Spread Holiday Cheer, Not COVID-19

Happy Holidays, San Francisco. Due to the alarming surge in COVID-19 cases, celebrating will need to be a little different this year, but it doesn’t need to radiate less joy or express less love. Here are some tips to connect with others while staying safe from COVID-19 this holiday season.

• Don’t travel. Travel creates additional risks of spreading COVID-19.
• Don’t have visitors, no matter how much you want to be with them. The virus is spreading even more rapidly outside of the Bay Area. Anyone entering San Francisco is in risk of bringing the virus to our city, to your loved ones. San Francisco is in a mandatory travel quarantine order. Anyone entering San Francisco from outside the Bay Area must quarantine for 10 days (and miss out on the in-person connection they would be traveling for).
• Celebrate with your immediate household only. Any time that you gather with those you don’t live with, even if they are family members, you may be putting everyone at risk.
• Someone can look and feel fine but still have, and spread, COVID-19. Most infections come from exposure to people who are asymptomatic.
• If you have contact with anyone outside your household, keep it short, keep it outdoors, wear face coverings, keep your distance, and don’t share food or other items.
• Shop local. Stay safe and support your neighborhood businesses. They are run by, and employ, your neighbors. They help make San Francisco the place you call home. No need to cook if you order some favorite dishes from your usual local restaurants or discover new delights from those you’ve yet to enjoy. Pro tip: call in your order and do contactless pick up. You’ll avoid delivery charges and the restaurant won’t have to pay multiple fees to the delivery app services.
• Have virtual gatherings with family and friends from near and far. Connect through video streaming on your smartphone, tablet, computer, or other device. How about some good old-fashioned phone calls–a classic year in and year out?

This holiday season show your love by keeping your family, friends, and community safe. San Francisco is in the midst of an alarming COVID-19 surge. Our hospitals are in danger of being overwhelmed and unable to care for you or your loved ones. We crushed the coronavirus curve twice before. We need to work together to crush the curve again. Act now so that next year we can safely return to the activities, traditions, and in-person gatherings that we miss. Learn more at sf.gov/HolidaysAtHome