We so wish we could recommend huge family gatherings and usual Christmas-break traveling, but with the recent, rapid rise of COVID-19 rates, we’d advise against it.

Many of us are in dire need of a little joy at the start of this new year, and there are still many, many ways to get it! Things might just need to look a little different this year so that we can return to how things used to be.

Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Southcenter highlights how you can still experience the joy of the new year while also staying safe below.

How Safe Is Traveling?

Frankly, it’s not the safest choice right now. Health and government officials across the country are increasingly urging people to stay home and avoid nonessential travel.

Instead, the CDC recommends spending the winter with people in your immediate household rather than traveling to spend time with extended family and friends. If you must travel this year, we’ve listed some travel risk guidelines below.

Travel Risk Guidelines

• Lowest risk: staying home, short trips by car with members of your household
• More risk: longer trips by car or RV with one or more stops along the way
• Even more risk: longer trips by car or RV with one or more stops along the way or direct flights
• Highest risk: flights with layovers

Are There Ways to Interact With My Extended Family Even If We’re Staying Home?

Absolutely! You just might have to get a little creative. Even though it’s not what we might be used to, virtually interacting with close family and friends is the best way to stay safe and connected before the COVID-19 vaccine is distributed to the public.

Try some of the creative suggestions we’ve mentioned below to make the most of seeing your family without the need to see them in person.

Creative, Socially Distanced Ways to Stay Connected

• Get on a FaceTime or Zoom call with your family members and share a meal or play a game at the same time to have fun and stay connected!
• If you must see each other in person, gather outside or talk through your car windows.
• Plan a “movie night” when you watch the same movie through Zoom or FaceTime and eat fun movie theater treats together!

AFC Urgent Care Southcenter wants you to stay mentally and physically healthy this year. If you do feel less than your best, don’t hesitate to visit us.