As you plan for fall and winter celebrations, there are a few key steps you can take to try to make gatherings with friends and family healthier.

As you plan for fall and winter celebrations, there are a few key steps you can take to try to make gatherings with friends and family healthier. 

“In addition to flu and COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other respiratory viruses are spreading in the community,” said Catherine Kroll, PeaceHealth’s system director of infection prevention. “The safest holiday celebrations are those that include the people you are normally around, such as your immediate family.” 

Before an event 

• Masking. Consider wearing a mask, such as an N95, in public in the days leading up to an event. Masks protect you against all respiratory viruses.  
• Testing. At-home COVID-19 antigen tests are not perfect, but they can help prevent spreading. To catch an asymptomatic case, it’s best to test two days before an event and again the day of the event, before getting together. 
• Vaccination. Because new variants of the flu, COVID-19 and other diseases continue to show up in communities, it’s good to make sure you and your family have received all recommended immunizations.  
• Review the infectious windows for viruses to avoid sharing your germs. 
  • Flu: Contagious for 5-7 days after start of symptoms. 
  • RSV: Contagious for 3-8 days after start of symptoms. Some infants and people with weakened immune systems can spread the virus even after they stop showing symptoms, for as long as 4 weeks. 
  • COVID-19: Evidence suggests that an omicron infection lasts 8-10 days on average. The CDC’s isolation and exposure calculator can help identify the steps to prevent spreading COVID-19. 

During an event 

Remember masking and hand hygiene recommendations. Other precautions include: 

• If you have a newborn (under 6 months), consider wearing your baby in a carrier so that people won’t ask to hold them. If you do let people hold them, don’t let them kiss the baby or ask them to wear a mask. Similar to a cold, symptoms are often mild, but RSV can be especially hard on younger children. 
• Attend outdoor activities, with fresh air, rather than indoor activities as much as possible. 

After an event 

If you become sick after attending a celebration, take extra precautions to protect yourself and others: 

• Consider getting tested. If you’re over age 65 or high risk, you could be prescribed an antiviral if you are positive for flu and COVID-19. 
• Familiar yourself with the symptoms of RSV including when to call your child’s doctor. 
• Wash hands frequently. 
• Stay home as much as possible. 
• Avoid visiting people at increased risk for severe illness or who are sick.