Ontario’s Medical Officer of Health has released guidelines on how to celebrate a number of fall holidays safely, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and Delta variant.
Throughout the next couple of months, Ontarians will celebrate a number of holidays, including Thanksgiving.
In general:
- virtual gatherings or events are the safest way to celebrate, especially if people in the group are unvaccinated or if their vaccination status is unknown
- gatherings or events outdoors are safer than indoors
- the fewer people who gather, the lower the risk of covid 19 transmission
- it is important to remember that knowing someone does not reduce the risk of transmitting covid 19
- follow public health measures and advice
Hosting indoor and outdoor events
As part of your celebrations, you may have a gathering with people you don’t live with. However, it is important to continue following good public health practices.
If you choose to host an in-person gathering:
- do not exceed the gathering limit of 25 people indoors and 100 people outdoors
- have the fewest number of people possible at your gathering
- use outdoor spaces whenever possible
- provide all the necessary supplies, including hand sanitizer, soap and water
- open windows, if possible
- clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces
- ask guests not to attend if they have symptoms, even if they are mild
- make a list of guests attending in case your local public health unit needs it for contact tracing
- remind people of public health advice to follow during the event
- wash your hands before and frequently when preparing and serving food
- have everyone wash their hands before and after eating
If you choose to attend an in-person gathering:
- you should not attend if you have any symptoms, even if they are mild
- wash your hands or use hand sanitizer regularly throughout the event
- consider participating virtually or not attending the event if you are immunocompromised or at higher risk of severe disease or exposure to covid 19
When to wear face coverings
Regardless of where you are, you can wear a face covering and physically distance if you feel it is right for you, especially if you or others are immunocompromised or at high-risk of severe disease or exposure to covid 19.
Indoors
When gathering indoors:
- with a group of fully vaccinated individuals, you may consider removing your face covering if everyone is comfortable
- with people from multiple households who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or status is unknown, you should wear a face covering and physically distance
Outdoors
When gathering outdoors:
- with a group of fully vaccinated individuals, no face covering or physical distancing is necessary
- with people from multiple households who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or vaccination status is unknown, you should consider wearing a face covering if physical distancing cannot be maintained
Recognizing Remembrance Day
If attending a Remembrance Day memorial event:
- stay home if you have symptoms, even if they are mild
- wear a face covering indoors and wear one outdoors if physical distancing cannot be maintained or is required
- wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer frequently
- consider participating virtually or not attending the event if you are immunocompromised or at higher risk of severe disease and/or exposure to covid 19
If you chose to sell poppies in-person:
- wear a face covering
- have hand sanitizer and use it regularly
- consider not selling if you are immunocompromised or at higher risk of severe disease and/or exposure to covid 19
Celebrating Halloween
If you trick-or-treat door-to-door:
- stay home if you have symptoms, even if they are mild
- trick-or-treat outdoors as much as possible
- be creative and build the face covering into your costume. Remember that a costume mask is not a substitute for a face covering. A costume mask should not be worn over a non-medical mask or face covering because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe.
- do not crowd doorsteps – take turns one at a time
- do not sing or shout for your treats
- keep interactions brief with those giving out treats
- use hand sanitizer often, especially before and after handling your face covering, after touching frequently touched surfaces, when you arrive home from trick-or-treating, and before and after handling or eating treats
- there is no need to clean or disinfect pre-packaged treats
If trick-or-treating indoors, maintain physical distancing as much as possible and wear a face covering, especially when physical distancing is a challenge.
If you choose to give out treats:
- do not participate in Halloween festivities if you have symptoms, even if they are mild
- keep interactions with trick-or-treaters short and encourage them to move along after receiving their treat from you
- consider wearing a face covering when physical distancing cannot be maintained
- consider including the face covering as part of your costume if you are dressing up
- give out only purchased and packaged treats
- do not ask trick-or-treaters to sing or shout for their treats
- clean your hands often throughout the evening using soap and water or with hand sanitizer
#CelebrateSafely this #Thanksgiving & throughout the fall🍂! Remember to keep your in-person social gatherings to:
✅25 people indoors
✅100 people outdoors https://t.co/391DaQMi5I pic.twitter.com/zVgQ503SXR— Ontario Ministry of Health (@ONThealth) October 7, 2021