and first responders, and so many others. lways remember our veterans and military members. For additional guidance on holiday gatherings, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 “Holiday Celebrations” page. Please read along for more ideas on safely celebrating specific holidays during this year’s fall and winter seasons. Celebrate Safely The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic is to celebrate holidays at home with members of your household. If you decide to get together with others, please keep the gathering small (10 people or fewer) and stick to the basics: Everyone should wear a mask who can safely do so. Make sure everyone washes their hands frequently and uses hand sanitizer. Whenever feasible, stay 6 feet away from one another. Regularly disinfect frequently touched surfaces. If you are sick, remain home and stay away from others as much as possible. 01 TABLE OF CONTENTS Diwali Thanksgiving Hanukkah Winter Solstice Las Posadas Nochebuena Christmas Kwanzaa New Year’s Epiphany Orthodox Christmas Everyone should wear a mask who can safely do so. Orthodox New Year Make sure everyone washes their hands frequently and uses hand sanitizer. Whenever feasible, stay 6 feet away from one another. Orthodox Epiphany Regularly disinfect frequently touched surfaces. Bodhi Day If you are sick, remain home and stay away from others as much as possible. Tu BiShvat 02 Diwali NOVEMBER 14 Diwali, often referred to as the “festival of lights,” is a major five-day holiday for those of Indian heritage, celebrated by Hindus as well as members of the Jain, Sikh, and Buddhist religions. The festival marks a new year and reminds us of good triumphing over evil by celebrating specific gods and goddesses. Traditions include lighting oil lamps called diyas, designing sand or powder “rangoli” patterns, playing cards, displaying fireworks, and savoring lavish meals. SAFE WAYS TO CELEBRATE Organize a virtual lighting of diyas with loved ones. Deliver homemade, pre-wrapped treats to family and friends. Hold a virtual card game. Discover who can make the nicest rangoli pattern. Try making Try one of the many delicious Diwali recipes, Bring some color to your home for the festival like Besan Ladoo, Sweet Boondi or Khurma, of lights with this simple diya craft, or one of a pattern with your household from Seattle-based blogger Cook with Manal ! more than 100 different crafts and activities to do on Diwali.