2021 has been one heck of a year, so it’s nice to finally have something to look forward to know that it’s finally ending. With Christmas and New Year’s around the corner, many are once again preparing celebrations and get-togethers with loved ones.
However, with COVID-19 still pretty much a part of our lives, it’s important to remain vigilant. Here are some tips to stay safe during the holiday season:
- Make sure your guests are fully vaccinated, ask for proof if you must. You don’t want your Christmas party to turn into a Petri dish.
- Leave some sanitiser at the door. Make sure your guests use them before coming in.
- Keep the numbers low. No more than 10 people in a single house, fewer is better.
- Keep your house well ventilated, let some air in.
If you want more specifics for the Christmas SOPs, here are the recent updates.
Christmas SOPs
According to a recent announcement by Malaysia’s Health Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin, massive New Year celebrations are not allowed. However, you can still host private events with friends and family, so long as your guests have performed a COVID-19 self-test prior to attendance. In addition, here are the rest of the SOPs that you should follow:
- Dates enforced: 24 December (Christmas Eve) and 25 December (Christmas Day)
- Spiritual events: allowed according to the Opening of Non-Muslim Houses of Worship SOPs.
- Choirs: allowed with physical distancing of not less than one meter while wearing a face mask or shield.
- Visiting family members: allowed only for fully vaccinated guests
- Choir singing ceremony (caroling) from house to house: not allowed
- Christmas stalls: subject to local authority
Have a Safe and Merry Christmas
As long as you follow the SOPs and practice all the general pandemic guidelines, you should be able to celebrate Christmas without any mishaps. It’s important to keep your family safe and healthy in these trying times, so make sure you have all the precautions in mind before busting out the mistletoe. With that said, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas from all of us here at Motherhood!
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