In NJHA’s Health Talk column in the Star-Ledger and on NJ.com, Cathy Bennett urges New Jersey residents to think twice about planning large holiday gatherings this season. “We cannot underestimate the risk of COVID-19. It continues to pose the greatest public health threat in a century, and it is particularly dangerous for the most vulnerable, including the elderly and those with underlying health conditions. We owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to make informed decisions about our holiday gatherings this year,” writes Bennett.
Bennett urges New Jersey residents to consider factors like local COVID levels, the health status of guests and other variables that could turn a traditional holiday meal into a spreader event. She also emphasizes the importance of precautions like face masking, social distancing and limiting gatherings in size and duration.
“2020 is a year unlike any that we have experienced in our lifetime. Let’s treat the last of 2020’s holidays with caution and care. In the grand scheme of this unprecedented year, we can endure these essential precautions to help ensure that next year, we can all gather together to count life’s blessings.”