They’re an increasing source of infection spread, said Robert Redfield, director of the CDC.
“In the public square, we are seeing a greater degree of vigilance and mitigation steps in many jurisdictions,” said Robert Redfield, MD, during a call with the nation’s governors Tuesday, according to CNN, describing the small family gatherings as ” the increase threatens. “
“Particularly with the arrival of Thanksgiving Day, we think it’s really important to emphasize vigilance for these ongoing mitigation steps in the family setting,” Dr. Redfield said during the call.
What is a small gathering, exactly?
Although Dr. Redfield specifically cautioned against small gatherings, the CDC has not put a specific number in “small.” Nor has it set a limit or recommended a certain number of invitees for meetings that would be considered safe or low risk. However, the CDC recently issued guidance to help keep people safe while socializing on vacation, and the advice applies to informal gatherings of any kind at any time of year.
The CDC’s guidelines on socializing during Covid
Before organizing or attending a meeting, it is important to assess the risks. First, indoor meetings are generally riskier than outdoor meetings. And meetings indoors with poor ventilation, such as space without windows or closed doors, put you at greater risk than those with good ventilation.
Shunting Tsang, MD, MPH, medical director of ambulatory quality and vice-chair of the department of family medicine at the University of California Riverside Health System, advises avoiding indoor meetings altogether. “If a small gathering is needed, it should be done outdoors with social distancing, [and] strict adherence to mask use and state and local public health guidelines,” Dr. Tsang tells Health. “Indoor gatherings can pose additional challenges with air circulation and the ability to socially distance yourself, so it’s best to avoid them entirely if possible.”
The length of the meeting is also crucial. Basically, the more time you spend with other people, the higher your risk of getting COVID-19. So shorter gatherings, such as inviting a few friends over for cover or a drink, are optimal over longer gatherings, such as dinner parties.
The CDC also cautions that meetings with people who travel from different locations are riskier than those with people who live in the same area. The levels of COVID-19 cases and the community spread at the meeting location are also important. “If you live in an area with a high level of community transmission (looking at the county’s case rate and positivity rate), there is an increased risk of spreading COVID-19 during meetings,” notes Dr. Tsang.
Another important consideration is how the guests have behaved before the meeting. Have they adhered to the social distancing guidelines? Have they been wearing masks in public places and washing their hands regularly? If you think they haven’t, or if they come out and tell you they don’t usually mask, it’s probably best if you stay away.
These infection prevention behaviors – wearing face masks, social distancing, and handwashing, you know the score – should also be observed during the gathering to help reduce the spread of infection, says the CDC.
Who should avoid small gatherings altogether?
If any guests are ill or known to have an active COVID-19 infection, attending group meetings shouldn’t even be an option, says Dr. Tsang. Those people must be in quarantine or in isolation.
The CDC also advises against hosting or attending in-person meetings if you or someone in your household has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and you have not met the criteria for when it is safe to be around other people. Here’s a reminder: it’s been at least 10 days since your first symptoms appeared, you’ve had 24 hours without fever without the use of fever-reducing medications, and other COVID-19 symptoms are improving.
You should also stay away from meetings if you have COVID-19 symptoms, are waiting for coronavirus test results, may have been exposed to someone with the virus in the past 14 days, or are at increased risk of serious COVID illness- 19 (for example, you are immunosuppressed or in another high-risk group).
What kind of gatherings is the safest?
Nobody wants to isolate themselves from their friends and family more than necessary. So what is the answer? While COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are increasing across the country, Dr. Tsang explains that the ideal scenario is a virtual meeting, such as Zoom, Skype, or Google Hangout, even if you don’t have any symptoms.
A virtual meeting will provide the safest option for everyone involved, “he says.
Information in this story is accurate as of press time. However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, some data may have changed since its publication. While Health tries to keep our stories as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed about news and recommendations for their own communities by using the CDC, WHO, and their local public health department as resources.
