NYC Health Department COVID-19 guidance for the holiday season
Dear NYCHA Resident:
In preparation for the holiday season and winter months during the COVID-19 state of emergency, NYCHA would like to provide you with the most current and relevant NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) guidance to help keep you and your family safe.
It has recently been reported that COVID-19 cases are once again on the rise, so it is more important than ever to follow these steps to prevent the spread of the virus:
- Wear a mask when you are in public. You can be contagious without fever or other symptoms. Wearing a face covering outside your home prevents the spread of the virus to your family, friends, and neighbors.
- Keep your hands clean. Wash your hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Keep physical distance. Stay at least 6 feet away from other people.
- Avoid large indoor gatherings of people. This is another way the virus spreads quickly, so avoiding crowded spaces can minimize your exposure and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in your community.
- Avoid travel if possible. New Yorkers should stay local and connect with out-of-town family and friends through telephone and other virtual communications this year. Traveling puts you, your family, and your community at risk. If you must travel, we encourage all NYCHA residents to get tested and quarantine after travel. See New York State’s travel quarantine requirements for more information.
- In NYCHA developments and other residential apartment buildings, don’t congregate in lobby areas and keep elevator usage to two people per ride.
- Stay home if you are not feeling well. If you do get sick, stay at home when possible, or only leave home for essential medical care and testing.
- Get tested. There are free COVID-19 testing sites in all five boroughs. To find a site, visit nyc.gov/covidtest or text “COVID test” to 855-48.
- If you do test positive, please answer your phone. A City operator will call you to connect you to resources and help identify others who may be sick and not know it. All information collected will be kept confidential. The City is here to help you – you will not be penalized in any way for testing positive.
We encourage you to check out these other DOHMH tips for staying healthy during the holiday season: on.nyc.gov/safer-holidays.
Finally, NYCHA’s website has the latest information from our City, State, and federal health partners, including guidance on properly ventilating your apartment, especially during holiday dinners and when hosting visitors who are not members of your household. For this, and more COVID-19 information, please visit on.nyc.gov/nycha-covid-19-resources.
The health and safety of NYCHA residents is our number one priority. Working together, we can prevent the spread of COVID-19 in NYCHA developments and across New York City.
Thank you; we wish you and your family a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season!