The holidays are here, but don’t let their dreaminess distract from making your gatherings healthy. Families eat turkey, children decorate, and friends exchange heartfelt gifts. It’s the happiest season of all. It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s also peak sickness season.

Let’s start with a COVID-19 check. As you may have noticed, precautions have started lifting. But we’re not in the clear yet. Elisa Melendez, MD of Family Medicine at SCL Health Medical Group – Thornton, encouraged precaution with more vulnerable community members.

“I would say, for the most part, it’s back to normal,” said Dr. Melendez. “Still self-quarantine if you’ve been diagnosed with COVID or the flu, so you’re not getting others sick.”

Other than quarantining when sick, there are more ways to celebrate healthy holidays.