COVID-19 NEWS – Page 26

Multifamily housing (e.g., apartments, condominiums, townhouses, duplexes, and quadruplexes) pose a challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic due to potential for increased risk of exposure for residents and staff. The following guidance is provided to help owners, administrators, and operators of multifamily housing work together with residents, staff, and public health officials to create a safe living environment and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Public health actions needed to reduce the spread of COVID-19, such as social distancing, can lead some people to feel isolated and lonely or can increase stress and anxiety. This page provides guidance in assessing and reducing exposure risks and resources for coping with stress in healthy ways.
These considerations are especially important for multifamily housing for older adults, residents living in settings that incorporate congregate or supportive services (e.g., multifamily housing that caters to older adults, low-income families, people with disabilities, etc.), and other populations who are at increased risk for acquiring COVID-19 and having complications. Other examples include individuals and families served through programs such as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Public Housing Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly, Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilitiesexternal icon, and Project-Based Rental Assistanceexternal icon, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Multifamily Housing Rental Assistance Programexternal icon, or properties funded through the Low-Income Housing Tax Creditexternal icon program.
Guiding principles
Older adults and groups experiencing disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19
Severe illness means that the person with COVID-19 may require hospitalization, intensive care, or a ventilator to help them breathe, or they may even die.
Other factors may increase an individual’s risk for severe illness, such as underlying medical conditions.
Although older adults and people with underlying conditions face particular risks, everyone should take steps to protect themselves from exposure to the virus causing COVID-19.
Communal spaces, community activities, and close living quarters in multifamily housing increase the risk of getting and spreading the virus
COVID-19 is mostly spread person-to-person through respiratory droplets released when people cough, sneeze, or talk. Less commonly, COVID-19 may also be acquired when someone touches a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touches their nose, mouth, or eyes. COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms. Therefore, personal prevention practices such as social distancing, using masks, frequent handwashing with soap and water or hand sanitizing when handwashing with soap and water is not possible, cough etiquette, and staying home when sick, are important to reduce COVID-19. Other environmental prevention practices, such as environmental cleaning and disinfection, are also important. Administrators can take clear-cut actions to help lower the risk of COVID-19 exposure and spread in their communities and at their facilities.
Develop a plan
During an infectious disease outbreak, such as the current outbreak of COVID-19, property owners, administrators, and operators should prepare to identify residents at increased risk of severe COVID-19 illness, collaborate with their local health departments, and protect their employees’ health and safety.
See CDC’s guidance for preparing businesses and employees for the effects of COVID-19.
Consider the unique needs of your residents, such as disabilities, cognitive decline, or lack of access to technology. This guidance does not address infection prevention and control in healthcare settings. If your facility offers healthcare services, consult CDC’s Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Healthcare Settings.
State, territorial, local, and tribal public health departments can provide specific information on COVID-19 transmission and policies in your community, which can help you decide when and if you need to scale up or relax specific prevention measures.
Promote behaviors that reduce spread
Encourage residents and staff to practice behaviors that reduce the spread of COVID-19. An individualized approach for COVID-19 may be needed for people with physical or intellectual disabilities or who have difficulty accessing information. Some residents require close contact with direct service providers, (e.g., home care nurses, therapists, social workers, etc.), have trouble understanding information, have difficulties with changes in routines, or have other concerns related to their disability.
Self-isolate or quarantine when appropriate
Encourage mask wearing
Encourage use of CDC-recommended masks among residents, workers, and visitors in common areas and in public.
Advise residents to avoid others who are not wearing masks or to ask others around them to wear masks.
Some residents may not be able to wear masks or are recommended not to wear masks:
Wearing masks may be difficult for people with sensory, cognitive, or behavioral issues.
Masks should not be worn by children under age 2 or anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, or is incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

Adaptations and alternatives should be considered whenever possible to increase the feasibility of wearing a mask or to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading if it is not possible to wear one.
Encourage social distancing
In general, interacting with more people, especially closely and for longer times, increases risk of getting and spreading COVID-19.
Avoid gatherings of 10 or more people.
Encourage social distancing by asking workers and residents who are not from the same household and visitors to stay at least 6 feet (2 meters) apart whenever possible.
Social distancing may be difficult for many people with disabilities.

Avoid close contact with visitors. For example, don’t shake hands, elbow bump or hug. Instead consider waving and verbal greetings.
Ensure adequate supplies in common areas
Support healthy hygiene behaviors by providing supplies, including soap, hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol, a way to dry hands, tissues, disinfectant wipes, masks (as feasible), and no-touch/foot pedal trash cans.
Display relevant signs and messages
Post signs in highly visible locations (e.g., building entrances, stairways, elevators) that promote everyday protective measures and describe how to stop the spread of germs (such as social distancing, by properly washing hands, proper cough etiquette, and properly wearing a mask).
Include messages (for example, videos, posters) about behaviors that prevent the spread of COVID-19 when communicating with residents, workers, volunteers, and visitors (such as on websites, in emails, in facility newsletters, and on social media accounts).
Find free CDC print and digital resources on CDC’s communications resources main page.
Identify and address potential language, cultural, and environmental barriers associated with communicating COVID-19 information. Consider developing communication materials in alternative formats (e.g., large print, braille, ASL) for people who have low vision or are blind or people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Consider developing communication materials for people with low literacy and using plain or easy to understand language or visuals.
Communications may need to be framed or adapted so they are culturally appropriate for your audience and easy to understand. CDC has communication resources available in many languages.

Maintain healthy environments in common areas
Multifamily housing complexes may consider several strategies to maintain healthy environments.
Ensure adequate ventilation
Consider conducting ventilation system upgrades or other steps to increase the delivery of clean air and dilute potential contaminants in the building. Obtain consultation from experienced Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) professionals when making changes to HVAC systems and equipment. Some of the recommendations below are based on the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Guidance for Building Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemicexternal icon. Review additional ASHRAE guidelines for multifamily buildingsexternal icon for further information on ventilation recommendations for different types of building and building readiness for occupancy. Not all steps are applicable for all scenarios.
Improvement steps may include some or all of the following activities:
Increase outdoor air ventilation, using caution in highly polluted areas.
Increase outdoor air by opening windows and doors, when weather conditions allow. Do not open windows and doors if doing so poses a safety or health risk (e.g., risk of falling, triggering asthma symptoms) to persons using the facility.
Use fans to increase the effectiveness of open windows. Position fans securely and carefully in or near windows to avoid potentially contaminated air flowing from one person to another. Strategic window fan placement in exhaust mode can help draw fresh air into room via other open windows and doors without generating strong room air currents.
Decrease occupancy in common areas where outdoor ventilation cannot be increased.

Ensure ventilation systems operate properly and provide acceptable indoor air quality for the current occupancy level for each space.
Increase total airflow supply to occupied spaces, when possible.
Disable demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) controls that reduce air supply based on occupancy or temperature during occupied hours.
Further open minimum outdoor air dampers to reduce or eliminate HVAC air recirculation. In mild weather, this will not affect thermal comfort or humidity; however, this may be difficult to do in cold, hot, or humid weather.
Improve central air filtration:
Increase air filtrationexternal icon to as high as possible without significantly diminishing design airflow.
Inspect filter housing and racks to ensure appropriate filter fit and check for ways to minimize filter bypass.
Check filters to ensure they are within service life and appropriately installed.

Consider running the HVAC system at maximum outside airflow for 2 hours before and after the space is occupied.
Ensure restroom exhaust fans are functional and operating at full capacity when the space is occupied.
Inspect and maintain local exhaust ventilation in areas such as restrooms, kitchens, cooking areas, or other areas of high occupancy.
Use portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) fan/filtration systems to help enhance air cleaning, especially in higher risk areas such as common spaces.
Generate clean-to-less-clean air movement by re-evaluating the positioning of supply and exhaust air diffusers or dampers, especially in higher-risk areas such as common spaces.
Consider using ultraviolet germicidal irradiationpdf iconexternal icon (UVGI) as a supplement to help inactivate SARS-CoV-2, especially if options for increasing room ventilation are limited.
*Note: The ventilation intervention considerations listed above come with a range of initial costs and operating costs. There are also risk assessment parameters to consider, such as community incidence rates, face mask compliance expectations, and common room density. These factors may affect which interventions are implemented.
Ensure safe water systems
To minimize the risk of lead or copper exposure, Legionnaires’ disease, and other diseases associated with water, take steps to ensure that all water systems and features (e.g., sink faucets, common area drinking fountains, decorative fountains) are safe to use after a prolonged facility shutdown.

Drinking fountains should be cleaned and sanitized, but encourage residents, workers, volunteers, and visitors to bring their own water to common areas to minimize use and touching of water fountains.
Promote cleaning and disinfection
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces (e.g., door handles, handicap door access switches, sink handles, grab bars, hand railings,) within common areas of facilities at least daily or between use as much as possible.
Advise residents with sensory or respiratory issues to avoid these areas during and immediately after cleaning.

Limit use of shared objects in common areas (e.g., computer equipment, remote controls, print materials) when possible, and clean and disinfect shared objects between use.
Develop a schedule for increased, routine cleaning and disinfection.
Provide staff with training about the safe and correct use and storage of cleaners and disinfectants.
Use products from EPA’s List N: Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19)external icon. Use products according to the manufacturer’s labeled directions.
Encourage residents, workers, volunteers, and visitors to keep personal items (e.g., cell phones, other electronics), and personal work and living spaces clean.
Offer assistance with cleaning and disinfecting for residents with disabilities who may require supervision

Encourage residents, workers, volunteers, and visitors to use disinfectant wipes to wipe down objects and surfaces before and after use.
Ensure safe congregate spaces
Modified layouts
Social distancing may be difficult for many people with disabilities.
Alter schedules to reduce mixing and close contact, such as staggering activity times and forming small groups that regularly participate at the same times and do not mix with individuals in other groups.
Arrange seating of chairs and tables to be at least 6 feet apart during events.
Minimize traffic in enclosed spaces, such as mailrooms, elevators, and stairwells.
Consider limiting the number of individuals in an elevator at one time and designating one-directional stairwells and hallways, if possible.
Ensure that social distancing can be maintained in communal spaces.
Physical barriers and guides
Install physical barriers, such as sneeze guards and partitions, particularly in areas where it is difficult for individuals to remain at least 6 feet apart (e.g., reception areas).
Provide physical guides, such as tape on floors or sidewalks and signs on walls to ensure that individuals remain at least 6 feet apart. Use formats that are accessible to residents, including for those with visual impairments.
Safe communal spaces
Social distancing may be difficult for many people with disabilities.
Close indoor shared spaces such as game rooms, computer rooms, exercise rooms, and lounges if needed to ensure safety of the residents.
Otherwise, stagger use and restrict the number of people allowed in at one time to ensure everyone can stay at least 6 feet apart, and clean and disinfect between use.
Prioritize outdoor activities where possible.
Limit the presence of non-essential volunteers and visitors in shared areas, when possible.
Clean common-area bathrooms regularly (e.g., in the morning and evening, after times of heavy use) and disinfect using products from EPA’s List N: Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19)external icon following the manufacturer’s labeled directions.
Maintain access and adequate supplies to laundry facilities. Restrict the number of people allowed in laundry rooms at one time to ensure everyone can stay at least 6 feet apart.
Consider closing exercise rooms. Alternatively, stagger use, increase air flow by opening windows where possible, and clean and disinfect between use.
Consider closing pools and hot tubs or limiting access to pools for essential activities only, such as water therapy. Consider additional prevention activities for public pools, hot tubs, and water playgrounds during COVID-19 for those that remain open.
Conduct maintenance and inspection visits
To the extent allowed by law or regulation consider:
Deferring maintenance inside units for non-critical or non-life-threatening problems.
Deferring routine in-unit inspections, especially for assisted units which may have regular mandatory inspections. Owners and operators of assisted units should be aware that authorities may have issued temporary waivers or guidance regarding inspections during the pandemic.
Maintain healthy operations
Multifamily housing complexes may consider several strategies to maintain healthy operations.
Protections for residents and workers at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19
Offer options for those at higher risk for severe illness (including older adults and people of all ages with certain underlying medical conditions) that limit their exposure risk (e.g., telework, modified job responsibilities, virtual participation in community events).
Consistent with applicable law, put in place policies to protect the privacy of people at higher risk for severe illness regarding underlying medical conditions.
Regulatory awareness
Be aware of local or state regulatory agency policies related to multifamily housing to determine if events or activities can be held.
Identify strategies to maintain operations and a healthy working and living environment
Review CDC’s guidance for businesses and employers.
Identify an onsite coordinator who will be responsible for COVID-19 issues and their impact at the workplace.
Develop flexible sick leave policies for staff. Require staff to stay home when sick, even without documentation from doctors. Use flexibility, when possible, to allow staff to stay home to care for sick family or household members or to care for children in the event of school or childcare dismissals. Make sure that employees are aware of and understand these policies.
Create plans to protect the staff and residents from the spread of COVID-19 and help them put in place personal preventive measures.
Clean shared areas (such as exercise room, laundry facilities, shared bathrooms, and elevators) and frequently touched surfaces and disinfect using products from EPA’s List N: Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19)external icon more than once a day, if possible.
Identify services and activities (such as meal programs, in-person religious services, and exercise rooms and programs) that might need to be limited or temporarily discontinued. Consider alternative solutions (e.g., virtual services) that will help programs continue while being safe for residents.
Establish policies and practices for social distancing.
Identify a list of healthcare and mental health facilities and alternative care sites where residents with COVID-19 can receive appropriate care, if needed.
Communication systems
Identify platforms such as email, websites, hotlines, automated text messaging, newsletters, and flyers to help communicate information on:
Guidance and directives from state and local officials and state and localexternal icon health departments.
How your facility is helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
How additional information will be shared, and where to direct questions.
How to stay healthy, including videos, fact sheets, and posters with information on COVID-19 symptoms and how to stop the spread of germs, how to wash your hands, and what to do if you are sick.
How residents can receive services such as food delivery if they are at higher risk for severe illness.
How staff and residents can cope and manage stress and protect others from stigma and discrimination.
Identify and address potential language, cultural, and disability barriers associated with communicating COVID-19 information. Communications may need to be framed or adapted so they are culturally appropriate for your audience and easy to understand. CDC has communication resources available in many languages.
Visitors, service providers, and prospective tenants
Loneliness and social isolation in older adults are serious health risk factors. However, because in-person social interactions are associated with increased risk of infection, owners and operators of multifamily communities are encouraged to promote safe social activities among community residents and their support networks.
Residents should be encouraged to limit visitors to persons essential to maintaining their health, well-being, and safety.
Visitors should avoid entering the building or community, including common areas and residences, unless their presence is essential to preserving the health, including mental health, well-being, and safety of residents. This can include a wide array of service providers or even community or family support networks of older adult residents.
Visitors, service providers, and prospective tenants should follow personal protective measures and the recommendations set forth by the facility they are visiting, as well as local and state health directives.
Visitors should also maintain social distance of at least six feet (2 meters) from residents to help reduce transmission.
Visitors, service providers, and prospective tenants should not visit if they recently had contact with someone who had symptoms of COVID-19.
Visitors should wear a mask while in the building and restrict their visit to the resident’s room or other location designated by the facility. Everyone should be reminded to wash their hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol when handwashing with soap and water is not possible.
Unit turnover and move-ins
Follow CDC’s guidance on cleaning and disinfecting your home.
Safely clean units and assist with unit turnovers and move-out/ins by learning how to protect yourself and others.
New units (especially high-touch surfaces) should be cleaned and disinfected using a product from EPA’s List N: Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19)external icon. Follow the manufacturer’s labeled directions.
Wait at least 24 hours since previous tenants left before cleaning and disinfecting in preparation for a new individual/family moving in. If 24 hours is not feasible, wait as long as possible.
Additional suggestions include
Frequent cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, light switches, and faucets, during the moving process;
Limiting the number of family members present during the move-in/out process;
Maintaining social distancing between household members and movers and other residents;
Requesting the proper use of masks;
Providing handwashing materials – ideally soap, water and a way to dry hands if water is on in the unit, or hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol – and encouraging frequent hand hygiene;
Keeping windows and doors open, if possible, to increase ventilation

Prepare for when someone gets sick
If a resident in your multifamily housing unit has COVID-19 (suspected or confirmed)
Have the resident contact a healthcare provider to determine whether medical evaluation is needed.
Residents are not required to notify administrators if they think they may have or have a confirmed case of COVID-19.
If you do receive information that someone in your housing unit has COVID-19, work with the local health department to notify anyone in the unit who may have been exposed (had close contact with the sick person) while maintaining the confidentiality of the sick person as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and, if applicable, the Fair Housing Act, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Provide the sick person with information on how to care for themselves and when to seek medical attention.
Help address misunderstandings about why people are being asked for personal information, and why this information is important for stopping spread of COVID-19 among family, friends, and communities.
Encourage residents with COVID-19 symptoms to self-isolate and their roommates and close contacts to quarantine. This includes limiting contact of residents with COVID-19 symptoms with any pets or service animals in the household or facility to protect them from possible infection.
Those with COVID-19 symptoms and their close contacts should limit their use of shared spaces as much as possible.

Minimize the number of staff members who have face-to-face interactions with residents who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
Encourage staff, other residents, caregivers such as outreach workers, and others who visit people with COVID-19 symptoms to follow recommended precautions to prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.
Staff at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 should not have close contact with residents who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19, if possible.
Those who have been in close contact (less than 6 feet or 2 meters) with a resident for a total of 15 minutes or more who has confirmed or suspected COVID-19 should monitor their health and call their healthcare provider if they develop symptoms suggestive of COVID-19.
Be prepared to provide accessible transportation to people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 for testing or non-urgent medical care.
Avoid transporting people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 using public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis unless it is the only accessible option. Follow guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting any transport vehicles.
If multiple cases are suspected, contact the local public health department to report the cases and to offer to an accessible community testing site, provide a platform for information-sharing, or share community insights.
Clean and disinfect
Close off areas used by someone that has or may have COVID-19 and do not use these areas until after cleaning and disinfecting.
Wait at least 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting.
If 24 hours is not feasible, wait as long as possible.
Provide staff with training about the safe and correct use and storage of cleaning and disinfection products, including storing products securely away from children and pets.
Watch for symptoms in residents and their family members
People with COVID-19 have reported a wide range of symptoms, from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update this list as we learn more about COVID-19.In some cases, older adults and people of any age with underlying health conditions may have symptoms that are not typically seen in others, or they may take longer than others to develop fever and other symptoms.

When to Seek Emergency Medical Attention
Look for emergency warning signs* for COVID-19. If a resident is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:
Trouble breathing
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
New confusion
Inability to wake or stay awake
Bluish lips or face
* This list does not include all possible symptoms. Call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.
Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility. Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.

Additional CDC resources to help prevent spread of COVID-19 in multifamily housing
More detailed guidance is available for specific types of facilities. Some of the information in these guidance documents is applicable to that specific type of facility only, and some of the information would be applicable to other congregate housing facilities.
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Suggestions for Youth and Summer Camps

COVID-19 NEWS

January 3, 2021

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Considerations for Youth Sports

COVID-19 NEWS

December 30, 2020

As some communities in the United States begin or continue to hold youth sports activities, CDC offers the following considerations to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Administrators of youth sports organizations can consult with state and local health officials to determine whether and how to put the following considerations into place. Each community may need to make adjustments to meet its unique needs and circumstances. It’s important to note that safely hosting a large event, including sporting events, in areas where there are high levels of COVID-19 within the community will be challenging. Consult with your state and local health officials to discuss the particular situation in your community before considering holding such an event and make sure you are following limits on gathering sizes. The following considerations are meant to supplement – not replace – any state, local, territorial, or tribal health and safety laws, rules, and regulations with which youth sports organizations must comply.
Assessing Risk
The way sports are played and the way equipment is shared can influence the spread of COVID-19 among players. When you are assessing the risk of spread in your sport, consider:
Community levels of COVID-19: High or increasing levels of COVID-19 cases in the local community increase the risk of infection and spread among youth athletes, coaches, and families. Administrators should consider the number of COVID-19 cases in the community when deciding whether to resume or continue youth sporting activities. Information on the number of cases in an area can often be found on the local health department website or on CDC’s COVID Data Tracker County View.
Physical closeness of players. Sports that require contact or close proximity (within 6 feet) between players may make it more difficult to maintain physical distancing, compared to sports where players are not close to each other. For close-contact sports (e.g., wrestling, basketball), play may be modified to safely increase distance between players.
For example, players and coaches can focus on individual skill building versus competition.
Coaches can also modify practices so players work on individual skills, rather than on competition. Coaches may also put players into small groups (cohorts) that remain together and work through stations, rather than switching groups or mixing groups.

Level of intensity of activity. Activities that are high intensity or require a high level of exertion (such as full competition) present a higher level of risk of getting and spreading COVID-19 than lower intensity activities (such as discussing strategy and rules, walking through plays), particularly when indoors. Higher intensity activities are safer when done outdoors.
Length of time that players are close to each other or to staff. Activities that last longer pose more risk than shorter activities. Being within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more in a 24-hour period greatly increases the risk of becoming sick and requires quarantine. Limit the time players spend in close contact to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread.
For example, players and coaches can:
play full contact only in game-time situations;
decrease the number of competitions during a season.

Setting of the sporting event or activity. Indoor activities pose more risk than outdoor activities. Minimize the amount of time spent indoors. If it is necessary to be inside, ensure the facility has proper ventilation and filtration systems and open windows and doors to increase airflow throughout the space.
Amount of necessary touching of shared equipment and gear (e.g., protective gear, balls, bats, racquets, mats, or water bottles). The virus is thought to spread mainly from person to person, but it is also possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it, and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes. Minimize equipment sharing, and clean and disinfect shared equipment between use by different people to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread.
Ability to engage in physical distancing while not actively engaged in play (e.g., during practice, on the sideline, or in the dugout). During times when players are not actively participating in practice or competition, attention should be given to maintaining physical distancing by increasing space between players on the sideline, dugout, or bench. Additionally, coaches can encourage athletes to use downtime for individual skill-building work or cardiovascular conditioning, rather than staying clustered together.
Age of the player. Older youth might be better able to follow directions for physical distancing and take other protective actions like not sharing water bottles. If feasible, a coach, parent, or other caregiver can assist with making sure that athletes maintain proper physical distancing. For younger athletes, youth sports programs may ask parents or other household members to monitor their children and make sure that they follow physical distancing and take other protective actions (e.g., younger children could sit with parents or caregivers, instead of in a dugout or group area).
Players at higher risk of developing severe illness. Parents and coaches should assess level of risk based on individual players on the team who may be at higher risk for severe illness, such as children who may have asthma, diabetes, or other health problems.
Size of the team. Sports with a large number of players on a team may increase the likelihood of spread, compared to sports with fewer team members. Consider decreasing team sizes, as feasible.
Nonessential visitors, spectators, volunteers. Limit any nonessential visitors, spectators, volunteers, and activities involving external groups or organizations.
Travel outside of the local community. Traveling outside of the local community may increase the chances of exposing players, coaches, and fans to COVID-19, or unknowingly spreading it to others. This is the case particularly if a team from an area with high levels of COVID-19 competes with a team from an area with low levels of the virus. Youth sports teams should consider competing only against teams in their local area (e.g., neighborhood, town, or community).
Behavior of the athletes off the field. Athletes who do not consistently adhere to social distancing (staying at least 6 feet apart), mask wearing, handwashing, and other prevention behaviors pose more risk to the team than those who consistently practiced these safety measures.
If organizations are not able to keep in place safety measures during competition (for example, maintaining physical distancing by keeping children at least 6 feet apart at all times), they may consider limiting participation to within-team competition only (for example, scrimmages between members of the same team) or team-based practices only. Similarly, if organizations are unable to put in place safety measures during team-based activities, they may choose individual or at-home activities, especially if any members of the team are at high risk for severe illness.
Promoting Behaviors that Reduce Spread
Youth sports organizations may consider implementing several strategies to encourage behaviors that reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Staying Home when Appropriate
Educate staff and player families about when they should stay home and when they can return to activity.
Advise staff, families, and players to stay home if they have tested positive for COVID-19, are showing COVID-19 symptoms, or if they have had a close contact with a person who has tested positive for or who has symptoms of COVID-19.
Develop policies that encourage staff who are sick to stay at home without fear of reprisal, and ensure staff are aware of these policies.
CDC’s criteria can help inform when it is okay to end isolation or quarantine.

Physical Distancing
The size and type of a sporting event should be determined based on the ability of athletes and spectators from different households to stay at least 6 feet (2 arm lengths) apart.
Encourage players to wait in their cars with guardians until just before the beginning of a practice, warm-up, or game, instead of forming a group.
Remind athletes and their families upon arrival at the facility or field to maintain at least 6 feet of distance between themselves and people they don’t live with.
Discourage athletes, coaches, staff, and families from greeting others with physical contact (e.g., handshakes). Include this reminder on signs about physical
Identify adult staff members or volunteers to help maintain physical distancing among youth, coaches, umpires/referees, and spectators (if state and local directives allow for spectators).
Space players at least 6 feet apart on the field (e.g., during warmup, skill building activities, simulation drills, while explaining rules)
If keeping physical distance is difficult with players in competition or group practice, consider relying on individual skill work and drills.
Increase distance for high-intensity activities.
Limit the use of carpools or van pools. When riding in an automobile to a sports event, encourage players to ride to the sports event with persons living in their same household.

Masks
Require the consistent and correct use of masks, by making sure that staff, athletes, and spectators are covering their noses and mouths.
Provide everyone with information on proper use, removal, and washing of masks prior to the sporting event.
Consider having additional masks on hand in case player forgets one or needs to replace a moist mask with a dry one. Higher-intensity sports: People who are engaged in high-intensity activities, like running, may not be able to wear a mask if it causes difficulty breathing. Limit high-intensity sports when indoors.
Risk often increases when players are not actively engaged in activity, for instance when they are taking a break or socializing. Ensure that masks are used at all times.
Advise staff and coaches that masks should not be placed on:
Babies or children younger than 2 years old
Anyone who has trouble breathing
Anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance

Hand Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette
Encourage athletes and coaches to wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
If soap and water are not readily available, hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol can be used (for staff and older children who can safely use hand sanitizer).
Do not allow spitting and encourage everyone to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing and sneezing. Used tissues should be thrown in the trash and hands washed immediately with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Encourage athletes, coaches, and spectators to avoid singing, chanting, or shouting, especially indoors.

Adequate Supplies
Ensure adequate supplies to support healthy hygiene pdf icon[PDF – 269 KB] Supplies include soap, water, hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol, paper towels, tissues, disinfectant wipes, masks (as feasible), and no-touch trash cans.

Signs and Messages
Post signs in highly visible locations (e.g., at entrances and exits, in restrooms) that promote everyday protective measures pdf icon[PDF – 269 KB] and describe how to stop the spread pdf icon[PDF – 486 KB] of germs such as by properly washing hands, properly wearing a maskimage icon, and physical distancing.
Broadcast regular announcements on the public announcement system.
Include COVID-19 prevention messages (for example, videos) about behaviors that prevent spread of COVID-19 when communicating with staff, volunteers, officials, and families. This could include links, videos, and prevention messages in emails, on organization websites, and through the team and league’s social media accounts.
Consider developing signs and messages in multiple languages spoken in the community and formats (e.g., large print, braille, American Sign Language) for people who have limited vision or are blind or people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Find freely available CDC print and digital resources on CDC’s communication resources main page.

Maintaining Healthy Environments
Youth sports organizations may consider implementing several strategies to maintain healthy environments.
Cleaning and Disinfection
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces on the field, court, or play surface at least daily, or between uses as much as possible.
Clean and disinfect shared objects and equipment (e.g., balls, bats, gymnastics equipment) between uses.
Consider closing areas such as drinking fountains that cannot be adequately cleaned and disinfected during a sporting event.
Develop a schedule for increasing routine cleaning and disinfection.
Ensure safe and correct use and storage of disinfectants, including storing products securely away from children. Always read and follow label instructions for each product.
Use EPA-approved disinfectants against COVID-19external icon.
Identify an adult staff member or volunteer to ensure proper cleaning and disinfection of objects and equipment, particularly for any shared equipment or frequently touched surfaces.
Cleaning products should not be used near children, and staff should ensure that there is adequate ventilation when using these products to prevent children or themselves from inhaling toxic vapors.
Use disposable gloves when removing garbage bags or handling and disposing of trash.
After using disposable gloves, throw them out in a lined trash can.
Do not disinfect or reuse the gloves.
Wash hands after removing gloves.

Shared Objects
Discourage people from sharing items that are difficult to clean, sanitize, or disinfect. Recommend players bring their own equipment such as bats, helmets, water bottles, etc. Do not let players share towels, clothing, or other items they use to wipe their faces or hands.
Ensure adequate supplies of shared items to minimize sharing of equipment to the extent possible (e.g., protective gear, balls, bats); otherwise, limit use of supplies and equipment to one group of players at a time and clean and disinfect between use.
Keep each player’s belongings separated from others’ and in individually labeled containers, bags, or areas.
If food is offered at any event, have pre-packaged boxes or bags for each attendee instead of a buffet or family-style meal. Avoid sharing food and utensils and be sure to have players sit at least 6 feet apart from one another. Offer hand sanitizer or encourage handwashing.

Ventilation
If playing inside, ensure ventilation systems operate properly. If feasible, adjust system when sports are played to increase outdoor air exchange. Increase circulation of outdoor air as much as possible, for example by opening windows and doors. Do not open windows and doors if doing so poses a safety or health risk (e.g., risk of falling or triggering asthma symptoms) to players or others using the facility.
If portable ventilation equipment like fans are used, take steps to minimize air blowing from one person directly at another person to reduce the potential spread of any airborne or aerosolized viruses. Fans should be used to push air outside, not across the room.
For additional information on increasing ventilation, visit CDC’s Information on Cleaning, Disinfection, and Ventilating your home or Guidance for Businesses and Employers.

Water Systems
To minimize the risk of Legionnaires’ disease and other diseases associated with water, take steps to ensure that all water systems and features (e.g., sink faucets, drinking fountains, decorative fountains) are safe to use after a prolonged facility shutdown. If they are used, drinking fountains should be cleaned and sanitized. But encourage staff and players to bring their own water to minimize touching water fountains.

Communal Spaces
If practices or competition facilities (e.g., locker rooms) must be shared, stagger practice times and consider increasing the amount of time between practices and competitions to allow for one group to leave before another group enters the facility. Allow time for cleaning and disinfecting between use.
Limit the number of players sitting in confined player seating areas (e.g., dugouts) by allowing players to spread out into spectator areas if more space is available (e.g., if spectators are not allowed).
Add physical barriers, such as plastic flexible screens, for example between bathroom sinks, especially when they cannot be at least 6 feet apart.

Maintaining Healthy Operations
Youth sports organizations may consider implementing several strategies to maintain healthy operations.
Regulatory Awareness
Be aware of state or local regulatory agency policies related to group gatherings to determine if events can be held.

Protections for Staff and Players at Higher Risk for Severe Illness from COVID-19
Offer options for individuals at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 (including older adults and people of any age with underlying medical conditions) that limit exposure risk (such as virtual coaching and in-home drills).
Consider limiting youth sports participation to staff and youth who live in the local area (e.g., community, city, town, or county) to reduce risk of spreading the virus from areas with higher levels of COVID-19. If attendance is open to youth from other communities, cities, town or counties, provide their families with information about local COVID-19 levels so they can make an informed decision about participation.
Put policies in place to protect the privacy of people at higher risk for severe illness regarding their underlying medical conditions.

Identifying Small Groups and Keeping them Together (Cohorting)
Keep players together in small groups with dedicated coaches or staff, and make sure that each group of players and coach avoid mixing with other groups as much as possible. Teams might consider having the same group of players stay with the same coach or having the same group of players rotate among coaches.
Consider staging within-team scrimmages instead of playing games with other teams to minimize exposure among players and teams.

For Facility Staff to have Limited, Staggered, or Rotated Shifts and Attendance Times Stagger arrival and drop-off times or locations by cohort (group) or put in place other protocols to limit contact between groups as much as possible. One example is increasing the amount of time between practices and competitions to allow for one group to depart before another group enters the facility. This also allows for more time to clean the facility between uses.
Use flexible worksites (e.g., telework) and flexible work hours (e.g., staggered shifts) to help establish policies and practices for physical distancing between facility staff and others.

Designated COVID-19 Point of Contact
Designate a youth sports program staff person or office to be responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns. All coaches, staff, officials, and families should have information about who this person or office is and how to contact them.

Communication Systems
Put systems in place to:
Encourage coaches, staff, and athletes to self-report to the youth sports organization or a COVID-19 point of contact if they have symptoms of COVID-19, a positive test for COVID-19, or were exposed to someone with COVID-19 in accordance with health information sharing regulations for COVID-19external icon (e.g. see “Notify Health Officials and Close Contacts” in the Preparing for When Someone Gets Sick section below), and other applicable laws and regulations.
Advise coaches, staff, and athletes prior to the sporting event that they should not attend if they have symptoms of, a positive test for, or were recently exposed to COVID-19.
Notify staff, officials, families, and the public of youth sports facility closures and restrictions in place to limit COVID-19 exposure (e.g., limited hours of operation).
Identify and address potential language, cultural, and disability barriers associated with communicating COVID-19 information to coaches, staff, and athletes. Tailor information so that it is easily understood by various audiences and is available in multiple languages and accessible formats (e.g., braille or larger print)

Leave (Time Off) Policies
Implement flexible sick leave policies and practices for coaches, officials, and staff that are not punitive and enable employees to stay home when they are sick, have been exposed, are caring for someone who is sick, or who must stay home with children if schools or child care centers are closed.
Examine and revise policies for leave, telework, and employee compensation as needed.
Ensure that any relevant policies are communicated to staff.

Develop policies for return-to-play after COVID-19 illness. CDC’s criteria to discontinue home isolation and quarantine can inform these policies.

Back-up Staffing Plan
Monitor absenteeism of coaches and officials, cross-train staff, and create a roster of trained back-up personnel.

Coach and Staff Training
Train coaches, officials, and staff on all safety protocols. Consider using CDC’s Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers as a guide.
Conduct training virtually, or ensure that physical distancing is maintained during training.
If training needs to be done in person, maintain physical Virtual training is optimal when feasible.

Recognize Signs and Symptoms
If feasible, conduct daily health checks (e.g., temperature screening and/or symptom checking) of coaches, officials, staff, and players safely and respectfully, and in accordance with any applicable privacy and confidentiality laws and regulations.
Youth sports program administrators may use examples of screening methods found in CDC’s supplemental Guidance for Child Care Programs that Remain Open as a guide for screening children, and CDC’s General Business FAQs for screening staff.

Sharing Facilities
Encourage any organizations that share or use the youth sports facilities to also follow these considerations and limit shared use.

Support Coping and Resilience
Promote staff and coach ability to eat healthy foods, exercise, get enough sleep, find time to unwind, and cope with stress.
Encourage staff to talk with people they trust about their concerns and how they are feeling.
Consider posting signs for the national distress hotline: 1-800-985-5990, or text TalkWithUs to 66746; The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 and TTY 1-800-787-3224; and The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Protect Your Health This Flu Season
It’s likely that the flu and COVID-19 will both spread this winter. Consider encouraging staff to get a flu vaccine.

Preparing for When Someone Gets Sick
Youth sports organizations should consider implementing several strategies to prepare for when someone gets sick.
Advise Sick Individuals of Home Isolation Criteria

Isolate and Transport Those Who are Sick
Immediately separate coaches, staff, officials, and players with COVID-19 symptoms (i.e., fever, cough, shortness of breath) at any youth sports activity. Individuals who are sick should go home or to a healthcare facility, depending on how severe their symptoms are, and follow CDC guidance for caring for themselves.
Individuals who have had close contact with a person who has symptoms should be separated, sent home, and advised to follow CDC guidance for community-related exposure (see “Notify Health Officials and Close Contacts” below). If symptoms develop, individuals and families should follow CDC guidance for caring for themselves who are sick.
Establish procedures for safely transporting anyone who is sick to their home or to a healthcare facility. If you are calling an ambulance or bringing someone to the hospital, call first to alert them that the person may have COVID-19.

Clean and Disinfect
Close off areas used by a sick person and do not use these areas until after cleaning and disinfecting them (for outdoor areas, this includes surfaces or shared objects in the area, if applicable).
Wait at least 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting. If 24 hours is not feasible, wait as long as possible. Ensure safe and correct use and storage of cleaningexternal icon and disinfection products, including storing them securely away from children.

Notify Health Officials and Close Contacts
In accordance with state and local laws and regulations, youth sports organizations should notify local health officials immediately of any case of COVID-19 .
Advise those who have had close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 to stay home and self-monitor for symptoms, and to follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.
Maintain careful rosters of which players, family members, coaches, and ancillary staff attend each practice and game, and have current contact information for everyone. If a COVID-19 exposure occurs, timely notifications are critical, and this information will help contract tracing activities occur more smoothly.

What to do if anyone becomes sick after participating in a youth sports activity
If someone develops symptoms consistent with COVID-19, such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath, or if they test positive for COVID-19, follow steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the Public Health Guidance for Community-Related Exposure.
This person(s) should self-isolate if they have tested positive for COVID-19 or self-quarantine if they are a close contact.
Immediately contact and notify the people they were in close contact with, the league organizers, and/or the local health department.

Youth sports league organizers may need to inform staff, parents, and other people about their possible exposure to the virus, while maintaining confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)external icon and other applicable laws and regulations.
If you, a staff member, or a participant is waiting for your COVID-19 test results, follow these important steps pdf icon[PDF – 234 KB] to help stop the spread of COVID-19:
Stay home and monitor your health.
Think about the people you have recently been around and places where you have been and write down any information you can remember.
Answer the phone call from the health department.

If you, a staff member, or a participant has been diagnosed with COVID-19, a public health worker may contact you to check on your health and ask you who you have been in contact with and where you’ve spent your time. Your information will be confidential. Learn more about what to expect with contact tracingpdf icon.

Contact Tracing
Contact tracing is key to slowing the spread of COVID-19 and helps protect the community by:
Letting people know they may have been exposed to COVID-19 and should monitor their health for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
Helping people who may have been exposed to COVID-19 get tested.
Asking people to self-isolate if they have COVID-19 or self-quarantine if they are a close contact.

Learn more about contact tracing and what to expect at CDC’s Contact Tracing website.

Raising Defenses against the COVID-19 “Tsunami”

COVID-19 NEWS

December 30, 2020

Dale Rose seen working in CDC’s Emergency Operations Center in Atlanta for the COVID-19 response.

CloseDale Rose seen working in CDC’s Emergency Operations Center in Atlanta for the COVID-19 response.

An email lit up Dale Rose’s phone as he ran on an elliptical trainer on a Sunday at his neighborhood YMCA. It was from CDC’s COVID-19 emergency response team.
“It read something like, ‘Dale, you’re on the response now. I already cleared it with your boss. Can you be here today?’” Dale says. “Two hours later, I was in the Emergency Operations Center. I haven’t looked back.”
That was February 2, 2020, less than two weeks after CDC confirmed the first few cases of COVID-19 in the United States. Dale has been running ever since, working six- to seven-day weeks, often from first light until late at night.
He had been expecting the tap to join the response. Dale normally works in CDC’s Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections, where he leads a branch that keeps the country prepared to respond to new diseases and potential bioterror attacks. He regularly joined responses to past epidemics.
On the COVID-19 response, Dale started out co-leading the team that helped the US government bring home people stuck overseas in outbreak regions. The team started with Wuhan, China, the first COVID-19 epicenter. Though most evacuees returned without symptoms, some became ill.
“What happened in Wuhan rang a lot of alarm bells, but I was comforted that we had a lot of people with the right expertise at CDC already working hard to prepare the country for what would come,” Dale says. “Those first days feel like a million years ago with what has happened since. It’s been a lot.”
At the same time, the Diamond Princess cruise ship was quarantined off Japan’s shores with an outbreak on board, and new infections popped up around Asia. As COVID-19’s spread increased, CDC accelerated the response. Some of what Dale was seeing already felt familiar.
“We’ve been dealing with emerging diseases threatening the country all too often these last several years,” Dale says.
He saw Zika come to Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands five years ago. Nearly six years ago, he watched Ebola barely make it into the United States but be quickly dealt with. Dale had gotten his start at CDC in 2009 responding to the H1N1 swine flu pandemic right after getting his Ph.D. in medical sociology.
H1N1 swept the country, but it was not nearly as deadly as COVID-19 has been.
COVID-19 arrived like a tsunami in slow motion. Thousands of responders from CDC, federal, state, and local agencies waded in along with healthcare professionals to hold back as much of it as they could.
“With a tidal wave, there may be a matter only of hours to save lives before the wave arrives. In this pandemic, there was more time early on to prepare,” Dale says. “Many states and localities we work with did a great job.”
In late February, Dale deployed with a team to Oakland, California. Thousands of passengers and crew, many sick with COVID-19, waited off the coast on board another cruise ship, the Grand Princess. The day Dale arrived, it was not even clear where the ship would dock.
Responders from multiple federal, state, and local agencies quickly devised plans to disembark people while minimizing further spread of the disease – a process that took days. Sick passengers and crew were taken to hospitals. People with milder symptoms went to alternate care sites. Passengers without symptoms quarantined at federal sites around the country.
Before long, COVID-19 had spread through many long-term care facilities, and prisons and meat processing plants followed. CDC mobilized to help health departments tamp down those hotspot outbreaks, and Dale became deputy lead of the newly created the State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support Task Force, which played a central role.
They collected vital information from those outbreaks that would shape new COVID-19 guidance. Then COVID-19 jumped from breaking out in isolated hotspots to spreading through whole communities.
“In April, things began blowing up. Talk about feeling like the tidal wave was coming,” Dale says. “Lots and lots of health departments were calling for help.”
CDC has deployed more than 1,800 staff to help those partners, and new teams are deploying every week. There are many more tools now, including vaccines, but the numbers of new infections have climbed high, and the COVID-19 response has not let up.
“It certainly feels like a tsunami now. But on the better days, when we see mitigation measures in an area lead to a drop in new infections, it means a lot. The measures work, and we don’t have to just let the tidal wave wash over us,” Dale says.
He still works six days a week, but Dale’s hours have shortened some. He can finally spend some time with his wife and two daughters, and that helps him keep going.
“This is a pandemic the likes of which we have not seen in our lifetimes,” Dale says. “It is vast and momentous, and it keeps me committed to the fight.”

Resources for Teachers and Staff

COVID-19 NEWS

December 30, 2020

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Holiday Celebrations

COVID-19 NEWS

December 30, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful and isolating for many people. Gatherings during the upcoming holidays can be an opportunity to reconnect with family and friends. This holiday season, consider how your holiday plans can be modified to reduce the spread of COVID-19 to keep your friends, families, and communities healthy and safe.
CDC offers the following considerations to slow the spread of COVID-19 during small gatherings. These considerations are meant to supplement—not replace—any state, local, territorial, or tribal health and safety laws, rules, and regulations with which all gatherings must comply.
Considerations for Small Gatherings of Family and Friends
Celebrating virtually or with members of your own household (who are consistently taking measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19) poses the lowest risk for spread. Your household is anyone who currently lives and shares common spaces in your housing unit (such as your house or apartment). This can include family members, as well as roommates or people who are unrelated to you. People who do not currently live in your housing unit, such as college students who are returning home from school for the holidays, should be considered part of different households. In-person gatherings that bring together family members or friends from different households, including college students returning home, pose varying levels of risk.
Several factors can contribute to the risk of getting and spreading COVID-19 at small in-person gatherings. In combination, these factors will create various amounts of risk:
Community levels of COVID-19 – High or increasing levels of COVID-19 cases in the gathering location, as well as in the areas where attendees are coming from, increase the risk of infection and spread among attendees. Family and friends should consider the number of COVID-19 cases in their community and in the community where they plan to celebrate when deciding whether to host or attend a gathering. Information on the number of cases in an area can often be found on the local health department website or on CDC’s COVID Data Tracker County View.
Exposure during travel – Airports, bus stations, train stations, public transport, gas stations, and rest stops are all places travelers can be exposed to the virus in the air and on surfaces.
Location of the gathering – Indoor gatherings, especially those with poor ventilation (for example, small enclosed spaces with no outside air), pose more risk than outdoor gatherings.
Duration of the gathering – Gatherings that last longer pose more risk than shorter gatherings. Being within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more greatly increases the risk of becoming sick and requires quarantine.
Number and crowding of people at the gathering – Gatherings with more people pose more risk than gatherings with fewer people. CDC does not have a limit or recommend a specific number of attendees for gatherings. The size of a holiday gathering should be determined based on the ability of attendees from different households to stay 6 feet (2 arm lengths) apart, wear masks, wash hands, and follow state, local, territorial, or tribal health and safety laws, rules, and regulations.
Behaviors of attendees prior to the gathering – Individuals who did not consistently adhere to social distancing (staying at least 6 feet apart), mask wearing, handwashing, and other prevention behaviors pose more risk than those who consistently practiced these safety measures.
Behaviors of attendees during the gathering – Gatherings with more safety measures in place, such as mask wearing, social distancing, and handwashing, pose less risk than gatherings where fewer or no preventive measures are being implemented. Use of alcohol or drugs may alter judgment and make it more difficult to practice COVID-19 safety measures.

People with or exposed to COVID-19Do not host or participate in any in-person gatherings if you or anyone in your household
Do not host or attend gatherings with anyone who has COVID-19 or has been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
People at increased risk for severe illnessIf you are an older adult or person with certain medical conditions who is at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19, or live or work with someone at increased risk of severe illness, you should avoid in-person gatherings with people who do not live in your household.

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Considerations for Attending or Hosting a Small Gathering
Below are some general considerations for hosting a gathering that brings together people from different households. Guests should be aware of these considerations and ask their host what mitigation measures will be in place during the gathering. Hosts should consider the following:
Check the COVID-19 infection rates in areas where attendees live on state, local, territorial, or tribal health department websites or on CDC’s COVID Data Tracker County View. Based on the current status of the pandemic, consider if it is safe to hold or attend the gathering on the proposed date.
Limit the number of attendees as much as possible to allow people from different households to remain at least 6 feet apart at all times. Guests should avoid direct contact, including handshakes and hugs, with others not from their household.
Host outdoor rather than indoor gatherings as much as possible. Even outdoors, require guests to wear masks when not eating or drinking.
Avoid holding gatherings in crowded, poorly ventilated spaces with persons who are not in your household.
Increase ventilation by opening windows and doors to the extent that is safe and feasible based on the weather, or by placing central air and heating on continuous circulation.
For additional information on increasing ventilation, visit CDC’s information on Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Home.
Winter weather can be cold, wet, and unpredictable. Inclement weather makes it difficult to increase ventilation by opening windows or to hold an event outdoors.

If setting up outdoor seating under a pop-up open air tent, ensure guests are still seated with physical distancing in mind. Enclosed 4-wall tents will have less air circulation than open air tents. If outdoor temperature or weather forces you to put up the tent sidewalls, consider leaving one or more sides open or rolling up the bottom 12 inches of each sidewall to enhance ventilation while still providing a wind break.
Require guests to wear masks. At gatherings that include persons of different households, everyone should always wear a mask that covers both the mouth and nose, except when eating or drinking. It is also important to stay at least 6 feet away from people who are not in your household at all times.
Encourage guests to avoid singing or shouting, especially indoors. Keep music levels down so people don’t have to shout or speak loudly to be heard.
Encourage attendees to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Provide guests information about any COVID-19 safety guidelines and steps that will be in place at the gathering to prevent the spread of the virus.
Provide and/or encourage attendees to bring supplies to help everyone to stay healthy. These include extra masks (do not share or swap with others), hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, and tissues. Stock bathrooms with enough hand soap and single use towels.
Limit contact with commonly touched surfaces or shared items, such as serving utensils.
Clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces and any shared items between use when feasible. Choose the right disinfectant for your surface from EPA’s List N: Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19)external icon.
Use touchless garbage cans if available. Use gloves when removing garbage bags or handling and disposing of trash. Wash hands after removing gloves.
Plan ahead and ask guests to avoid contact with people outside of their households for 14 days before the gathering.
Treat pets as you would other human family members – do not let pets interact with people outside the household.
The more of these prevention measures that you put in place, the safer your gathering will be. No one measure is enough to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Food and drinks at small holiday gatherings
Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that handling food or eating is associated with directly spreading COVID-19. It is possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object, including food, food packaging, or utensils that have the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. However, this is not thought to be the main way that the virus is spread. Remember, it is always important to follow food safety practices to reduce the risk of illness from common foodborne germs.
Encourage guests to bring food and drinks for themselves and for members of their own household only; avoid potluck-style gatherings.
Wear a mask while preparing food for or serving food to others who don’t live in your household.
All attendees should have a plan for where to store their mask while eating and drinking. Keep it in a dry, breathable bag (like a paper or mesh fabric bag) to keep it clean between uses.
Limit people going in and out of the areas where food is being prepared or handled, such as in the kitchen or around the grill, if possible.
Have one person who is wearing a mask serve all the food so that multiple people are not handling the serving utensils.
Use single-use options or identify one person to serve sharable items, like salad dressings, food containers, plates and utensils, and condiments.
Make sure everyone washes their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before and after preparing, serving, and eating food and after taking trash out. Use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
Designate a space for guests to wash hands after handling or eating food.
Limit crowding in areas where food is served by having one person dispense food individually to plates, always keeping a minimum of a 6-foot distance from the person whom they are serving. Avoid crowded buffet and drink stations.
Change and launder linen items (e.g., seating covers, tablecloths, linen napkins) immediately following the event.
Offer no-touch trash cans for guests to easily throw away food items.
Wash dishes in the dishwasher or with hot soapy water immediately following the gathering.
Travel and Overnight Stays
Travel may increase your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others this year.
If you are considering traveling, here are some important questions to ask yourself and your loved ones beforehand. These questions can help you decide what is best for you and your family.
Are you, someone in your household, or someone you will be visiting at increased risk for getting very sick from COVID-19?
Are cases high or increasing in your community or your destination? Check CDC’s COVID Data Tracker for the latest number of cases.
Are hospitals in your community or your destination overwhelmed with patients who have COVID-19? To find out, check state and local public health department websites.
Does your home or destination have requirements or restrictions for travelers? Check state and local requirements before you travel.
During the 14 days before your travel, have you or those you are visiting had close contact with people they don’t live with?
Do your plans include traveling by bus, train, or air which might make staying 6 feet apart difficult?
Are you traveling with people who don’t live with you?
If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” you should consider making other plans, such as hosting a virtual gathering or delaying your travel.
The safest thing to do is to stay home, but if you do decide to travel, testing can help you do so more safely. Testing does not eliminate all risk, but it can help make travel safer.
It’s important to talk with the people you live with and your family and friends about the risks of traveling.
If you decide to travel, follow these safety measures during your trip to protect yourself and others from COVID-19:
Wear a mask in public settings, like on public and mass transportation, at events and gatherings, and anywhere you will be around people outside of your household.
Avoid close contact by staying at least 6 feet apart (about 2 arm lengths) from anyone who is not from your household.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol).
Avoid contact with anyone who is sick.
Avoid touching your face mask, eyes, nose, and mouth.
Travel can increase the chance of getting and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others. Use information from the following webpages to decide whether to travel during the holidays:
Considerations for staying overnight or hosting overnight guests
Consider whether you, someone you live with, or anyone you plan to visit with is at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, to determine whether to stay overnight in the same residence or to stay elsewhere. College students who travel to visit family or friends should be thought of as overnight guests. They and their hosts, which might include their own parents, should follow all overnight guest precautions to protect themselves for the duration of the visit. For longer visits, after 14 days of following guest precautions, the student, if without symptoms or recent contacts with anyone with COVID-19, can be considered a household member and follow steps to protect themselves and others.
Assess risk for infection based on how you or your visitor will travel.
Consider and prepare for what you will do if you, or someone else, becomes sick during the visit. What are the plans for isolation, medical care, basic care, and travel home?
Tips for staying overnight or hosting overnight guests
Visitors should launder clothing and masks, and stow luggage away from common areas upon arrival.
Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially upon arrival.
Wear masks while inside the house. Masks may be removed for eating, drinking, and sleeping, but individuals from different households should stay at least 6 feet away from each other at all times.
Improve ventilation by opening windows and doors or by placing central air and heating on continuous circulation.
Spend time together outdoors. Take a walk or sit outdoors at least 6 feet apart for interpersonal interactions.
Avoid singing or shouting, especially indoors.
Treat pets as you would other human family members – do not let pets interact with people outside the household.
Monitor hosts and guests for symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath.
Hosts and guests should have a plan for what to do if someone becomes sick.