With COVID-19 cases on the rise, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) says the safest way to celebrate holidays is to stay home and celebrate with the people who live with you.

Although the pandemic has been stressful and isolating, getting together with family and friends who do not live with you can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19 or the flu. This holiday season, consider how your plans can be modified to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep your friends, families, and communities healthy.

The CDC offers a number of considerations to slow the spread of COVID-19 during small gatherings. These considerations are meant to supplement—not replace—any state, local, territorial, or tribal health and safety laws, rules, and regulations with which all gatherings must comply.

A few things the CDC suggests are:

Consider the number of COVID-19 cases in your community and in the community where you plan to celebrate when deciding whether to host or attend a gathering.

Exposure during travel – Airports, bus stations, train stations, public transport, gas stations, and rest stops are all places travelers can be exposed to the virus in the air and on surfaces.

They also say to take into consideration, the location, the duration of the gathering and the number of people expected to attend.

Click here for a complete list of considerations from the CDC click here.