Ottawa’s top doctor again encouraging new traditions, celebrations this holiday season

Ottawa's chief medical officer of health is asking residents to be creative in their celebrations for the winter holiday season.

She's suggesting events like Christmas be spent similar to how Ottawans held Thanksgiving and Halloween this year — that means being kept within residents' immediate households only.

Dr. Vera Etches says we must be cautious because this season will be unlike any other.

“This is 2020 COVID-19, and it's just going to be pretty memorable because it's got to be different.” explained Etches.

She is allowing some flexibility for single people, but not much.

“We're saying that needs to be one or two people outside of your household, but not two different people every day and moving around the province.”

The chief medical officer of health was clear that Ottawa residents should avoid all travel, particularly to other cities where the transmission of the virus isn't under control, like Toronto (in lockdown) or Gatineau (red zone).

“We've got to limit our travel from places where rates are higher to places where rates are lower.” said Etches.

To be fair…at 1,749 years old, Santa Claus is part of a rather vulnerable population and needs to be protected from COVID-19.

Here are some safer ways to celebrate this holiday season: https://t.co/TmkpdPv6gU pic.twitter.com/glmXC7UXhO

— Ottawa Public Health (@ottawahealth) November 25, 2020