Author: COVID-19 NEWS

Travel increases your chances of getting and spreading COVID-19. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
Some travel activities, like the transportation you choose and where you stay, can increase your risk of getting COVID-19. Your chances of exposure are higher if you come into close contact with others, especially people you don’t know, or use shared public facilities (like restrooms). COVID-19 is spreading in the United States and in many international destinations. Visiting locations where there are fewer cases of COVID-19 may be less risky for getting COVID-19 than visiting locations where there are more cases of COVID-19.
Before you travel, learn which travel activities are lower risk to protect yourself and others. Keep in mind that getting from one place to another is just one piece of the travel risk. Your activities and who you interact with before, during, and after travel may increase your risk.
Transportation
Your chances of getting COVID-19 while traveling depends not only on the length of the trip and the number of stops, but also on whether you and those around you take precautions, such as wearing masks and staying at least 6 feet away from other people. Airports, bus stations, train stations, and rest stops are all places travelers can be exposed to the virus through respiratory droplets or on surfaces. These are also places where it can be hard to keep your distance. In general, the longer you are around a person with COVID-19 (even if they do not have symptoms), the more likely you are to get infected.
When traveling on any public transportation, wear a mask for the duration of your trip, including while waiting in transportation hubs (airports, bus or ferry terminals, train or subway stations, seaports, or similar areas), while on public transportation conveyances (e.g., airplanes, ships, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis, ride-shares), and at your destination.
During car travel, making stops along the way for gas, food, or bathroom breaks can put you and your traveling companions in close contact with other people and frequently touched surfaces. If traveling in a RV, you may have to stop less often for food or bathroom breaks, but you could still be in close contact with others while staying at RV parks overnight and while getting gas and supplies at public places.
Traveling on buses and trains for any length of time can involve sitting or standing within 6 feet of others, which may increase your risk of getting COVID-19. If you choose to travel by bus or train, learn what you can do to protect yourself on public transportation.
Air travel requires spending time in security lines and airport terminals, which can bring you in close contact with other people and frequently touched surfaces. Most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes. However, keeping your distance is difficult on crowded flights, and sitting within 6 feet of others, sometimes for hours, may increase your risk of getting COVID-19.

Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
Short trips by car with members of your household with no stops along the way

Longer trips by car or RV with one or more stops along the way

Trips by car or RV with people who are not in your household
Long-distance train or bus trips
Direct flights

Flights with layovers
Traveling on a cruise ship or river boat

The first two categories include considerations for high risk individuals with the assumption that no member of the household has COVID-19 symptoms.
1. Personal controls to prevent transmission
This section describes considerations that apply to all households, as well as suggestions to protect people at increased risk (older adults or people with certain underlying health conditions). It includes recommendations that both individuals and organizations can take to support households in high-density urban areas.
Hand Hygiene
Personal controls
Wash hands frequently with clean water as described above.
Households should ensure they have at least one handwashing station with soap where water flows from a tap or spigot to allow for proper handwashing. The handwashing station may be located inside or outside the home. There should be a handwashing station near the toilet/latrine.
Materials, activities, and personnel needed for implementation
Distribute handwashing station materials and soap where necessary for households that are unable to purchase.
Distribute information, education and communication (IEC) materials on construction of handwashing stations and proper handwashing methods
Conduct communication campaigns (via radio, newspaper, social media, or other platforms) describing guidance on proper handwashing technique and the key times for handwashing. Tips on communicating for hand hygiene during COVID-19 are found herepdf iconexternal iconpdf iconexternal icon.
Considerations and challenges for implementation
Some areas may face challenges with water quantity or water quality. If clean water is not available, the cleanest water available (e.g. not cloudy and from an improved source) should be used. In areas without access to an improved water supply, household water treatment may be considered for treating water for all purposes, including handwashing; however, priority should be given to treating drinking water where access to household water treatment products is limited.
Costs associated with the development and distribution of communications campaigns.
Costs for households to purchase and maintain handwashing stations and supplies (e.g. soap, water, drying materials). If a handwashing station is not affordable , use a bucket with cup or pitcher. However, this method does not allow individuals to scrub hands under water as recommended without the support of another household member to pour water.
Where individual handwashing stations are not possible, install public handwashing stations, as described below in administrative and engineering controls.
Accessing essential goods and services
Personal Controls
Leave the household only when it is necessary to obtain essential goods and services. Stock up when possible to help limit the number of trips needed outside the household.
Designate one person (who is not elderly and who does not have serious underlying medical conditions) to leave the house for essential goods and services.
Clean hands as described above frequently when in public spaces and when returning home from a public place.
Wear masks when in public settings where other physical distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
Materials, activities, and personnel needed for implementation
Conduct communication campaigns (via radio, newspaper, social media, or other platforms) on when families should stay at home and to protect individuals at increased risk.
Provide food aid and distribution of hygiene materials where necessary for households that are unable to purchase multi-day supplies of food, soap and cleaning supplies.
Considerations and challenges for implementation
Costs associated with the development of communication materials and with the purchase and distribution of food aid and hygiene materials (where needed).
Difficult to determine who qualifies for food aid and distribution of hygiene materials. Ideally, consult with community stakeholders and refer to existing social safety net lists.
Frequently touched surfaces
Personal Controls
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects at least daily following the directions above and more often when heavily used. These include tables, door and window handles, and sanitation (bathroom/toilet/latrine) surfaces.
Materials, activities, and personnel needed for implementation
Ensure access of or provide households water and bleach (or other disinfectants), cleaning materials, and personal protective equipment (rubber gloves, thick aprons, and closed toed shoes).
Provide households communication materials describing how to mix disinfection solutions, how to clean and disinfect, and how to store disinfectants safely.
Considerations and challenges for implementation
Costs associated with purchasing bleach, soap, water, cleaning supplies, personal protective equipment, and printing communication materials. If water supply is not available on site, daily cleaning and disinfection will be more challenging and costly. If no rubber gloves are available, other non-permeable gloves can be substituted. If no aprons are available, people can wear protective clothing (such as long pants and long-sleeved shirts) and launder after use.
Constraints with supply chain and market on soap, bleach and PPE as demand increases with COVID-19 spread.
Ventilation
Personal Controls
Open windows or doors to increase ventilation within living and sleeping areas. Improving ventilation helps to remove respiratory droplets from the air.
Materials, activities, and personnel needed for implementation
Communication campaigns (via radio, newspaper, social media, or other platforms) informing households that increasing ventilation is a possible mitigation measure.
Considerations and challenges for implementation
Increased ventilation may not be possible in some households and during some seasons (e.g. when temperatures are cold or it is raining). Do not open windows and doors if doing so poses a safety or health risk to others (e.g. risk of falling or triggering asthma symptoms).
Using a fan without the window or door open may spread contaminated droplets to a safe area or to other occupants.
Increased ventilation may result in increased transmission of malaria or other vector-borne disease, and use of bed nets is recommended in areas where there is transmission of these diseases.
Visitation
Personal Controls
Follow all local and government guidance on visitors. Limit time and number of guests inside households to essential visitors. Allow outdoor visits where possible.
Encourage visitors to practice personal mitigation measures (hand hygiene, avoiding touching surfaces when possible, respiratory etiquette, wearing a mask, and physical distancing) and practice those measures when in other households.
Persons at increased risk should not visit other households and should not receive visitors. If it is essential that a visitor enter a household with someone who is at increased risk, ensure that visitor wears a mask and maintains physical distance as much as possible.
Materials, activities, and personnel needed for implementation
Conduct communication campaigns (via radio, newspaper, social media, or other platforms) informing households to limit visitation.
Considerations and challenges for implementation
Costs associated with the development and distribution of communication campaigns.
Risk reduction for individuals at increased risk within households
Personal Controls
People at increased risk for severe illness (people who are elderly or who have serious underlying medical conditions) should stay at home and away from crowds or large gatherings as much as possible.
Protect high-risk people in households where there is enough space (e.g. a separate bedroom or other room) through physical separation while they are still healthy. The high-risk person needs to stay inside the protected area, or “safe zone,” as long as there is active COVID-19 transmission in the surrounding community. Ideally, this zone would include its own sanitation facilities not used by other members of the household.
If high-risk people need to use shared sanitation facilities, the high-touch surfaces within those facilities should be cleaned and disinfected before each use.
All interactions between high-risk people and other members of the household should be at a safe distance of at least 2 meters, including sleeping areas.
If separate sleeping areas are not available, consider sleeping head to toe.
Other household members should wear masks when in the household with someone who is at increased risk and physical distancing is not possible.
Avoid sharing personal items (such as dishes, cups, towels, bedding, etc.) between the household member at increased risk and others.
High-risk family members should clean hands after coming in contact with high-touch surfaces, and all household members should clean hands before touching the high-risk person or anything in high risk-person’s area.
Materials, activities, and personnel needed for implementation
Conduct communication campaigns (via radio, newspaper, social media, or other platforms) informing households about risk reduction for high-risk individuals.
Ensure access or provide masks to other household members.
Considerations and challenges for implementation
Potential for depression and loneliness to household members at increased risk who, under this measure, would need to be isolated for a prolonged period of time (as long as there is active COVID-19 transmission in the surrounding community).
Difficult to maintain safe zone would be very difficult to maintain for all households, especially for people at increased risk who require care from other household members (unless those household members are able to isolate with them) and in households where there is no separate latrine or toilet.
It may be impossible for people at increased risk to stay at home, particularly if they earn money for the household or provide care for others. In these cases, consider financial and other support for these households to enable/encourage the person who is considered high risk to stay at home.

Surveillance Triage and Support
Processes incoming laboratory and provider reports in surveillance system. Follows-up to obtain relevant medical and demographic information. Acts as a resource for interjurisdictional communication & transfer of patient and contact information. Responsible for gathering relevant locating information (e.g., “people-searches”) for clients and contacts.
Surveillance Data Clerks, Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS)***

Administrative Support Staff, Data Entry Technicians
Case Investigator
Conducts interviews of patients with confirmed or probable COVID-19, with a focus on motivational interviewing and cultural competency. Interviews should be guided by standard protocols and include: providing disease-specific information; assessing signs and symptoms, and underlying health conditions; discussing symptom onset to determine window period for contact elicitation and exposure risk for close contacts; discussing work, social, recreational, and community activities to identify who may have been exposed; eliciting information on close contacts, including names, exposure dates and locating information; and assessing support needs to maintain health and compliance during self-isolation.

Facilitates testing and referral to healthcare services and resource care coordination, as indicated. May conduct home-based specimen collection.
Provides recommendations for self-isolation and review of daily monitoring procedures.  Conducts daily monitoring during self-isolation—temperature, signs/symptoms, use of fever-reducing medications—via electronic tool (e.g., smartphone app, case management software) or other designated mechanism until patient is no longer infectious.**

Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS)***, Public Health Associate Program (PHAP) Assignees, Public Health Nurses, Epidemiologists
Public Health Graduates or Current Students (MPH and Bachelors), Retired Registered Nurses, Health Educators, Social Workers, Medical or Nursing Students, Patient Navigators, Community Health Outreach Workers/Promotores, Community Members with emotional intelligence, good communication and problem-solving skills.Ideally, they have language skills or similar cultural/social background as clients.
Contact Tracer

Communicates with contacts to notify them of exposure, provides disease and transmission information, gathers data on demographics, living arrangements, and daily activities. Asks about signs/symptoms and underlying medical conditions. Provides referrals for testing (if appropriate). May conduct home-based specimen collection.
Provides recommendations for self-quarantine and reviews daily monitoring procedures. Assesses supports necessary to maintain compliance during self-quarantine. Conversations with contacts should be guided by standard protocols.
Conducts daily monitoring during self-quarantine—temperature, signs/symptoms, use of fever-reducing medications—via electronic tool (e.g., smartphone, case management software) or other designated mechanism, until 14 days after last potential exposure, and referral to healthcare if contact becomes symptomatic.
The best way to protect yourself and others is to stay home for 14 days if you think you’ve been exposed to someone who has COVID-19. Check your local health department’s website for information about options in your area to possibly shorten this quarantine period.

Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS)***, Public Health Investigators, Public Health Associate Program (PHAP) Assignees, Public Health Nurses, Epidemiologists
Community Health Outreach Workers/Promotores, Medical Assistants, Teachers, Librarians, College Students, Customer Service- Oriented Professionals such as Flight Attendants, Call Center Employees, Restaurant and Other Service Industry Employees
Case Investigation & Contact Tracing Lead
Directly oversees the work of the Case Investigator and/or Contact Tracer and others who may work as part of a team. Assigns work and oversees the quality of work. Ensures completion of case interviews and contact follow-up according to established standards. Reviews work for missing information, inconsistencies, or areas that need further exploration and directs staff follow-up to seek clarification and obtain additional information. Addresses complex issues with cases or contacts that have been escalated by staff.
Uses qualitative (interview audits) and quantitative (review of statistical outputs) methods to review performance and determine areas for formal or informal professional development, training, coaching, and mentoring. When necessary, uses progressive discipline to address performance or conduct issues. Recognizes staff for exceptional and outstanding performance.  Maintains employee personnel files.

Supervisory Public Health Nurses, Senior Epidemiologist
Supervisory Public Health Nurses, STD Program Front Line Supervisors, Public Health Investigator Supervisors, Communicable Disease Investigator Supervisors, TB Case Investigators/Outreach Worker Supervisors
Care Resource Manager
Assesses social support that clients and contacts need to maintain healthy living in self-isolation or self-quarantine. Identifies housing needs and facilitates transition to appropriate housing supports. Provides tools (e.g., thermometer) to assist with daily monitoring and prevent further spread in home. Coordinates other support services such as delivery of food or medications, and referral to programs that provide financial assistance.
Patient Navigators, Linkage to Care Specialists, Disease Intervention Specialists
Social Workers, Medical Assistants, Community Health Outreach Workers/Promotores, Medical Case Managers, Medical Care Coordinators
Self-Isolation & Self-Quarantine Monitor
Daily monitoring (ideally) of clients with COVID-19 during self-isolation and contacts during self-quarantine—temperature, signs/symptoms—via electronic tool (e.g., smartphone app, case management software) or other designated mechanism. Assesses changes (initiation or increase in severity) in COVID-19 signs and symptoms. Facilitates prompt medical attention, as necessary. Tracks when clients or contacts are eligible to discontinue self-isolation/self-quarantine and refers them to testing when available to assess their readiness for discontinuation.**
Community Health Outreach Workers
Certified Medical Assistants, Health Educators, Patient Navigators, Community Members with emotional intelligence, good communication and problem-solving skills, language skills
High-Risk Medical Monitor
Interactive daily monitoring of clients with COVID-19 during self-isolation and contacts during self-quarantine who are at higher risk for severe disease. Assesses changes (initiation or increase in severity) in signs and symptoms. Facilitates prompt medical attention, as necessary. Tracks when clients or contacts are eligible to discontinue self-isolation or self-quarantine.
Public Health Nurses
Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Registered Nurses, Licensed Vocational Nurses
Infection Control Personnel
Conducts investigation of congregate living facilities (e.g., skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, acute care settings, long-term care facilities, group homes, homeless shelters, prisons, jails) and workplaces that have a patient (either resident/patient or staff member) with COVID-19 to assess potential exposure of other staff and residents/patients at the site and recommend infection control procedures.
Infection Control Practitioners (Nurses or Physicians), Hospital Acquired Infection Practitioners (Nurses or Physicians), Hospital Epidemiologists, Occupational Health Liaisons, Field Epidemiologists
Public Health Nurses, Registered Nurses, Physicians
Data Manager
Manages digital infrastructure for surveillance and contact investigation. Abstracts data from surveillance system for import into appropriate contact investigation platform and visa-versa, when automated data synchronization is not available. Assesses and improves data quality and interoperability of data systems. Supports the development and modification of data systems to appropriately capture, integrate and report multiple data streams necessary to monitor response progress and outcomes.
Epidemiologists, Data Managers, Public Health Informatics Specialists
Software Developers, Systems Engineers, Data Engineers, Data Integration Specialists
Epidemiologist
Analyzes data on cases and contact outcomes in order to identify outbreaks and priority populations. Monitors and evaluates the response in order to shift program efforts appropriately.
Epidemiologists, Epidemic Intelligence Service Officers (EISOs), Career Epidemiology Field Officers (CEFOs), Statisticians, Research Scientists, Data Scientists
Epidemiologists, Statisticians, Research Scientists, Data Scientists, Epidemic Intelligence Service Officers (EISOs), Epidemiology and Statistics Graduate Students, and other fellows
Clinical Consultant
Provides clinical support to the case investigation team, provides consultation for complex cases, and collaborates with healthcare providers, hospitals, and other facilities regarding clinical recommendations.
Practicing Registered Nurses, Public Health Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Physicians
Practicing and Retired Registered Nurses, Public Health Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Physicians, Medical Epidemiologists
Servers of Public Health Orders****
Serves public health orders for isolation (clients with COVID-19) or quarantine (contacts) as necessary for people who are noncompliant with public health recommendations to self-isolate or self-quarantine—either in-person or electronically.**
Public Health Investigators or other public health personnel with delegated authority
Public Health Personnel and other staff with delegated authority

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More than 1 million COVID-19 cases were reported in the United States over the last 7 days.
As cases continue to increase rapidly across the United States, the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to celebrate at home with the people you live with.
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 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.
Organizers and attendees of larger events should consider the risk of virus spread based on event size (number of attendees and other factors) and take steps to reduce the possibility of infection, as outlined in the Considerations for Events and Gatherings.
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.
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 a 14-day 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 Hosting or Attending a Gathering
If you will be hosting a gathering during the holiday season that brings people who live in different households together, follow CDC tips for hosting gatherings. If you will be attending a gathering that someone else is hosting, follow CDC Considerations for Events and Gatherings. 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. 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. Use EPA-approved disinfectantsexternal 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.
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.

If you have a fever, cough or other symptoms, you might have COVID-19. Most people have mild illness and are able to recover at home. If you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19, contact your healthcare provider.
Keep track of your symptoms.
If you have an emergency warning sign (including trouble breathing), get emergency medical care immediately.

If you get sick with fever, cough, or other symptoms of COVID-19 or test positive:
Stay home and take other precautions. Avoid contact with others until it’s safe for you to end home isolation.
Don’t travel when you are sick.
You might have COVID-19. If you do, know that most people are able to recover at home without medical care.
Stay in touch with your doctor. Call before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room and let them know you might have COVID-19.
If you have an emergency warning sign (including trouble breathing), get emergency medical care immediately.
If you live in close quarters with others, take additional precautions to protect them.
If you have a medical appointment that cannot be postponed, call your doctor’s office and tell them you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the office protect themselves and other patients. See CDC’s  page on What to Do If You Are Sick for more details.

Elections Toolkit
Resources to help reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmissions at polling locations.

Guiding Principles to Keep in Mind
The more an individual interacts with others, and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread. Elections with only in-person voting on a single day are higher risk for COVID-19 spread because there will be larger crowds and longer wait times. Lower risk election polling settings include those with:
a wide variety of voting options
longer voting periods (more days and/or more hours)
any other feasible options for reducing the number of voters who congregate indoors in polling locations at the same time
The virus that causes COVID-19, is mostly spread by respiratory droplets released when people talk, cough, or sneeze. It may be 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 possibly their eyes. Personal prevention practices (such as handwashing, staying home when sick) and environmental cleaning and disinfection are important actions election officials, poll workers, and voters can take to help lower the risk of COVID-19 spread.

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Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
You will be subject to the destination website’s privacy policy when you follow the link.
CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website.

For more information on CDC’s web notification policies, see Website Disclaimers.