In the absence of restrictions that would normally accompany Covid case spikes, Australians are being left to their own devices to plan a Covid-safe Christmas.
There are measures we can take to reduce the risk of transmission at Christmas gatherings and help protect yourself, your family and friends.
Here’s some tips to enjoy a Covid-safe holiday season.
1. Reduce socialising
’Tis the season … to cut back on socialising. Perhaps the most difficult expert advice to heed is to reduce contact with large numbers of people.
It’s not something health experts advise lightly, but considering the increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant, it becomes an easy way to reduce your risk of infection.
Prof Hassan Vally, an epidemiologist at Deakin University, said socialising was, unfortunately, directly linked to transmission risk.
“Instead of attending 10 separate gatherings, maybe you’ll say this is the year where you should just go to two or three that are the most important ones.
“There’s going to be a lot of sound judgment that’s going to be required.”
2. Reduce invitees
It may seem mean, but maybe you shouldn’t invite your second cousin’s boyfriend’s sister to lunch this year. Health experts are advising that people should avoid large crowds over the holiday break, and that includes family members.
Be ruthless with your guest list. That means reducing the number of people invited to parties, gatherings, dinners or barbecues, with many potentially acting as super-spreader events.
Vally said it was a “simple relationship between the number of people you interact with and your likelihood of getting infected”.
3. Stay outdoors
Health experts estimate that the danger of transmission rises by up to 30% as soon as someone enters an indoor area, especially one with poor ventilation.
This becomes particularly relevant during Christmas, with experts advising people to avoid crowds at high-risk venues such as pubs, clubs or boats.
Prof Peter Collignon, an infectious disease physician and microbiologist at the Australian National University, told the Guardian the safest Christmas gatherings were ones held outside.
“I think you’d get some protection, especially for your older relatives, if you tried as much as possible to hold your gatherings outside,” he said.
“The more events you’re indoors, in bars and pubs, those are the super-spreading events. The more you’re in those, the more it increases your risk.”
4. Know the vaccine status of those around you
An advantage of keeping to smaller and more intimate gatherings is that you are more likely to be able to keep a track of everyone’s vaccine status.
Prof Sarah Palmer, a virologist with the Westmead Institute, emphasised the importance of creating a “vaccine bubble” at gatherings, in an effort to protect people from infection.
“Is your whole family vaccinated? If not, there may be some difficult discussions to be had as to who should be getting together and who shouldn’t be.”
Palmer was mindful of family gatherings being ruined by difference in vaccine status, but said it was of the utmost importance to keep track.
5. Manage unvaccinated guests
Awkward! What to do if a guest or family member is unvaccinated and is insisting on attending a Christmas gathering? Health experts say this is where you should ask them to be socially distant and wear a mask. Blow them a kiss from across the back yard.
Vally said unvaccinated people pose a risk to everyone in attendance, and it was reasonable to ask them to take extra precautions to protect others.
“That may be getting them to wear a mask, be socially distant where possible, or it may be getting them to do the rapid antigen test,” Vally said.
6. Be booster aware
Palmer added that the booster shot was essential in keeping Christmas gatherings Covid-safe.
Earlier this month, the booster schedule was changed in light of growing cases, with the gap between second dose and booster now at five months.
But Palmer said people needed to be “extra careful” if they were still not due for a third dose.
“The booster increases your antibody level, up to 25-fold in fact. If you’re double vaccinated, you do have some protection, but you will probably be at more risk of getting infected.”
7. Wear a mask
Masks are still considered essential in reducing transmission.
The chief medical officer, Prof Paul Kelly, told reporters on Wednesday that masks do work to reduce transmission.
“They do protect yourself, they do protect others. The health advice is wear a mask,” Kelly said.
Masks are particularly recommended in indoor settings, especially in retail settings, or in places where social distancing is impossible.
8. Use rapid antigen tests
Rapid antigen tests could be a convenient way to protect yourself and protect others, but only if they’re used regularly.
But with reports of shortages and varying levels of dependability, they should act more as an added layer of protection, not as a replacement for other preventive measures.
Vally said they’d need to be used “very judiciously” and at particular times.
“Doing a rapid antigen test in the 24 hours before a gathering, or even immediately before a gathering could give everyone that extra reassurance.”
9. Maintain good hygiene
Good hygiene still plays a major role in preventing infection.
Victoria Health advises people to continue practising good hygiene during the Christmas break, saying it is still essential.
“Cough or sneeze into your elbow. Regularly wash your hands using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser or soap and water, especially after touching surfaces, contact with others and when preparing, serving and eating food.”
10. Enjoy Christmas
Finally, after a difficult and turbulent year, experts also advise everyone to try to enjoy the holidays, despite the extra precautions necessary.
“I think it’s going to be really important for people to enjoy Christmas this year,” Vally said. “Just do it sensibly and responsibly.”
