SPREAD CHEER, NOT COVID-19 Click here and let us help you keep loved ones safe this holiday by limiting

gatherings to household members only. We get it. You and your family have faced unusual challenges and navigated big changes this year. It’s been tough keeping those you love safe from COVID-19. So, as the holidays approach, you are hungry for a breather. You can’t wait to take comfort in tradition and celebration. The fact that you’ve made such great efforts since the start of the pandemic is the very reason we urge you to not stop now. At a time when everyone wants to kick back and celebrate, it’s more important than ever that you dig in to slow the spread of COVID-19. How? By making sure that holiday gatherings are limited to members of your household — people you’ve been living with during the pandemic — only. This is by far the best way to keep yourself and your loved ones safe from COVID-19 and support Delaware’s statewide fight, especially at a time when small-group gatherings are proving to be a huge contributor to increased cases of coronavirus. But, not to worry — whether you honor Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or any other holiday, you can keep celebrations small and safe, and still enjoy the relaxation, tradition, and fun you need so very much right now. To get started, please visit de.gov/coronavirus, a website created by the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) to provide you with great information on gathering safely as well as tips for downsizing your holiday table and more. Not sure your family will understand? Let us help! It may be hard to tell people you love that holiday traditions will be small this year. But it will be harder to tell them that they were exposed to COVID-19 at your gathering, or that you tested positive. Here are tips for having the challenging conversations that will ultimately keep everyone safer. Telling someone your event is household members only

Make it personal. Inform people by phone and avoid individual or group texts, emails, and social media.

Assure them that your decision is for their safety and that you are doing it out of love.

Explain that your guest list is strictly household members; you are not singling anyone out.

Ask how they feel and allow them to share disappointment and other emotions.

End on a high note! Share some ways you plan to safely continue holiday traditions and connect with family and friends. Ask them to share their ideas too.

Declining an invitation

Make it personal. Inform your host by a phone call, not text, email, or social media.

Thank the host for thinking of you and for respecting your decision.

Be open and honest. Let the host know you’re sad not to join them this year, but make it clear that your decision is for your safety as well as the safety of the host and other guests.

Assure the host that you are not singling out this one event — declining invitations is your rule to decline all invitations this year.

Lastly, don’t forget some of the “big 3” rules for gathering safely with anyone — whether they have tested positive for COVID-19 or not. Wear a mask, maintain a safe social distance of at least 6 feet, and wash or sanitize your hands frequently.

Throughout Delaware, family celebrations are going to be a little smaller during the holidays — and while different they might possibly turn out even better! With everyone working together to make sure gatherings are safe this year, you’ll be continuing the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19. And in doing so, you and your loved ones will be able to enjoy many of your cherished traditions, introduce fun new activities to your celebration and create lasting memories. Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa or any other holiday, this guide offers a ton of information and tips for you to keep things small and make gatherings safe — and to embrace your power to spread cheer, not COVID-19!

WHO Members of your household — only.It’s critical to limit your social gatherings to only the people you’ve been sharing a household with during the pandemic. This is one of the best ways you can protect yourself and your loved ones from getting COVID-19 and from potentially spreading it to people they interact with at work, school and other times during their day.

Golden rule: Less is more. The smaller you make your social gathering, the more you do to stop the spread of COVID-19. By limiting the number of people who come in contact with each other, you lower the risk for everyone.

WHY Because you love them.The CDC reports that Americans are getting more relaxed — too relaxed — on safety procedures while with family and during small gatherings. Delaware’s own data shows that cases are being spread most often at social gatherings, especially when people are removing their masks to eat, drink, chat and party together. They are driving the spikes in Delaware’s COVID-19 cases. Keep your social gatherings limited to household members and find other ways to share experiences across the miles. You’ll be doing loved ones a favor by eliminating potential health risks during the holidays, including everything from taking food from the same plate to shaking hands and hugging.

Golden rule: You’re in charge. People you love look to you for guidance in keeping them healthy, happy and strong. It’s a big responsibility that you can fulfill by ensuring safe holiday activities.

WHAT Small-but-mighty, distant-but-together celebrations!To optimize safety and protect the health and well-being of your loved ones, organize events that allow people to connect and enjoy the same experiences without being physically together. Technology platforms like Zoom, FaceTime, email and social media offer great ways to do this, and so does the good old-fashioned telephone! Whatever you’re doing to honor Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa or other holidays, bring people in virtually and ask them to do the same for you. If you can’t avoid being around extended family, stay outdoors when you can and continue to practice what has been proven to be a powerful defense so far — wearing masks even around extended family, practicing social distancing, washing hands frequently and thoroughly, and avoiding physical contact.

Golden rule: Home is where the “smart” is. The most effective way to protect those you love is to stay home — and encourage everyone to do the same. Be smart and be safe during the holidays. Keep people connected without contact, lead by example, and exercise your right to say no to invitations to risky or unsafe situations.

YOUR HOLIDAY GUIDE.

Keep it small. Keep it safe. Make it great!

HOW Talk it out.We get it. Telling someone “I love you but cannot be with you during the holidays” can be tough. So is declining an invitation from a friend or loved one. But even harder will be telling someone you love they were exposed to COVID-19 at your gathering. Here are tips for having the challenging conversations that will ultimately keep everyone safer.

Telling someone your event is household members only• Make it personal. Inform people by phone and avoid individual or group texts, emails, and social media.• Assure them that your decision is for their safety and you are doing it out of love.• Explain that your guest list is strictly household members; you are not singling anyone out.• Ask how they feel and allow them to share disappointment and other emotions.• End on a high note! Share some ways you plan to continue holiday traditions and connect with family and friends.

Ask them to share their ideas too.

Declining an invitation• Make it personal. Inform your host by a phone call, not text, email, or social media.• Thank the host for thinking of you and for respecting your decision.• Be open and honest. Let them know you’re sad not to join them this year, but make it clear that your decision is for your

safety as well as the safety of the host and other guests. • Assure the host that you are not singling out this one event — you’ve made it a rule to decline all invitations this year.

And WOW! Make unique, lasting memories.Instead of looking at safety guidelines as “yet another pandemic downer,” embrace this as an opportunity to get creative, start meaningful traditions and infuse more fun into your holidays! Here are five ideas to get you started:

1. Give back. Cook for your typical guest list, then spread holiday cheer by delivering the extra plates — in a safe, contactless way — to neighbors in need or seniors who are alone.

2. Share the savings. Take up a collection of the money that family members save by downsizing their gatherings (think less food to buy) and donate it to a favorite charity or family member who is financially challenged by the pandemic.

3. Keep the traditions you can. From baking, gift-giving, and mailing cards to decorating, attending drive-thru light shows and solemn observances, you can do many cherished activities safely.

4. Photo bomb-ardment. Keep those smartphones handy to take photos and videos of every holiday activity. Set up a social media group, group text or email chain for sharing so that all friends and family can still be part of each other’s experiences.

5. Phone (gift) tag. Speakerphone is a wonderful thing! Make a game of opening gifts by having recipients describe the shape, size and sound, then having others guess what’s inside before it’s opened.

Did you know?• You can have and spread COVID-19 even if you don’t have any symptoms. • You’re just as likely to get COVID-19 from friends and family as you are from strangers.• Size matters. The more people at your social gathering, the greater the risk of spreading COVID-19.• Duration matters. The longer people are together at an event, the higher the risk.• Origin matters. Gatherings with people coming from different locations pose greater risk. The more varied

your guests’ “origins,” the more likely it is the virus can spread.

Don’t forget …• Stay home if you are sick.• Whenever you are with people other than those in your household, wear a mask, stay at least 6 feet apart, and practice

good hand hygiene. • You should not attend a social gathering if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, have symptoms, are waiting for test

results, may have been exposed in the last 14 days or are at a higher risk of severe illness from the virus.• If you’ve been exposed or think you’ve been exposed to COVID-19, quarantine at home for 14 days.• If you get COVID-19 after attending a gathering, let the host know so that other guests can be alerted that they may have

been exposed.

Get more ideas and information on safe holiday activities at de.gov/coronavirus.

DELAWARE DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH

HOLIDAY GUIDANCE

For the latest Delaware updates:

de.gov/coronavirus

Delaware is seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Cases are spreadingmost often during social gatherings when people eat, drink and chat with others who don’t livewith them – without face coverings or keeping a safe and social distance. Which means thisholiday season needs to be very different from those of years’ past in order for us to get this undercontrol. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, family celebrations will have tolook different this year. With everyone working together to make sure gatherings are safe,we will continue our fight to stop the spread of COVID-19. And in doing so, you and your lovedones can enjoy many of your cherished traditions, introduce fun new activities to your celebration,and create lasting memories.

You can spread COVID-19 even if you don’t have any symptoms.

You’re just as likely to get COVID-19 from friends and family as you are from strangers…...potentially even more so if you are more comfortable and let your guard down.

Size matters. The more people at your gathering, the greater the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Duration matters. The longer people are together at an event, the higher the risk.

Gatherings with people coming from different locations pose greater risk. Traveling fromdifferent locations increases the likelihood that the virus will spread.

Recommendation #1 – Limit gatherings -- from meals to parties -- tojust those who live in your house.

The most effective way to protect those you love is to stay home — and encourageeveryone to do the same. Respect friends and relatives who turn down invites – they’redoing the right thing! Why?

Don’t let your guard down just because you’re with family. Keep your distance!

Exchange air hugs and kisses instead of the real thing.

Take it outdoors. Being outside allows more space, more fresh air and lower risk than beingindoors – but you still should mask up and keep your distance.

Recommendation #2 – You should wear a face covering when you are inpublic or can’t avoid being around other people you don’t live with.

Updated: 11/13/20

For the latest Delaware updates:

de.gov/coronavirusUpdated: 11/13/20

Limiting close contacts with others as much as possible; Wearing a face covering whenever you leave your bedroom (even when aroundroommates); and Maintaining physical distance from others at all times.

Wear a face covering at all times, even when around family members.Don’t get too close! Maintain a social distance – especially when not wearing a mask whileyou are eating, drinking or hanging out.

Verify that you have no symptom of illness;Check the most recent state and local guidelines that for your travel and home destination;andMake a plan to get tested before and upon your return home (check your college oruniversity’s specific requirements)

Recommendation #3 – College students and other young adultsreturning home should limit contact with others two weeks prior toyour trip.

You can lower your risk ahead of time by:

While at your destination:

When you prepare to leave to go home, you should:

Zoom - it's not just for meetings anymore! Holiday potluck or sing-a-long anyone?

Conduct a virtual food drive to donate to the Food Bank of Delaware or othercharitable causes. The pandemic has hit them hard too, just when more people are inneed of their support.

Keep the traditions you can. Baking, recipe swaps, mailing cards, decorating, gift-giving — you can still safely do all these cherished activities and more.

Establish new traditions - everything we know has been turned upside down this year,so find a new activity to enjoy.

Schedule a time to share a meal together virtually. Have people share recipes andshow their turkey, pies or other dishes they prepared.

Spend time together - play games, watch parades, sports, and movies at home.

Send photos, make calls and write letters to keep in touch with everyone.

Recommendation #4 - Organize COVD-safe activities.

For the latest Delaware updates:

de.gov/coronavirus

Shop online sales.

Shop during hours fewer people will be in the store.

Use contactless services for purchased items, like curbside pick-up.

Shop in open air markets staying 6 feet away from others and wearing your face coverings.

Recommendation #5 – Shop Safely. Whether for food or gifts, keep thefollowing suggestions in mind.

Stay home if you are sick.

Download COVID Alert DE on Google Play or the App Store.

You should not attend a gathering if you:Are waiting for test results;May have been exposed in the last 14 days;Have any symptoms of COVID-19 (even if you think it’s a cold); or Are at a higher risk of severe illness from the virus.

If you get COVID-19 after attending a gathering, let the host know so that otherguests can be alerted that they may have been exposed.

Important Reminders

Delaware’s free and anonymous exposure notification app is compatible with exposurenotification apps in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Washington, D.C. COVIDAlert DE uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology to alert app users if they have been in closecontact (within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) with someone who hastested positive for COVID-19 and is also using the app.

Remember that we are all in thistogether – we’ll get through this andback to the holidays we are used to

before you know it.

Updated: 11/13/20