1. Decisions to attend holiday gatherings during COVID-19 and engagement in key prevention strategies: United States, January 2021.
- Author
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Pomeroy MA, Hoover ER, Dumas BL, Kennedy KS, Wittry B, Laughlin ME, Harris DM, Gieraltowski L, Yellman MA, Garcia-Williams AG, and Marshall KE
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, COVID-19 epidemiology, COVID-19 psychology, Family, Female, Holidays psychology, Humans, Male, Meals, Middle Aged, United States, Young Adult, COVID-19 prevention & control, Mass Gatherings, Social Participation psychology
- Abstract
Gatherings where people are eating and drinking can increase the risk of getting and spreading SARS-CoV-2 among people who are not fully vaccinated; prevention strategies like wearing masks and physical distancing continue to be important for some groups. We conducted an online survey to characterise fall/winter 2020-2021 holiday gatherings, decisions to attend and prevention strategies employed during and before gatherings. We determined associations between practicing prevention strategies, demographics and COVID-19 experience. Among 502 respondents, one-third attended in person holiday gatherings; 73% wore masks and 84% practiced physical distancing, but less did so always (29% and 23%, respectively). Younger adults were 44% more likely to attend gatherings than adults ≥35 years. Younger adults (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) 1.53, 95% CI 1.19-1.97), persons who did not experience COVID-19 themselves or have relatives/close friends experience severe COVID-19 (aPR 1.56, 95% CI 1.18-2.07), and non-Hispanic White persons (aPR 1.57, 95% CI 1.13-2.18) were more likely to not always wear masks in public during the 2 weeks before gatherings. Public health messaging emphasizing consistent application of COVID-19 prevention strategies is important to slow the spread of COVID-19. more...
- Published
- 2022
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