You can have a Covid-safe Christmas gathering. Here’s how.
Navigating Christmas gatherings with vulnerable or unvaccinated guests will be the biggest challenge for many South Australians, but there are ways to keep each other safe.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Covid is the biggest Grinch of all time, but it won’t stop South Australians making merry with their loved ones on Christmas Day.
An outdoor celebration is the best way to ensure a merry Christmas is also a Covid-safe one, experts say, and there are lots of other tips to minimise the risks of transmission.
Dr Paul Furst, who chairs the state branch of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, says it is important to be Covid-safe, but equally so for South Australians to rekindle their sense of community and connectedness this Christmas.
“We know that allowing yourself to enjoy the company of family and friends and draw support from them is important for people’s mental health,” he says.
Adelaide weather is forecast to be a perfect 27C, so slip, slop, slap and carry the dining table outdoors, where any breeze will help disperse virus molecules and sunlight will degrade them.
Don’t forget that hand sanitiser should be the centrepiece of every Christmas table setting this year.
And pulling Christmas crackers is still the perfect festive activity, as you only have to handle one end and with arms outstretched you can be still be social distancing.
If an outside celebration isn’t an option, keep windows open to allow air circulation and consider investing in a good air purifier.
Make sure you adhere to the mandated limit of 30 people for home gatherings, and remember that includes children and anyone who lives at the residence.
It might make for a bit of extra washing up or paper waste, but avoiding sharing cups and cutlery is also a good idea.
In order to protect vulnerable loved ones on the big day, especially grandma and granddad, consider limiting the number of festive events or potentially high-risk venues you attend today and on Christmas Eve.
Covid might a great excuse for not getting too close to aunties who always squeeze too tight and uncles with breath bad enough to kill any virus, but what about hugs and kisses for the relatives you actually like?
UniSA epidemiologist Professor Adrian Esterman says “ideally, no”, but it’s up to each of us to weigh up the risks.
“If you have your elderly mother with you, what are you going to do?” he says.
“If she is fully vaccinated and has had a booster shot then the risk is very low”.
As young children cannot yet be vaccinated, Prof Esterman, 70, says he’ll be fist-bumping with his six-year-old grandson – which is probably a more fun greeting than a hug for youngsters anyway.
Prof Esterman says he’s not inviting any unvaccinated guests to his festive gathering as they are “much more likely to get infected and much more likely to spread the virus, so they are a major risk”. But if unvaxxed people are among your Christmas Day gang, he suggests they wear masks and have Covid tests 24 hours before celebrations begin.
Prof Esterman adds it is an “absolute shame” rapid antigen tests are not yet legal to buy in South Australia to help reduce the risk of transmission on Christmas Day.
He labels it a “crazy” restriction on a product that would have been ideal for people who are visiting the elderly and immuno-compromised, or having them as guests.
Adelaide Hills residents Louise Pfeiffer and Philip Crawford, and sons Sebastian, 11, and Orlando, 8, are looking forward to an outdoor lunch.
“We plan to follow the public health and safety advice and are really looking forward to a huge celebratory sigh of relief after what has been another challenging year,” Ms Pfeiffer says.
SA Health says if your gathering is at a public venue, make sure to check in with the QR system, wear masks when not seated and remember no stand-up drinking.
But there’s no need to worry about Santa – we’re assured that he and all his reindeer are fighting fit and have had their booster shots.
MARKET GOODIES
Traditional festive fare such as prawns, leg ham and cherries remain high on the shopping list of customers at the Adelaide Central Market this week.
With Christmas Day fast approaching, the market said is expected to sell up to 13,000kg of locally produced leg ham and another 3500kg of turkey.
About 1500kg of SA prawns at Angelakis Bros and an amazing 45,000kg of cherries will be snapped up by eager shoppers before the end of the week.
Alex Knoll, from Angelakis Bros, said the festive season was always their busiest time of year and it was wonderful to see oysters back on the menu after a recent gastro-scare rocked the SA industry.
“SA cooked and fresh prawns as well as our amazing local rock lobster will be at the top of the shopping list for Christmas Day,” he said.
“We’re also really glad to see Coffin Bay oysters bouncing back and shoppers supporting the local industry.”
O’Connell Meats’ Tony O’Connell said customers had been focused on buying SA produce so far this December.
The Smelly Cheese Shop’s Valerie Henbest said it was really starting to “feel like Christmas”, with live music, carols and free entertainment taking over the market.
Open every day this week, the market’s extended trading hours will continue through to Christmas Eve, with stalls open at 6am tomorrow.
More Coverage
Child suffers serious burns in Adelaide’s east
Emergency services have rushed to the eastern suburbs following an incident that left a child with serious burns.
SMEs the target of cyber attacks
Sweeping changes to privacy laws are likely to catch many SMEs off guard, leaving them even more exposed to the increasing threat of cyber attacks.