Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks with Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar before receiving his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the National Institutes of Health on December 22, 2020 in Bethesda, Maryland.
Dinner parties are so much frequent during the New Year and Holiday season but going to these events is discouraged by Dr. Fauci, not only during the holidays but also this 2021.
Usually, New Year's are about formulating resolutions or goals that you must achieve by the end of the year such as weight loss, a more active lifestyle, and diet.
Diet and exercise are good for the body, but with the existence of the SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19, then some other things should also be part of your new year's resolution this year.
In an interview with New Day on CNN, Eat This Not That reports that the nation's top infectious disease expert, and director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Dr. Anthony Fauci notes that following the health protocols such as wearing masks and washing hands more often be a part of everyone's goal this 2021.
Read also: Adults With COVID-19 Twice Likely to Dine Out At A Restaurant, CDC Says
Important reminder for this year
Apart from the safety protocols, Yahoo! life mentions that Dr. Fauci stresses in his interview that going to a place with a swarm or congregates of people, which happens usually in family dinners, should be forgotten so that the spread of the virus will be prevented.
MSN adds that Fauci also notes that dinners should be done by immediate family and immediate household. This only means that having dinner with the family you live in is a smarter idea than diving into so many people where SARS-CoV-2 might potentially be present.
Dr. Fauci continues in Eat This Not That saying, once an individual gets inside a place like a dinner with so many people, with poor ventilation and circulation, is the beginning of the trouble.
It is remembered that there a new mutation of the coronavirus discovered in the United Kingdom, and Dr. Fauci's reminder of not engaging with dinners that are not with the immediate family and a lot of people is not very safe for everyone in 2021.
Dr. Fauci also emphasizes in Yahoo! life that in addition to the surge, there is an increase superimpose upon the surge that can make January even worse than December.
To counter the predicted spike in coronavirus patients (with the threat of the new mutation), not engaging in any events that have a crowd or a vast number of people may help control the spread of the virus.
Other Guidelines
It can be remembered that in early November of 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has given their guideline regarding the celebrations of the Holiday Season. The center also provided guidelines for dinner such as avoiding potluck-style gatherings because it may increase the risk of everyone in the party for infection.
They also add that the host shall remind the guests to wash their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and of course, wear their face masks when not eating.
Family dinners are part of the tradition of celebrating the holidays and other festivities. However, restricting them and limiting them to the people you live with or immediate family like what Dr. Fauci says will not only protect yourself but also the people around you against COVID-19.
Related article: Most Americans Experience 'Cooking Fatigue' Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, Survey Shows
