07/20 Article: COVID-19, Health & Wellness

It’s summer. With the 4th of July in recent memory, its interesting to consider the ways this summer is similar to and different from a “typical” summer. Fireworks still went off across the country, but its likely you watched them on TV or from your backyard as opposed to a public park or a city street. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, family reunions and time with friends were a source of joy and unity — In 2020, any large gathering represents a tremendous risk. With many states in the US experiencing a new surge of cases, its easy to feel like we might not be able to get together and celebrate summer the way we used to this year.

All hope is not lost.

Family reunions and friendly gatherings might look a little different this summer, but there’s no reason we can’t adapt. There are many options, physical and virtual, for meeting face-to-face and it might be more important than ever to do so.

First things first — why get together at all? Organizing a meeting with many people can be exhausting when conditions are normal, let alone trying to do so in the middle of a pandemic. However, these unusual circumstances and the headaches they can cause still don’t outweigh the plethora of benefits associated with seeing your loved ones. Family reunions are an opportunity to share and preserve family heritage as well as establish family traditions. Additionally, meeting with people after months of isolation is bound to be refreshing and uplifting. Something else to consider is that a gathering provides an opportunity for discourse across generations — the first half of 2020 has been tumultuous in terms of world health, politics, and civil rights issues and it is important and valuable to participate in open conversations about current events.

How then, do you decide what’s best for your family?

The most risk-free option is one that people who have been working or taking classes from home might already be very accustomed to — using Zoom or some other virtual meeting service. Obviously this type of meeting allows you to negate all risks associated with COVID and is safe for everyone. Unfortunately, if any members of your family don’t have access to a stable internet connection or don’t have a device to use then this strategy won’t work. Additionally, this type of meeting is admittedly not as satisfying as meeting in person and may feel especially alien and uncomfortable for older family members.

The other option is meeting in person. Unfortunately this introduces a whole host of risks. The first step is knowing whether or not you or anyone attending might be sick. This might seem obvious, but making sure you aren’t sick is the first step in making sure the virus doesn’t spread and your loved ones remain healthy. If you can be certain no one involved is sick or might be sick, you can move forward with planning. The get-together should probably be outside, as there is plenty of air circulation and people can decide how much distance they would like to keep between themselves and others — it’s also a good idea to decide amongst the participants whether or not they would like to wear masks (making sure to observe state and federal laws of course).

Regardless of how you choose to meet with family or friends this summer, make sure you do so safely and remember to appreciate every moment!