WECHU releases guidelines to safely celebrate the new year
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has released a list of tips for residents to ring in the new year safely.
The health unit says it is important to celebrate in a safe way to help prevent further transmission of Omicron and other COVID-19 variants.
“While Windsor-Essex County recently reached the one-year anniversary of administering our first COVID-19 doses, the actions we take at the end of 2021 will determine how we enter the New Year,” a WECHU news release said.
When it comes to social gatherings, WECHU recommends keeping a tight knit group, practice physical distancing and consider celebrating virtually.
The WECHU has released the following recommendations:
- Celebrate with members of your own household: Reduce the number of people you are in close contact with by limiting the number of in-person gatherings you host or attend.
- Host a virtual party to bring in the new year: Celebrate virtually with friends and family outside of your household.
- Keep gatherings small: If you choose to host a gathering, do not exceed the indoor gathering limit of 10 people. Similarly, avoid attending gatherings where you expect that there will be more than 10 people present.
- Ask about vaccination status: Consider limiting your gatherings to only those who are fully vaccinated.
- Remind guests to complete a self-assessment for COVID-19 symptoms before arrival: Do not host or attend in-person celebrations if you are not feeling well or are in your isolation period from testing positive for COVID-19. Be sure to remind attendees to to stay home if they, or anyone in their household, are feeling sick or experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.
- Physical distancing and masking: If you are gathering with individuals from multiple households, ensure there is room to maintain physical distance and wear face coverings when not eating or drinking.
- Serve plated meals: Plan to serve guests plated meals and avoid buffet-style dining. Avoid sharing cups and other utensils.
- Practice good hand hygiene: Encourage frequent hand washing and ensure that alcohol-based hand sanitizer is readily accessible for all guests, especially when handling food or beverages.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
Fallen crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison
Crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for a massive fraud that unravelled with the collapse of FTX, once one of the world's most popular platforms for exchanging digital currency.
A dog and a bird formed an unlikely friendship. Their separation has infuriated followers
Peggy is a stout and muscular Staffordshire bull terrier, and Molly is a magpie, an Australian bird best known for swooping on humans during breeding season, not for befriending dogs. But in an emotional video posted online, Peggy’s owners announced that the animals had been separated.