Halloween, Thanksgiving In MD Amid COVID: CDC Updates Guidance

Baltimore MD

04 October, 2021

7:36 PM

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MARYLAND — Unvaccinated Maryland resident should still don a face mask while attending Halloween or Thanksgiving celebrations and avoid traveling this year, while everyone should skip large end-of-the-year indoor gatherings altogether regardless of vaccination status, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in its new COVID-19 guidelines. In the guidance issued on Friday, the CDC notes masks should be worn at indoor gatherings or outdoor gatherings that are crowded, or gatherings with those who are not fully vaccinated. "Outdoor activities are safer than indoor gatherings," the CDC said in its guidelines. If you are planning on decking halls and spinning dreidels this coming holiday season, federal health officials urge you to do it solo or with just the people in your home. The latest guidance from the CDC urges Americans to keep their distance during the end-of-year festivities. "Attending gatherings to celebrate events and holidays increases your risk of getting and spreading COVID-19," according to the CDC's warning. "The safest way to celebrate is virtually, with people who live with you, or outside and at least 6 feet apart from others." Instead of in-person celebrations, the CDC recommends Americans get together online, watch virtual events, "drive or walk around your community to wave to neighbors from a safe distance," and even hold "virtual dance parties" in lieu of the real deal. Outdoor celebrations, including trick-or-treating, have the green light, according to CDC director Rochelle Walensky. "I wouldn't necessarily go to a crowded Halloween party, but I think that we should be able to let our kids go trick-or-treating in small groups," Walensky said on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sept. 26. Be the first to know what's happening in your community and region. With a free Patch subscription, you'll always be up to date on local and state news: https://patch.com/subscribe. Just Leave Presents At The Door If you are accustomed to bringing food to friends and neighbors over the holidays, the CDC recommends you go no further than their wreath. Food or gifts should be presented to family, friends, and neighbors "in a way that does not involve contact with others, such as leaving them at the door," the health officials said. If your neighbors do let you inside, the CDC suggests opening doors and windows to boost air flow. People who are not fully vaccinated and aged 2 or older should wear a mask in indoor public places, the guidance recommends. In areas with high numbers of COVID-19 cases, the agency suggests wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings, and for activities with close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated and feeling sick, stay home, isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms. The CDC recommends delaying travel until you are fully vaccinated, but has published domestic and international travel recommendations for unvaccinated people who must leave home over the holidays. Those traveling with unvaccinated people, such as children younger than 12 who are not eligible for vaccines, should follow recommendations for unvaccinated people and choose the safer travel options, according to the agency. Everyone, even people who are fully vaccinated, will still be required to wear a mask on public transportation. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said it was "just too soon to tell," whether Americans should be clinking eggnog glasses beneath the mistletoe this year. "We have to concentrate on continuing to get those numbers down and not try to jump ahead by weeks or months and say what we're going to do at a particular time," Fauci told "Face the Nation" on Sunday. MD COVID-19 Stats The Maryland Department of Public Health confirmed 1,078 cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the past seven days. The state's positivity rate was 4.08 percent on Monday, a decrease of .02 percent. A total of 763 patients are currently hospitalized for COVID-19 in Maryland, the state's dashboard showed. Of those, 564 patients were in acute care and 199 were in intensive care. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Maryland has recorded a total of 10,260 deaths, with 13 fatalities reported in the last 24 hours. To date, 3,912,656 Marylanders have been fully vaccinated for the coronavirus; 84 percent of residents age 18 and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine. COVID Booster Shots Gov. Larry Hogan is urging anyone eligible for a booster shot to get one as soon as possible. Maryland Secretary of Health Dennis Schrader said that the following people can get Pfizer booster shots: people aged 65 years and olderpeople aged 18 and older with underlying medical conditionspeople 19 and older living in a longterm care facilitypeople aged 18 and older at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting, such as health care workers, teachers and other essential workers. Wegmans and Giant Food pharmacies — along with CVS, Walgreens and Walmart — are now giving third doses of the Pfizer vaccine in Maryland. Moderna Eligibility Immunocompromised Marylanders who received a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are also eligible for a booster shot.At this time, there is still no approval or guidance on Moderna boosters for the wider population. Johnson & Johnson Eligibility At this time, there is no federal guidance for the more than 280,000 Marylanders who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.