Thanksgiving, Christmas In Washington: See Latest CDC Guidance

Seattle WA

18 October, 2021

3:08 PM

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WASHINGTON — Halloween is almost here and soon, Washingtonians will begin their preparations for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The U.S. still faces high numbers of daily COVID-19 cases though there has been a sharp decline in the number of cases since mid-September, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of Oct.15, the seven-day average for cases is just over 80,000, according to CDC data. The agency issued updated guidance Friday on how Americans can stay safe during the holidays while celebrating with family. In Washington, daily case counts, new hospital admissions and deaths have gradually declined from the peaks of late summer, but transmission rates remain high across much of the state, and health officials are uncertain what the winter ahead may bring. (Washington State Department of Health) Here's what Americans need to know to celebrate safely through the end of the year. The CDC says getting vaccinated remains the best way to stay safe and protect others — including those who cannot get the vaccine yet, like young children. Health officials will meet Oct. 26 to consider Pfizer's application to allow use of its COVID-19 vaccine in kids aged 5 to 11. According to research from the CDC, an unvaccinated person has more than six times the risk of testing positive for COVID-19 and more than 11 times the risk of dying from COVID-19 compared to a fully vaccinated person. And while fully vaccinated people can get infected with COVID-19, they are less likely to get seriously ill or die but they can be contagious, the CDC says. Earlier this month, King County's health officer noted that the contrast was even starker when the figures were adjusted to account for differences in risk among people of similar ages. "In the past 30 days, 66 percent of cases, 78 percent of hospitalizations and 79 percent of deaths are among people who are not vaccinated," Dr. Jeff Duchin said. "After we adjust for age, people who are not fully vaccinated are eight times more likely to test positive for COVID-19, 46 times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19, and 78 times more likely to die." Anyone who's not fully vaccinated should wear a well-fitted mask indoors in public and if your community has a substantial to high transmission of the virus, even those who are fully vaccinated should wear masks indoors in public, the agency writes. Children under 2 should never wear a mask, the CDC warns. Americans should avoid crowded and poorly ventilated spaces and it's safer to be outdoors, the agency says. For anyone who may be sick or has symptoms, the message is to stay home and away from others. They should also get tested for the virus as should anyone who may have been in close contact with a person has COVID-19, the agency says. The CDC has also issued some additional guidelines, including for anyone with a weakened immune system who the agency warns may not be fully protected even if they have been fully vaccinated and have gotten an additional vaccine dose. The CDC advises that they should continue taking precautions currently recommended for anyone who is unvaccinated until their health care provider says otherwise. And regardless of transmission levels, if someone in your household is at increased risk, has a weakened immune system, or hasn't been vaccinated, the CDC says people may choose to wear a mask in these situations. For Halloween, local health officials said trick-or-treating could be done safely. When planning indoor celebrations, groups should apply the same precautions that are recommended for any other gathering. "I think folks should feel comfortable about outdoor Halloween activities," Duchin said. "Particularly, trick-or-treating I think is going to be safe for children outdoors, in small groups, particularly family groups or people that they're otherwise socializing with." Those joining gatherings with multiple households should take additional measures like getting tested and avoiding crowded indoor places before traveling, the agency says. Anyone traveling for the holidays should consult the CDC's travel page.