Spending time with people at Christmas

Meeting in people’s homes might be what we’re used to, but there is more risk of passing on the virus, even if no one has any symptoms.

This is because someone who is infected will breathe the virus in to the air where it builds up and can be breathed in, as well as falling on to surfaces.

It is important to plan ahead if you are going to meet inside.

Before your guests arrive:

• Plan/arrange to limit visitors to 1 room if possible (although access to a toilet may be needed).
• Choose a room you can ventilate well. To provide really good ventilation you should have 2 windows/doors open to the outside so that the air inside can move.
• Can you arrange the room so that people from different households will be as far apart as possible? E.g. Move seating further apart, keep chairs on opposite sides of the room?
• Clean surfaces in the room and open windows an hour before they arrive. This removes any potential build up of viruses from your household. Then stay out of the room until your visitors arrive.

During the visit:

• Have hand gel available and ask everyone to use some when they first arrive.
• Keep windows/doors to outside open, but shut doors to other rooms so that the virus doesn’t spread around your home.
• Try to maintain as much distance as possible.
• Wear masks as much as possible, particularly if you can’t be 2m apart.
• Limit time together, try not to stay in the room for more than an hour. If you are seeing visitors for longer you could break up the time by going for a walk to give time for any build-up of virus to clear the room.
• Avoid eating together because the risk is higher if you take masks off and pass items around such as plates and forks.

After visitors leave:

• Wash your hands.
• Leave the room empty with the window open for at least an hour if possible.
• Clean surfaces.
• If visitors had drinks or food, collect and wash plates/cups and then wash your hands.

If you are going to meet up with other people, talking through these ideas beforehand will help to keep you all safe. If everyone knows what they're doing you can decide what you need to do before (e.g. bring your own warm clothes, or food and drink).

The fewer people you see before then, the lower the risk of catching the virus - and passing it on. If you are going to spend time with people indoors then it will help to see as few people as possible for 7-14 days before.