Have a safe St. Patrick’s Day 2021

Attending gatherings to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day increases your risk of getting and spreading covid-19.

The safest way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year is to gather virtually, with people who live with you, or outside and at least 6 feet apart from others.

Tips for a safe celebration from the Centers for Disease Control and prevention include:

• Decorate your home in St. Patrick’s Day colors, shamrocks, and leprechauns.
• Celebrate by making Irish–inspired recipes.
• Have an outdoor neighborhood St. Patrick’s Day celebration with everyone at least 6 feet apart and wearing masks.
• Watch a virtual St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

If you plan to celebrate with others, outdoors is safer than indoors.

St. Patrick’s Day travel

Travel could increase your chance of spreading and getting covid-19. The CDC continues to recommend postponing travel and staying home, because this is the best way to protect yourself and others this year.

If you’re considering traveling for St. Patrick’s Day, visit the CDC’s Travel page to help you decide what’s best for you and your family.

Holiday celebrations

Wear a mask

• Wear a mask with two or more layers to stop the spread of covid-19 to protect others and yourself.
• Wear your mask over your nose and mouth, secure it under your chin, and make sure it fits snugly against the sides of your face.
• Wear a mask indoors and outdoors.
• Wear your mask under your scarf, ski mask, or balaclava in cold weather.
• Keep a spare mask handy in case your mask gets wet from moisture in your breath or from snow or rain.

Stay at least 6 feet away from others who don’t live with you

• Indoors or outdoors, you’re more likely to get or spread covid-19 when you’re in close contact with others for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.
• Remember that people without symptoms or with a recent negative test result can still spread covid-19 to others.

Avoid crowded, poorly ventilated indoor spaces

As much as possible, avoid crowds and indoors spaces that don’t offer fresh air from the outdoors. If indoors, bring in fresh air by opening windows and doors, if possible.

Wash your hands

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, and before eating. Make sure to dry your hands completely using a clean towel or by air drying.
• Use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water aren’t available.
• Avoid touching your mask, eyes, nose, and mouth.

Safer celebrations

Celebrating virtually or with the people you live with is the safest choice for St. Patrick’s Day. If you do gather with people who don’t live with you, gatherings and activities held outdoors are safer than indoor gatherings.

In addition to following the steps that everyone can take to make the holidays safer, take these additional steps if attending a gathering to make your celebration safer:

• Have conversations ahead of time to understand expectations for celebrating together.
• Bring your own food, drinks, plates, cups, and utensils.
• Wear a mask indoors and outdoors.
• Avoid shouting or singing.

If hosting

• Cancel the gathering if you’re sick or you’ve been near someone who thinks they may have or have been exposed to covid-19.
• Provide single-use options, such as salad dressing and condiment packets, and disposable items such as plates and utensils.
• Limit the number of guests.
• Have extra unused masks available for your guests and encourage everyone to wear them inside and outside.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and items between use.
• Bring in fresh air by opening windows and doors when celebrating indoors, if possible. You can use a window fan in one of the open windows to blow air out of the window. This will pull fresh air in through the other open windows.
• Have a separate space for guests to wash their hands or provide hand sanitizer.

Other St. Patrick’s Day activities

• Host a virtual gathering with friends and family.
• Drive or walk around your community to wave to neighbors from a safe distance.
• Take a food or gift to family, friends, and neighbors in a way that doesn’t involve contact with others, such as leaving them at the door.
• Throw a virtual dance party and collaborate with friends and family on a playlist. Celebrate outside with neighbors and friends.
• Volunteer to help others in need.
• Attend a virtual religious ceremony or celebration.