Mayor McGee & Local Health Officials Urge Residents to Remain Home for Holidays over Next Two Weeks

^{Press release from Mayor McGee’s Office received December 23, 2020}

LYNN- Mayor Thomas M. McGee, Dr. David Roberts, president of North Shore Medical Center  & Dr. Geoff Pechinsky, Chief Medical Officer for the City of Lynn of Lynn Community Health  Center and other local health officials are urging people to remain home for the holidays this  year. Local hospitals are already approaching their capacity limits and will be hard pressed to  adequately deal with another surge after this holiday season.

“With Christmas and New Year’s right around the corner, it is critical that Lynn residents remain  home and limit their exposure to COVID-19,” said Mayor Thomas M. McGee. “If we make this small sacrifice and refrain from gathering in person with people outside of our immediate  household now, we can ensure that we will all be able to resume our normal holiday traditions  next year. I understand this is a very difficult time of year to be away from friends and relatives,  but as people are already starting to get vaccinated, we can see the end of this pandemic is  approaching.”

There are a number of ways that residents can celebrate the holidays safely this year including the following Lower Risk Activities:

• Limit in-person holiday gatherings to only people you live with.
• Host a virtual holiday dinner with extended family or friends.
• Prepare foods for family and neighbors and deliver them in a no-contact way. • Virtually attend your traditional holiday activities, such as a visit with Santa. • Consider virtual caroling or reciting. Provide a link to your virtual caroling to the people  you want to sing to.
• View holiday lights from your car with those you live with.

“If you stay home this Christmas and only gather with members of your immediate household,  you could save the life of someone you love. Don’t be the reason your grandmother or uncle  ends up in the hospital. Stay home. Save lives.” said Dr. David Roberts, President of North Shore  Medical Center.

“We have entered a hopeful period of the year with not only the December holidays and a new  year approaching, but with the arrival of a vaccine to help us manage the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr. Geoff Pechinsky, Chief Medical Officer for the City of Lynn. “Please keep in mind that  even with a vaccine, we are not out of the woods yet. It will be challenging, but please celebrate  only with those family members you have been living with. It is not yet time to have large  celebrations as we are in the midst of another surge, with 20% of the COVID-19 tests of Lynn  residents conducted at Lynn Community Health Center returning positive. Our local hospitals are  getting full again, and we want to avoid repeating the further strain as we had in the spring.

So please do you part—wear a mask, socially distance, wash your hands, and celebrate only with  close family members. We have come together as a community thus far, let us continue to do so  and get the pandemic under control.”

Please visit https://www.mass.gov/news/december-holiday-guidance to get more information  about how to celebrate the holidays in a safe manner this year. Residents can also visit the City  of Lynn website for the most up to date information related to COVID-19 within the City of  Lynn.

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