<p>Coronavirus cases continue to tick upward as the days count down to the winter holidays.</p><p>With COVID-19 hospitalizations at the highest point since March locally and higher than ever across the state, health officials are asking Hoosiers to consider celebrating Thanksgiving in small groups, without extended families.</p><p>The coronavirus pandemic has now claimed the lives of more than 5,000 Indiana residents, while another increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations has filled the state’s hospitals with nearly 3,000 patients, state health officials said Tuesday.</p><p>Eighty-four newly recorded coronavirus-related deaths pushed Indiana’s pandemic toll to 5,025, including confirmed and presumed coronavirus infections, the Indiana State Department of Health said.</p><p>The department’s daily statistics update also shows that Indiana had 2,951 coronavirus hospitalizations as of Monday. That’s the largest number hospitalized with COVID-19 since the state began making such reports public last spring, and it surpasses the previous peak of 2,768 COVID-19 hospitalizations recorded as of Sunday.</p><p>The state agency also reported that another 5,541 Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 — the seventh straight day of recording more than 5,000 new infections — including 129 in Johnson County.</p><p>For families who choose to celebrate with others, the state health department and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed a series of tips to celebrate safely.</p><p>Health officials say holiday celebrations can continue with modifications, and ask Hoosiers to keep in mind CDC and ISDH recommendations as they make holiday guest lists and prepare a safe space to gather.</p><p>The CDC recommends considering the level of community spread where the gathering is to be held, as well as the level of community spread in places where the guests live to determine whether it is safe to gather. Potential exposure while traveling should also be considered, the CDC says.</p><p>The CDC has not put a number on how many should attend holiday gatherings, but said the number of guests who attend should be limited to how many can fit in a gathering space while maintaining a six-foot distance between household groups. The more people in a gathering, the higher the risk, the CDC says.</p><p>Health officials say it is safer to hold gatherings outdoors if possible, or in an indoor setting with good ventilation. The CDC recommends opening windows to increase ventilation or putting heating or cooling systems on a setting that will continuously circulate air.</p><p>Longer gatherings also pose a higher risk, the CDC says. Anyone who is within six feet of a COVID-19-positive individual for 15 minutes or more is at high risk for contracting the virus and would be asked to quarantine for 14 days following exposure, according to CDC guidelines.</p><p>State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box asked Hoosiers last week to wear a face-covering when not eating, keep holiday gatherings as small as possible and gather for a shorter time period than normal. Her recommendations are based on data that shows the virus is most easily spread during indoor social gatherings where participants take off their masks and let their guard down, she said.</p><p>Additional CDC recommendations for hosts include limited guest contact with surfaces, such as serving spoons, frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces and providing enough hand sanitizer, hand soap and single-use towels for all guests.</p><p>Before attending or hosting a gathering, the state health department recommends staying home to limit exposure, and getting a COVID test to avoid asymptomatic spread between participants.</p><p>The state health department also recommends asking about potential exposure and symptoms, particularly if any high-risk guests are attending. </p><p>This year, the health department recommends going to a long-term care facility instead of pulling loved ones out to have dinner with others. Unless there is an active outbreak at a facility and unless the county where the facility is located is in the red risk category, the facility is likely open for visits.</p><p>And as for holiday shopping on Black Friday, the health department recommends looking for deals online.</p><p><em>The Associated Press contributed to this report. </em></p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="Holiday activity risk levels" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>Low risk</p><p><ul><li>Having a small dinner with only people who live in your household</li><li>Preparing traditional family recipes for family and neighbors, especially those at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and delivering them in away that doesn’t involve contact with others, including leaving on a doorstep</li><li>Having a virtual dinner and sharing recipes with friends and family</li><li>Shopping online rather than in person on the day for Black Friday deals</li><li>Watching sports events, parades and movies from home</li></ul></p><p>Moderate risk</p><p><ul><li>Having a small outdoor dinner with family and friends who live in your community; lower your risk by following CDC’s recommendations on hosting gatherings or cook-outs.</li><li>Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, wearing masks is encouraged or enforced, and people are able to maintain social distancing</li><li>Attending a small outdoor sports events with safety precautions in place</li></ul></p><p>High risk</p><p><ul><li>Going shopping in crowded stores just before, on, or after Thanksgiving</li><li>Participating or being a spectator at a crowded race</li><li>Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgment and increase risky behaviors</li><li>Attending large indoor gatherings with people from outside of your household</li></ul></p><p>Source: Indiana State Department of Health</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]
