It’s already the second half of 2020 and people have come to accept the fact that the COVID-19 situation won’t go away anytime soon. There are no vaccines yet. Doctors haven’t found any other cure yet, either. But this doesn’t mean that you have to put the rest of your life on hold until the next medical breakthrough. You can still live your life normally — with some precautions, of course.
There’s no harm in visiting your favorite park for some much-needed time for reflection, visiting your favorite restaurants, or simply heading out to buy groceries. And if the last few months have felt particularly lonely, you’re free to invite friends for a brunch session or a dinner gathering.
You just have to make sure your house gatherings stay within safety precautions in your area.
Avoid Gathering in Large Groups
It’s one thing for you to enjoy outdoor recreational activities during this pandemic. It’s easy to maintain a six-foot distance from other people when you’re in parks and open spaces. It also helps that you’re in an open-air environment which helps slow down the spread of any virus.
When you’re hosting a simple house gathering, however, you can’t be as lax. Sure, your guests might include your closest friends. And sure, some of them might not even live too far from you. But you still don’t know where they’ve been and who they interacted with in the last few weeks.
Stick to intimate gatherings of your closest friends until the situation eases. And if there’s anyone in your household who’s immunocompromised or who has an underlying health condition that increases the risk of viral infection, consider postponing that gathering. Or host it elsewhere.
Be Vigilant When You Go out to Buy Food
Let’s say everything’s all set. Nobody at home is sick or needs to be quarantined. You’ve narrowed down your guest list to six people. You’ve set the date for the gathering. It’s time to think about food preparation.
If you want to prepare the food yourself, you’ll need to do some grocery shopping. The best time to go out is at times when there are usually fewer people in the store. Wear a face mask or cover. Avoid touching your face. And wash your hands after touching things that other people have touched.
Alternatively, you can order your groceries online and arrange pickup or delivery services.
If you’d rather have somebody else prepare the food for your gathering, order takeout. Again, observe proper social distancing when you drop by your favorite restaurant or have them deliver food to you.
Stay Informed with the Latest COVID-19 Updates
It’s too much to hope for a vaccine in the next few months but one is surely on the way. In the meantime, stay updated with the local coronavirus updates in your area. The local or state health department is likely to adjust precautionary measures based on how the area is coping with the pandemic.
And remember that no matter how important it is to spend quality time with your family and friends, health is more important. If the COVID-19 situation is particularly active in your area, it’s best to hold off on those
