If you take a health risk in the run-up up to Christmas then you are putting anyone you meet during the festive season in danger.
That was the stark warning issued this week by the HSE’s director of public health in the west amid growing concern over the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the country.
Dr Breda Smyth appealed to the public to reduce the number of people they meet to protect their loved ones. She also urged people to consider the impact that being diagnosed with Covid-19 would have on those close to them.
“As we approach Christmas, it’s vitally important that we all limit the number of interactions we have with others,” she said.
“We have learned recently from Thanksgiving in the US and a similar family celebration in the Netherlands (Sinterklaas ), that one day of mixing with older loved ones has given rise to increased number of hospitalisations and deaths in these countries.”
Contacts
She said we can prevent this happening here by ensuring we are not carrying the virus and that we have reduced our contacts in the lead-up to Christmas Day.
“Not only does this keep ourselves and others safe, it also reduces the possibility that we will be a close contact of someone who has Covid-19 and need to restrict our movements over the Christmas and New Year period. We must remain vigilant to protect ourselves and our loved ones.”
Dr Smyth stated that the latest national data highlights the fact that the number of coronavirus cases is rising more rapidly than anticipated.
“This increase in cases is particularly worrying in the context of inter-generational mixing over the Christmas period. We have seen the seven-day incidence rate for people aged 19-44 more than double since 11th December from 106 per 100,000 population to 217 per 100,000. We are really concerned that if these younger people come into contact with their loved ones over the age of 65, we could see an increase in infections in this more vulnerable group with a subsequent increase in the number of patients requiring hospitalisation.
Risks
“The more risks people take and the more people meet can have a really significant impact on the spread of Covid-19 - this is particularly important if people have been socialising last weekend, and plan to meet family over 65 later this week. If you take a risk today, tomorrow, or over the next few days, then you are putting anyone you see over the Christmas at risk. Think about the impact that being diagnosed with Covid-19 would have on those close to you.”
People meeting family and friends on Christmas Day should try to follow a number of important measures:
1. Encourage guests to use hand sanitiser or to wash their hands when they arrive at your home and repeat this hourly over the course of the day
2. Avoid hugs, kisses, and handshakes as people arrive
3. Everyone must wear a mask, including the hosts
4. Do not share items like crockery and glassware. Do not share food and avoid buffet style arrangements
5. Keep the number of people in the kitchen to a minimum and wear masks when preparing and serving food
6. The risk of transmission increases when we take our masks off to eat. Therefore, try to seat households together and leave a space between them and other households
7. Allow extra space at the dinner table - extra distance between guests will make sure everyone is comfortable and safe
8. Keep your home and spaces where people are gathering ventilated - keep windows and doors open where possible
9. Incorporate a walk into the day’s plans and try to spend some time outside
The pubic health director said we are all facing into a different Christmas and that people were making huge sacrifices to protect their loved ones.
“The vaccine will be available early in 2021 so it is really important that we continue to do all we can to protect our loved ones while we are waiting for the vaccine rollout.”
