Celebrating the 2020 holiday season safely

Stay cautious this Christmas by celebrating virtually, writes Vaughan fire Chief Deryn Rizzi

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 9, 2020
Chief Deryn Rizzi

Some of my favourite holiday memories are of snuggling up with my daughters to watch movies while sipping hot chocolate, and seeing how their excitement of opening presents on Christmas morning has evolved into the joy of finding special gifts to give each other and their friends.

As my children grew, so did our traditions, but spending time with family and friends has remained a constant.

This year will be different. My oldest daughter is at university, and this is the first time in 18 years she has lived away. Like many parents waiting for their children to return home, I am excited to see my daughter, but also a little anxious about COVID-19.

I worry about how closely she’s following precautions: properly wearing a mask so it covers her mouth and nose, washing her hands more frequently and physically distancing from others when picking up food in the cafeteria or taking public transit.

As I write this, York region is still in the red (control) level of Ontario's COVID safety response framework, while Toronto and Peel region are under the grey (lockdown) level for 28 days.

Recently, the Ontario government announced its guidelines for celebrating the December holidays safely and published a list of safer festive activities on its website.

The primary recommendation is that activities and celebrations be limited to the members of your household and to hold off on visits with friends and relatives. The exception being individuals who live alone may join with one family.

Health officials are also advising people who are living away from home -- including students -- to reduce contact with others or self-quarantine for 10 to 14 days before returning home for the December break.

Aside from these few exceptions, we are still at a stage in our fight against COVID-19 where the safest way to celebrate the holidays with people outside of your household is virtually. As case numbers continue to be high, it is also important to only go out for essential reasons, such as work, grocery shopping and health-care visits.

Admittedly, we won’t be celebrating the holidays as we have in past years; however, some traditions won’t be affected by lockdowns and safety restrictions.

One permitted celebration includes making special meals and treats that can still be enjoyed at home. When baking or cooking, it’s important to keep fire safety in mind. Remember to never leave the stove or oven unattended and keep flammable items, such as loose clothing, food wrappers and towels, away from hot surfaces.

Putting up holiday decor is another tradition that can be enjoyed this year. Always extinguish candles when you leave the room or better yet -- use flameless candles. If you are trimming a live tree, be sure it is fresh when you first get it and keep the base of the trunk in water at all times. Ensure the tree is placed away from fireplaces, heaters or candles.

You can find more tips about fire safety during the holidays at vaughan.ca/fire.

While this year has been different, there are some things that are stronger than COVID-19. In-person holiday celebrations and activities may be restricted, but kindness, hope and festive cheer will not be cancelled.

Stay safe and happy holidays.