'Tis the Season to be Safe
by Environmental Health & Safety and Practice Operations
 

Like most things in 2020, our holiday celebrations will need to be different this year to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

 

Gatherings with family and friends who do not live with you can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19 or the flu. The safest way to celebrate the winter holidays is at home with the people you live with. Remember to stay home if you are sick.

 

Here are more tips for celebrating safely this year along with some low-risk alternatives you can try.

 

Rules for holiday safety at work:

  • Don't bring home-prepared food items for sharing.

  • No group gatherings are permitted, including potluck-style gatherings.

  • Employees must limit themselves to single-serving food, drinks, condiments and utensils. Do not share your items with others.

  • Use careful precautions during meals and breaks. Maintain at least 6 feet of separation from others while in meal or break areas before removing your mask for food and drink (stay behind the physical barriers when they are provided due to reduced physical distance). 

  • Remember to disinfect your meal area before and after use.

  • Wear a face mask at work.

  • Practice physical distancing (routinely stay 6 feet away from others). 

  • Perform hand hygiene after touching potentially contaminated items, including your mask.

 

Tips for safe holiday celebrations at home:

  • Minimize close contact.

  • Avoid indoor gatherings.

  • Limit the people who will handle food.

  • When possible, sit outside at tables spaced at least 6 feet apart from other people.

  • Minimize gestures that promote close contact. For example, don’t shake hands, elbow bump or give hugs. Instead, wave and verbally greet others.

  • Host outdoor, rather than indoor, gatherings. Even outdoors, wear masks when not eating or drinking.

  • Avoid holding gatherings in crowded, poorly ventilated spaces. If you must gather indoors, increase ventilation by opening windows and doors if possible or place central air and heating on continuous circulation.

  • Avoid singing or shouting, especially indoors. Keep music levels down so people don’t have to shout or speak loudly to be heard.

  • Limit people going in and out of the areas where food is being prepared or handled, such as in the kitchen or by the grill.

  • When possible, choose food and drink options that are not self-serve to limit the use of shared serving utensils.

  • Use single-use options or identify one person to serve sharable items, like salad dressings, food containers and condiments, so that multiple people are not handling the items.

  • Consider bringing your own food, drinks, plates, cups and utensils; do not share with others.

  • Use touch-less garbage cans or pails.

  • Use gloves when removing garbage bags or handling and disposing of trash. Wash your hands after removing gloves.

  • Use single-use towels for drying hands.

  • Clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces and any shared items between use.

 

More virtual alternatives for celebrating safely

  • Instead of a physical gathering, host a virtual family event or office lunch (so people can attend from the safety of their home or desks).

  • Share your favorite holiday recipes as a virtual way to share home-prepared meals.

  • Instead of sharing prepared meals, consider donating food items to those in need this holiday season.

 

We hope these tips help you and your loved ones stay healthy while still filling your holidays with fun, relaxation and cheer. Please talk with your practice manager if you have any questions about the guidelines for celebrating safely at work.

 

As a reminder, eligible employees will receive the following seasonal holidays:

Thursday, Dec. 24

Friday, Dec. 25

Monday, Dec. 28

Tuesday, Dec. 29

Friday, Jan. 1

View the complete list of UT Health San Antonio holidays this year.